Here is the first paragraph of the chapter I am writing today on my doctoral project:
What does a bridge do? It spans a gap. Open space is covered safely and securely. How does the bridge do this? Basic bridge construction involves constructing supporting anchors on both sides of the gap. This illustration is quite suitable to what needs to occur in expository reaching. Application in preaching must be anchored in both authorial intent and contemporary relevance. Expository preaching requires a supporting anchor in the past and the present. Just as a bridge must be firmly anchored on both sides in order to present a trustworthy walkway, so expository preaching combines accurate hermeneutics with present relevance. Authorial intent for original listeners forms the anchor in the past. Principled exhortation for contemporary listeners forms the anchor in the present. The two banks preachers build upon are the original setting and the contemporary setting. The walkway is the clearly communicated sermon filled with exhortations about attitudes and actions. These attitudes and actions are relevant for the listeners today but clearly arise from the historic text. The first anchor provides interpretation and accuracy. The second anchor provides penetration and relevancy.