There are two competing forces in today’s church culture. One emphasizes the life-transforming power of God’s Word. The other focuses on creativity and entertainment. This tension begs the question: are we prioritizing expository preaching or settling for fleeting amusement?
We cannot overstate the importance of expository preaching. It anchors the church in truth, fuels spiritual growth, and equips believers to stand firm in their faith. Yet, many churches have exchanged this biblical model for messages that entertain rather than edify. This trend raises a critical concern: what happens to a church when God’s Word is sidelined? Let’s explore why expository preaching is essential and how it guards the church from drifting into superficiality.
What Is Expository Preaching?
Defining Expository Preaching
Expository preaching is a method of preaching that seeks to faithfully communicate the meaning of Scripture as the original authors intended. At its core, expository preaching involves taking a passage of Scripture and explaining it in its context. But it doesn’t stop there; it also seeks to highlight its relevance for contemporary life. Expository preaching is not about using the Bible to support preconceived ideas but allowing the text to speak and shape the message.
This approach to preaching is committed to honoring the integrity of the biblical text. The pastor acts as a guide, helping the congregation see what the passage reveals about God, humanity, and the gospel. Expository preaching invites the congregation to engage God’s Word, transforming their thinking and living through its truth.
Key Elements of Expository Preaching
1. Text-Centered Approach:
An unwavering commitment to Scripture as the ultimate authority is at the heart of expository preaching. Unlike other methods that may use the Bible to support predetermined themes or ideas, expository preaching begins and ends with the Biblical text. The pastor’s role is not to impose their agenda or preferences but to draw out the meaning of the Word of God.
A text-centered approach ensures that the Biblical passage remains the sermon’s foundation and focus. The pastor carefully selects a portion of Scripture—often a verse, paragraph, or chapter—and invests significant time in studying its content. This involves understanding the passage’s original language, cultural background, and context within the broader narrative of Scripture.
The sermon’s main points are not arbitrary or invented but flow naturally from the text. Each point reflects the passage’s structure, emphasis, and intent, allowing the congregation to see how the sermon is rooted in God’s Word. By doing so, the preacher honors the text’s integrity and helps the congregation develop a habit of engaging Scripture in its fullness.
This approach protects against common pitfalls, such as cherry-picking verses out of context or using Scripture merely as a springboard for personal stories or opinions. Instead, the pastor acts as a guide, walking the congregation through the passage and illuminating its truths in a faithful and practical way. The ultimate goal is not simply to inform but to transform—to bring the hearers face-to-face with the living Word of God and lead them to respond in worship, obedience, and faith.
2. Contextual Faithfulness:
Faithful expository preaching goes beyond simply reading and explaining a passage; it immerses both preacher and congregation in the rich contextual layers of God’s Word. By carefully examining a passage’s historical, literary, and theological contexts, expository preaching ensures that the message reflects the original meaning intended by the divine Author and human authors. This attention to context guards against misinterpretation and allows Scripture to speak with clarity and power.
- Historical Context: Every biblical passage was written in a specific time, place, and cultural setting. Understanding the historical context involves exploring the political, social, and religious circumstances that shaped the lives of the original audience. By highlighting this background, the pastor bridges the gap between the ancient world and today, helping the congregation grasp the relevance of the text without distorting its meaning.
- Literary Context: No verse or passage exists in isolation. Expository preaching places each text within its immediate and broader literary context. By examining the verses before and after the text, the pastor helps the congregation understand how the passage fits within the structure of the book and the Bible as a whole.
- Theological Context: The Bible tells one unified story of God’s redemption through Jesus Christ, and every passage contributes to that grand narrative. Expository preaching draws out these theological connections, showing how a given text relates to the overarching themes of Scripture, such as God’s holiness, humanity’s sinfulness, and Christ’s redemptive work.
Expository preaching enables the congregation to encounter the depth and richness of God’s Word by paying close attention to these layers of context. It demonstrates that Scripture is not just a collection of isolated moral lessons but a cohesive and living revelation of God’s character and purposes. Contextual faithfulness invites the congregation into a deeper understanding of Scripture, equipping them to read and interpret God’s Word with confidence and discernment in their daily lives.
