Jeff,
   If you can't find doctrine in the Psalms then I would encourage you 
to re-read them (and better yet, sing them regularly).  In the psalms we 
find our original state, our helplessness to save our selves, the grace 
and mercy of God available to us through the suffering, death, burial 
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, salvation, repentance, confession of 
sin, perseverance of the saints and the eschatological coming of Christ 
and our glorious future in Him, and judgment and condemnation for the 
wicked.  And this is just a small sampling.

As far as systematic expository preaching - it really is the only way to 
be sure the people receive the "whole counsel" of God and not just pet 
doctrines or distinctives.  Interestingly too, you get the same "whole 
counsel" of God when you sing the Psalms and not just the feel good old 
favorite Hymns.  Jesus wrote them (via the Spirit), they are about Him 
and He sang them - why shouldn't we.

Peace,
Steve

Jeff Hallmark wrote:
> Bro. Steve,   I agree with most of what you have to say here.
> 
> That is why there is a need for Sunday School, Sunday Morning Preaching 
> Services, Training Union, Sunday Evening Preaching Services and Mid-Week 
> Bible Study and Prayer Time.  Also add time for Visitation and Soul 
> winning, give folks an opportunity to learn and serve others.
> 
> Now do all of our folks make every opportunity, NO. But it is still 
> there for them. However, I am called into full time service, and I am 
> there to teach, preach, pray and learn.
> 
>  >
>  > Jeff,
>  > In Reformed Presbyterian circles folks used to preach on the RP
>  > 'distinctives'. This was not all bad, but it was not all good
>  > either. The problem was that the 'distinctives' were preached on
>  > constantly and soon became detached from Scripture and there was
>  > very little Gospel and Bible instruction. Then the 'distinctives'
>  > were seen as traditions of men rather than Biblical principles.
>  > Fortunately, by God's grace there has been a reformation in our
>  > churches in the last 60 years and the traditionalism is on the way
>  > out and the Gospel of Christ is on the way in - though we still
>  > have distinctives.
> 
> Personal Soul winning and visitation will help reach the lost.
> 
>  If your "distinctives" are truly Biblically
>  > based they will come out as you preach and teach systematically
>  > (book by book, verse by verse) through the Bible (not the only way
>  > to preach, but I believe the best way). e.g.
> 
> Good way but not the only way, did Jesus preach and teach, this way all 
> the time?
> 
> Our Sunday evening Preaching Service I am doing just this verse by verse 
> thru II Thess.
> 
>  I believe the
>  > Scriptures teach that we are to exclusively use the Psalms for
>  > God's praise in Worship. I don't preach on psalmody every week and
>  > pound it in peoples heads but when I come upon a passage that
>  > teaches this doctrine - I preach it heartily. Other times I preach
> 
> To me, Psalm is more devotional then doctrinal. Psalm helps me, and 
> those I preach and teach to keep our hearts warm and tender to the 
> things of God. But very little doctrine in the Psalms. Same with 
> Proverbs, great for character building. But one can have great character 
> and still die and go to hell.
> 
> I still preach and teach Psalms and Proverbs
> 
>  > the Bible Text that is before me (without any set 'distinctive'
>  > agenda) knowing that the Spirit will pierce the Word into the
>  > hearts of those who have ears to hear. And as the people grow in
>  > the knowledge and truth of the Word they will see the truth of the
>  > doctrines or distinctives for themselves. That is, if your
>  > particular 'distinctives' are truly biblically based.
> 
> Again, having a number of teaching and preaching service sure help our 
> folks to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
> 
> 
>  >
>  > Peace,
>  > Steve
>  >
>  > Jeff Hallmark wrote:
>  >
>  > > NOTE the Quote is from an old time Southern Baptist.
>  > >
>