Grace Believers and "Practical Application"

      It has been my experience that many "Grace" preachers and teachers have a tendency to discount the value of practical application of the Scripture.  I think much of this comes from the fact that most teaching and preaching today is only practical with no doctrinal teaching.  In order to correct this error of no doctrine at all, the "Grace" preacher/teacher has often over corrected in taking the position that only doctrinal teaching/preaching is needed.  

     I am going to try and leave out my opinion on this issue, but try to answer this strictly from the Bible rightly divided.  As right dividers how does our Apostle Paul answer the issue of practical application versus doctrine?  First of all the most import issue according to Paul is doctrine.  Consider 2 Tim 3:

[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Note in verse 16 above the first thing said about the Scripture is that it is for doctrine.  Therefore, doctrine is more important than practical application.  Note, however, that the Scripture is also given for practical issues such as "instruction in righteousness."  For the man of God to be perfect (complete), then he must have both doctrine and practical application (see verse 17 above).  You can not be complete with only doctrine.  Also, you can not be complete with only practical application.

     So what example did Paul leave "Grace" preachers/teachers to follow?  If we examine the Pauline Epistles most of them begin discussing doctrinal issues, and then towards the end practical application is made.  For one example, consider the book of Romans.  Mainly Romans 1-11 deals with doctrinal matters. At Romans 12 and going through chapter 16 Paul mainly focuses on practical matters.  Doing simple math the book of Romans is 68.75 percent doctrinal and 31.25 percent practical.  This same ratio might not hold true on all Paul's writings but the pattern of preaching/teaching both doctrine and practice will hold true.