3. Christ-Centered Focus:
Faithful, expository preaching always leads the congregation to Christ, the central figure of Scripture and the culmination of God’s redemptive plan. As Jesus taught in Luke 24:27, “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible unfolds the story of God’s glory revealed in the person and work of Christ. Expository preaching, therefore, seeks to illuminate how each passage connects to this grand narrative.
A Christ-centered approach recognizes that the Old Testament anticipates Christ, the Gospels reveal Him, the Epistles explain His work and its implications, and Revelation proclaims His ultimate triumph. Expository preaching helps the congregation see these connections without resorting to artificial or forced allegory.
Christ-centered preaching does not mean twisting every verse into an explicit reference to Jesus, nor does it diminish the historical and literary significance of the text. Instead, it seeks to understand how the passage contributes to the unfolding story of redemption.
By consistently pointing to Christ, expository preaching ensures that sermons are more than intellectual exercises or motivational talks. They become life-giving encounters with the living Word, Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
What Expository Preaching Is Not
Understanding what expository preaching is also requires clarity on what it is not. While many approaches to preaching may share certain features, expository preaching is distinct in its commitment to letting Scripture itself shape the sermon. Misunderstanding this distinction can lead to practices that fall short of faithfully proclaiming God’s Word.
1. It Is Not Topical Preaching:
While topical sermons may have their place, they often start with a theme and pull various verses to support it. This approach usually prioritizes the pastor’s chosen topic over the biblical text, which can lead to taking passages out of context or overlooking the depth of Scripture’s meaning.
Expository preaching resists the temptation to use the pulpit to highlight the pastor’s personal passions, favorite doctrines, or cultural soapboxes. Instead, it submits to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, trusting that God’s Word will address every issue in His perfect timing and way.
2. It Is Not A Running Commentary:
Expository preaching is more than a verse-by-verse explanation of the text. It calls for a response by drawing out the Scriptures’ theological and practical implications. Expository preaching allows the Word of God to convict, challenge, encourage, and transform.
By embracing these principles, expository preaching ensures that God’s Word remains the central focus of the church. It feeds the congregation with truth, builds a foundation of sound doctrine, and glorifies God by faithfully proclaiming His Word.
The Importance of Expository Preaching
Grounding the Church in Biblical Truth
Expository preaching is essential for the spiritual health and mission of the church. It grounds the church in biblical truth. In a world where truth is often subjective and culture dictates morality, the church must stand firm on the unchanging Word of God. In an age of relativism, expository preaching ensures that God’s Word, not human opinion, shapes the life of the church.
Jesus prayed for His disciples, saying, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). Expository preaching fulfills this prayer by consistently presenting the Scriptures in their fullness and clarity, helping believers discern truth from error.
Feeding the Church with Spiritual Nourishment
Additionally, expository preaching feeds the church with spiritual nourishment. Just as physical food sustains the body, the Word of God nourishes the soul. When Jesus instructed Peter to “feed my sheep” (John 21:17), He emphasized the importance of providing believers with the life-giving truth of Scripture. Sermons rooted in expository preaching provide believers with a balanced and rich diet, equipping them for spiritual growth and maturity.
Equipping Believers for Spiritual Warfare
Expository preaching also equips believers for spiritual warfare. Paul describes the Word of God as “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17), a vital tool for combating the lies and temptations of the enemy. A congregation steeped in Scripture is like a well-trained army, prepared to stand firm in faith when trials arise. Pastors who faithfully preach the Word equip their congregants with the knowledge and wisdom needed to navigate a fallen world.
Fosters a Deep Love for God’s Word
Moreover, expository preaching fosters a deep love for God’s Word. Exposing Christians to the richness and depth of Scripture grows their appreciation for God’s Word. This deepening love for Scripture strengthens individual faith and unites the church’s mission to glorify God and make disciples.
Builds Resilient Churches
Finally, expository preaching builds resilient churches. Churches anchored in the truth of God’s Word are better equipped to endure challenges and persecution. They possess a foundation built on the promises of God that cannot be shaken. Such churches thrive not because of dynamic personalities or clever programs but because they are rooted in the life-transforming power of Scripture.
In a culture that often prioritizes style over substance, expository preaching serves as a vital reminder of the church’s true calling: to proclaim the whole counsel of God and shepherd His people faithfully.
