Why I Prefer Expository Preaching

I recently finished preaching through the book of Ephesians expositorily. It took just over a year and covered a fairly wide span of subjects applicable to the Christian life. It covered topics such as election and predestination, church life, married life, and Christian warfare. This is a great, well-rounded book to preach through for these reasons alone. Before that, I spent two years preaching through the Gospel of Mark, then covered the majority of the Minor Prophets, and now I am on to the book of Genesis. This will prove to be both a challenging and rewarding book to preach through because Genesis forms the underpinning for everything that follows and has quite a few character studies and no shortage of types and foreshadows.

Now, to the question, why do I prefer EXPOSITORY preaching? Following the expository method is part of my growth as a preacher, my learning and experience, and my observation of the needs of the saints who desire a more robust handling of scripture. I have looked back at some of my earlier sermons from the nineties, listened to them, and can see clearly why expository preaching is the best model for preaching.

While there are different definitions of expository preaching, its basic meaning is that it is a form of preparation and preaching that seeks to fully explain the text, covering its historical, doctrinal, and biographical context while uncovering its primary meaning and application.

In expository preaching, the text is the topic; it is what fuels and drives the sermon forward. Topical and textual sermons are treated a little differently. For example, in a topical sermon, you would gather texts that support your topic and preach a sermon based on those verses selected. I have heard some great topical sermons over the years, and they certainly have their place. In textual sermons, one key point may be drawn from the text to the exclusion of its other meanings and applications.

Another way of viewing the expository method is that the entire text drives the topic, whereas in textual and topical (in most cases), the topic is the driving force behind the sermon.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a great expository preacher, gives a great example of the importance of preaching: “What is the chief end of preaching? I like to think it is this: It is to give men and women a sense of God and His presence.”

So, here are some reasons on why I PREFER the expository method:

The expository method is a more text-focused and organized approach to preaching. Rather than taking off from the text and wandering into unknown lands, the expository method keeps me anchored to the text and the subject.
In expository preaching, the text sets the theme for the sermon, allowing a variety of topics to be covered that might not otherwise be.
In expository preaching, the Bible is the anchor point for the church and me as the preacher. This helps to prevent drifting away from the Bible into the murky waters of opinion and hobby horses.
Since the Bible is Christological and expositional preaching is biblical, the preaching will of necessity be Christological.
Since the preacher sets the tone and example from the pulpit through expository preaching, the congregation is also trained to study and apply the Bible on their own. Good practice from the pulpit leads to good practice in the pew and a more spiritually mature Christian.
Expository helps me as a preacher grow and mature, not just as a preacher but as a student of scripture, as it forces me to deal with difficult texts and subjects.
Since the preaching is expository the scripture, above all else, including the opinions of man, is given a high view.
In expository preaching, no doctrine is left behind, no moral truth forgotten, and no aspect of the Godhead is set aside for personal reasons. God’s character and nature are all brought to light, and the sinners’ charge to live out their lives in light of that is brought to bear on the Christian.

Well, time to bring this short blog to a close, time for something else. Have a good rest of your day!