Expositional preaching Part Two: What it is not - GBC Bulletin Column #70

As we are thinking for a few weeks about expositional preaching, perhaps it would be of some value to highlight what it is not.

Topical preaching: it is possible to deal with particular topics expositionally, either over a period of weeks or as a “one-off” sermon. Topical preaching in a contrasting sense, however, is not at all concerned with expounding a text and thereby addressing a subject of importance in the church’s life. Rather, the preacher expounds on the topic, often taking the congregation on a tour of various biblical texts to make his point. It might also be done more subtly – I once observed a preacher on the internet announce that he was going to be handling the subject of ‘honour’ from an Old Testament passage. He read the passage made a few comments and then departed completely from it to talk about a different New Testament text for the duration of the message. Topical preaching can be done well, so long as the Scripture passages used are not abused. It can also (as often) be done very poorly, without any respect for a proper understanding of the Scriptural passages - an exercise in proof-texting if ever there was one. Topical preaching is not healthy for church-life as a long time pattern of preaching.

Commentary: Expositional preaching, to quote Mark Dever in Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, is “not simply producing a verbal commentary on some passage of Scripture.” In other words expositional preaching is not supposed to be a play by play of the passage already read, that basically re-reads the passage in different words, at warped speed, with a few explanatory comments and a five minute application tacked on at the end. This is the great danger of the verse by verse approach especially, and one which has no doubt caused some to foolishly reject expositional preaching altogether. Doubtless all expositional preachers have fallen into this trap or will do so at some stage. Or maybe I say that just to console myself – I know I have!

Lecture: It may be tempting for the preacher - not the people! – to take everything he has gleaned from his exegesis of the text, the commentaries he has read, Bible dictionaries and encyclopaedias he has consulted, and Hebrew/Greek word studies he has done, and share everything with the congregation. At best, the people are educated, informed, and intrigued. At worst, they are bored out of their minds and put to sleep. But are they shaken with conviction of sin, enlivened to the gospel of Christ, or emboldened to Christ-centred and gospel –driven faithfulness in their day-to-day lives? You know it isn't a good thing when the main adjective people use to describe a sermon is 'boring', but the same can be said for the word ‘interesting.'

To sum up, expositional preaching is not: 

1. A rambling systematization of all that the Bible says on a subject. Expositional preaching should not give people a finger workout as they turn every page in their Bibles: It should stay rooted in one passage, though informed by the rest of Scripture

2. A mere exegetically accurate explanation of a text that sounds like sermon notes in their early stages. Expositional preaching should not be an abstract and impersonal 'this is what the Bible says', but a concrete and relevant 'this is what the Bible means.'

3. A glorified educational exercise in ancient history, geography, and linguistics. Expositional preaching should not fill its listeners with technical information or drive them to sleep, but should be the instrument through which God fills his people with spiritual vitality.

Expositional preaching is preaching from God’s word with head screwed on, heart poured out, and hands outstretched to worship God, plead with sinners, and serve the church.  

This was printed in the worship bulletin of Grace Baptist Church (Wood Green) on 25 January 2015 and is the second in a series of posts on expositional preaching. Next week's column will be Part Three: Why Preach Expositionally?