Expositional preaching Part Three: Why Preach Expositionally? - GBC Bulletin Column #71

As we think about expositional preaching, the question might be asked – why preach expositionally? So as not to presumptuously speak out of turn on behalf of others committed to such preaching in some form, perhaps I should ask why at this church do we preach expositionally? The answer lies in what we believe about the Bible as God’s word.

We preach expositionally because of what we believe about the place of God’s word. All Scripture is “breathed out by God” (2 Tim. 3:16). We believe that it is authoritative in all matters of faith and practice, the standard to which all traditions must submit and by which all human philosophies and practices must be judged. Expositional preaching places the Bible where it belongs: the centre of the church’s worship, work, and witness.

We preach expositionally because of what we believe about the purpose of God’s word. It is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). It’s easy to pick and choose topics so as to avoid sensitive subjects that might be difficult, but in so doing reproof and correction might get neglected and useful, and relevant teaching discarded. A type of verbal commentary may be delivered where people are unquestionably taught but where is the meaningful application of the text for life? The preacher can lecture on a variety of matters raised in a text, but is he meant to train his listeners in the finer points of contextual detail or in righteousness? Expositional preaching, particularly when it is verse-by-verse through a book or portion of a book, cannot avoid what the word says, because it is essentially enslaved to the text and must grapple with any potentially difficult matters it raises.

We preach expositionally because of what we believe about the power of God’s word. It is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15) and occupies itself with “making the man of God competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). It brings us to faith and it sustains us in faith, for the glory of God and the good of the church. It gives us the tools with which we can wrestle with life’s complexities and problems. It convicts us of sin, encourages us toward righteousness, drives us to find forgiveness and restoration in Christ, and leads us to call out to the Spirit for help in growing in Christ-likeness.

Expositional preaching reads, explains, and applies the Scriptures in a way that is unrivalled by other styles of preaching. It requires attention as the preacher prepares then delivers the message drawn from the text, and as the people listen.  It commands devotion, as people are driven to search the Scriptures more deeply and, if the messages are working consecutively through a book, drawn to meet again so as not miss the next segment. It demands a response, challenging head-thoughts, heart-feelings, and life-styles with the call to lay other things aside and seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness in Christ. That is why we preach expositionally.

This was printed in the worship bulletin of Grace Baptist Church (Wood Green) on 02 February 2015 and is the third in a series of posts on expositional preaching.