In September of 2009 I wrote a series of articles detailing the definition, need, and practice of what is called “expositional” preaching. You can be refreshed if you like by reading the articles linked below.
The Preparation for Exposition
The Presentation of Exposition
To recap: Expositional preaching is explaining the meaning of a specific text of Scripture and providing implications for life from that text. This type of preaching is not studying a topic or a verse and then finding other verses, illustrations, examples, or anecdotes to support our supposition. This type of preaching derives the main point of the sermon directly from the immediate context and understands the context in light of the actual grammar, literal and literary interpretation, historical facts, and cultural issues when the text was written.
By “actual grammar” we mean that parts of speech, organization of sentences and phrases, and logical constructions are necessary to come to the actual understanding of the text. Although it is helpful, one does not need to know the original languages to understand the grammar. Good literal translations and a working knowledge of the English language can provide the tools necessary to properly understand the grammar of the Word of God.
By “literal and literary interpretation” philosophy, we mean that we take the plain sense of Scripture as literal when it claims to be literal, but that we also allow for figures of speech, genres of literature, poetic and proverbial language, etc. Another way of saying this is that although we trust the Spirit of God as the guiding force behind Scripture making it the very words of God, we recognize that the Spirit used human authors and normal literature techniques to give us the Bible. What we see in other non-fiction literature, we should expect in the Bible, yet wholly perfect as God’s Word.
By “historical facts” we mean that God used real men with human minds and intellects to write to specific peoples and groups within specific historical times. The Bible was not written at one time to all men. It is applicable to all, but contextually was written to specific audiences over the space of thousands of years. Praise God, not one aspect of the historicity of the Bible has been proven false.
By “cultural issues” we mean that God spoke in specific cultures and used those cultural norms and mores to teach the truth. An example of this is the book of Hebrews. Understanding this book was written to Jewish believers and unbelievers who were all professing Christianity, while some were tempted to draw back into Judaism away from faith in Christ should shed great light on what is sometimes a difficult epistle to comprehend. Damage is done when preachers preach verses out of the cultural context of Hebrews and sometimes create false doctrines, like the absence of perseverance of saints (eternal security).
Although this may seem overwhelming and daunting, I personally have found expositional preaching much more exciting and encouraging than coming up with topical sermons.
- Because I am learning from the text and cannot ignore passages of Scripture that are a conviction to me. I am forced to struggle with texts I might be tempted to ignore.
- God’s mind is not scattered and so when his mind is revealed to humans in the Word of God, it is both systematic and logical. To pick and choose what we want to preach is a mistake revealing a low view of God and His Word.
- Expositional preaching heavily relies upon the Spirit of God. Expositional preachers must trust the sovereignty of God through the Spirit of God to lead and direct the preaching of specific texts of His Word to certain peoples as He wills. If I am not preaching expositionally, I am tending to choose what I think “the sheep need to hear” instead of relying upon the Spirit of God in systematically teaching the text.
- By preaching expositionally, I am less likely to misunderstand or twist a particular verse or Scripture to cause it to mean what I want it to. I am bound to the whole context when preaching expositionally and this provides a safeguard against heresy.
If a preacher commits himself to expositional preaching, he runs the risk of disappointing people or being misunderstood. Some believe that this type of preaching is not effective. “You got to give them what God lays on your heart, Pastor,” some might suggest. Of course if God “lays on my heart” the book of Romans, then it is going to take several years to actually mine the depths of the riches of God’s gospel of grace. So that argument is really a non-issue. Others might suggest that expositional preaching is boring. To that I reply that they have either not heard true expositional preaching or they are being driven by entertainment and antics instead of a desire to truly know the Word of God. Some think that expositional preaching doesn’t really give what is spiritually needed at the time. To this detractor, the preacher needs to preach on things like music and tithing, or on evangelism and he is spending all his time in Romans. We don’t need to hear Romans, they might think, we are already all saved. Sadly, this reveals a low view of the Gospel. Issue oriented, “hot” preaching is like shoving a bucket of food down someone’s throat (sometimes good food, but many times junk food) leaving them with the sense of being fed, but no real nutrition was digested. A steady diet of the text of Scripture in context, may not be flashy or “exciting” but it will nourish the soul when consistently given over much time.
There is much more to say, but that is all for now. Just keep in mind, people of God, we need expositional preaching of God’s Holy Word. That is what will change lives, so insist upon it.
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