Expository Preaching vs. Entertainment
The Shift Toward Entertainment
In some churches, sermons have shifted from being centered on proclamation to being focused on performance. Stories, jokes, and flashy presentations often overshadow the careful exposition of Scripture, transforming sermons into something more akin to a TED Talk. While engaging elements like these can capture attention, they risk diluting the gospel and undermining the centrality of God’s Word. The presentation should always serve the message, never supplanting the authority and primacy of Scripture itself.
This shift toward entertainment caters to the audience’s desire for immediate gratification. It promises an engaging experience but often leaves listeners spiritually malnourished. Emotional highs may stir hearts momentarily, but they lack the sustaining power of God’s truth. When entertainment takes center stage, the church becomes a venue for consumerism rather than a house of worship.
The Dangers of Entertainment-Driven Worship
Entertainment-driven worship poses significant risks to the spiritual health of individuals and the church. First, it leads to a shallow faith. When messages prioritize feel-good moments over biblical substance, believers are deprived of the depth and richness of Scripture. This lack of grounding makes them vulnerable to cultural shifts and doctrinal errors.
Second, entertainment-driven worship fosters biblical illiteracy. When the Word of God is sidelined, congregants miss out on the opportunity to grow in their understanding of Scripture. Without a strong foundation in God’s truth, they are less equipped to navigate life’s challenges with discernment and wisdom. This lack of grounding in Scripture also leaves them vulnerable to false teaching and unsound doctrine, unable to recognize when messages deviate from biblical truth.
Finally, churches that emphasize entertainment often lack resilience. Emotional experiences may attract large crowds, but they do little to prepare believers for the storms of life. A congregation built on entertainment struggles to endure suffering, persecution, or spiritual warfare because it lacks the deep-rooted faith that comes from the steady intake of God’s Word.
Choosing Truth Over Entertainment
Expository preaching stands in stark contrast to entertainment-driven worship. Rather than appealing to fleeting emotions, it engages the mind and heart with eternal truth. It challenges believers to think deeply about Scripture, wrestle with its implications, and apply it to their lives.
Expository preaching equips the church to grow in maturity and unity. Systematically teaching the Word fosters a shared understanding of God’s will and purpose. This unified foundation strengthens the body of Christ, enabling it to stand firm in faith and mission.
Moreover, expository preaching glorifies God by placing His Word at the center of worship. It declares the sufficiency and authority of Scripture, reminding the church that God’s wisdom far surpasses human creativity. Through faithful exposition, the preacher points the congregation to Christ and His redemptive work, the ultimate source of hope and transformation.
As A.W. Tozer wisely observed, “What you win them with is what you win them to.” Churches must ask themselves: are we winning people to an experience or to the truth of the gospel? By prioritizing expository preaching, the church chooses to win people to Christ—God’s unchanging, life-giving Word.
Conclusion: The Call to Faithfulness
In a world where entertainment often competes for attention, the church faces the critical choice of prioritizing cultural relevance or biblical faithfulness. The pressure to entertain can be overwhelming, but the call to faithfully preach the Word of God is non-negotiable. Expository preaching places God’s truth at the forefront, ensuring that His Word—not human opinions or trends—shapes the life of the church. When God’s Word is faithfully proclaimed, it accomplishes His purposes, as Isaiah 55:11 assures us, and transforms hearts in ways entertainment never can.
In an age where quick fixes and emotional highs are abundant, the church must remain steadfast in its mission to edify believers through the depth and richness of Scripture. The importance of expository preaching cannot be overstated. It grounds the church in biblical truth, nurtures a love for Scripture, equips believers for spiritual warfare, and builds resilient churches that can withstand the trials of life.
By committing to expository preaching, churches can avoid the pitfalls of shallow, entertainment-driven worship and instead become places where the eternal Word of God is faithfully proclaimed, transforming lives and hearts for the glory of God. This approach does more than deliver a message—it fosters spiritual maturity, deepens the church’s faith, and equips believers to live in the fullness of God’s truth, empowered to shine as a light in a dark world. Let us prioritize faithfulness over popularity and allow God’s Word to shape our worship, our lives, and our mission to reach the world with the gospel.
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