Practical:
EXPOSITORY PREACHING
Dr. Alexander Kurian
Expository preaching is the most effective form of Bible preaching. By expounding God’s Word, the expository sermon fulfils the primary function of preaching. In expository sermons, we preach the Word of God, which results in the regeneration, transformation, and spiritual maturity of the hearers. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).
Ezra 7:10; Neh 8:1–8; Acts 8:30 – 35; 2 Tim. 4:2; Luke 24:44-45; etc., exemplify the importance, spirit, and practice of expository preaching. Ezra had set his heart to study, practice, and teach the law of the Lord. He read the law with an explanation. “So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading” (Neh. 8:8).
Philip preached the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch expositorily – expounding Isaiah 53. Paul encouraged Timothy to “Preach the Word”. Jesus gave a thematic exposition of Himself to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Definition
Mr. Haddon W. Robinson has given an excellent definition of expository preaching: “Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through him to his hearers.”
This is my definition of expository preaching: Expository preaching is preaching that explains a biblical text in its context with proper interpretation and logical amplification thereby bringing out its central truth and applying it to the hearers.
Explanation
1. Exposition means opening up. It comes from two Latin words: “ex” = out, and “pono” = to place. It is, placing out, displaying, or exhibiting. In an expository sermon, the truth of the selected scripture portion is placed out or displayed.
2. It is preaching the Bible; it is Bible-centred preaching. All the extra-Biblical material employed must be purely subsidiary and strictly fitted into one single aim: to elucidate the portion of scripture chosen.
3. Expository preaching is preaching that expounds the scripture as a coherent and coordinated body of revealed truth.
4. It is biblically instructive preaching.
5. It is the detailed interpretation, logical amplification, and practical application of a passage of scripture.
6. It lays open the Bible so that men are confronted by its truth.
7. The substance of expository sermons is derived from the scriptures.
8. It will be occupied largely with the explanation of scripture.
9. In expository preaching, the preacher subjects his thoughts to the scriptures and he never subjects the scriptures to his thoughts.
10. It is the preaching of the Word of God as it is, to men as they are.
Advantages
1. In expository preaching, we preach God’s Word and His truth. Therefore, subjectivism is minimized.
2. It magnifies the inspiration and authority of God’s Word.
3. It allows preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), thereby enabling us to preach many passages that would otherwise be neglected.
4. It gives us the golden opportunity to study and understand the Bible systematically. This applies to both the preacher and the hearer.
5. It gives the preacher authority and power because he is proclaiming the Word of God.
6. It provides variety and a storehouse of preaching material.
7. It delivers the preacher from fanciful interpretation and abuse of isolated texts.
8. It prevents the insertion of human ideas and cultural bias.
9. Expositional preaching imitates the preaching of Christ, the apostles, and the great preachers of the Christian Church.
10. It furnishes a good model for future preachers.
11. It enhances the dignity of preaching.
12. Expository preaching meets human needs, enabling people to think spiritually and live Biblically.
Caution
1. Expository preaching is not a verse-by-verse commentary or exegesis.
2. It is not a suggestion, remark, inference, or simple devotional application from a passage.
3. It is not a survey of a passage.
4. It is not linking a number of passages to bring out a theme.
A good expository sermon includes commentary, exegesis, comparison, and application, but with cohesion, logical order, and thematic development of the passage as a whole.
The Need
Since expository preaching is Bible-centred preaching, it conveys God’s plans, will, and truth for our lives. It is the authoritative declaration of the Word and will of God toward meeting human needs. There is a great need all around for the liberating power of God’s Word. Congregations are hungry for the true Bread. Only good expository preaching can feed the spiritually hungry.
Lectures, discourse, entertainment, ritualism, and formalism fill the pulpit today leading the church to spiritual poverty, powerlessness, and lukewarmness. A church that fails to preach the Word becomes an easy prey to all secular and humanistic ideologies. The Church imbibed the worldly philosophy of pragmatism. Evangelicalism at the beginning of the 21st century is tasting the bitter results of worldliness. The root cause of the problem is the neglect of Biblical preaching.
The foundation of a pastoral ministry is built upon the Word of God (2 Timo. 4:1–5). The preaching of the Word must be the very heart of our ministry. We are called upon to preach powerful messages. Are we ashamed of the very message we are commanded to preach?
(Taken from Basic Homiletics & Expository Preaching)
