Howard Hendricks (1924-2013)

There are a few people I would put on my “short list” of those who have made the most impact in my life. In the realm of modern church figures, I would venture to say that no one has shaped my life more than Dr. Howard Hendricks.

Dr. Hendricks taught at Dallas Theological Seminary for who knows how many decades and is a nationally renowned speaker. He died at the age of 88 today.

He hasn’t educated me theologically or helped shape my view of the church or preaching, but his “reaping” investment in me is something I “sow” every day when I open my Bible.

For those who are familiar with Dr. Hendricks, you know about . This text is a resource teaching people how to study the Bible. His 3 principles of Bible study – observation, interpretation and application – are used by colleges, churches and seminaries all around the world for a basic, foundational skeleton of how to approach God’s Word.

I remember when I was in high school watching a VHS (remember those?) series of some 20+ lessons dealing with subjects such as how to listen, what to look for in a passage of Scripture, asking the right kinds of questions for interpreting (e.g., Who?, What?, When?, etc.), the important of context, examining content, keeping from becoming a cult with good hermeneutics, genres of literature in the Bible, how to find the right application, and many other topics.

I use many (and most) of Dr. Hendricks’ fundamental principles of Bible study every time I open my Bible for personal study or to prepare a sermon.

What a man of God and what an important man he has been for myself and countless thousands of others in the church today. His address today no longer is “earth” but “heaven.” Can’t wait to meet him one day in eternity!

Some of my favorite quotes from Dr. Hendricks

• “You can impress people from a distance. But you can impact them only up close.”

• “Most people don’t think; they just rearrange their prejudices.

• “It’s amazing how much light the Scriptures will shed on the commentaries.”