WHAT IS EXPOSITORY PREACHING? By Mike Abendroth Submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for Issues in Expository Preaching 80311 Southern Baptist Theological Seminary June 3, 2002
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS DEFINITION...1 ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF AN EXPOSITORY MESSAGE...3 THE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR EXPOSITORY PREACHING...5 Biblical...5 Theological...6 Practical...7 PERSONAL REFLECTIONS OF EXPOSITORY PREACHING TODAY...10 Status...10 Importance...11 BIBLIOGRAPHY...14
DEFINITION There are many great definitions of expository preaching, but I would define it as a style or method of preaching God s Word, that seeks to logically expose the biblical text to the mind and will of the congregation. The man of God is to passionately open up, uncover, and lay bare the rich truths contained in Holy Writ and he is to urge the people of God to understand and obey the truth they have just learned, doing all this to the glory of Jesus Christ. I have highlighted the man of God because he is a very critical component to expository delivery. The preacher is one whom the Father has hand picked ( called ), molded by the Spirit (sanctified), called by elders, and is uniquely constructed by the Lord to proclaim the riches of Christ with a special place and a unique style. Similarly, Jerry Vines and Jim Shaddix define expository preaching as the process of laying open a biblical text in such a way that its original meaning is brought to bear on the lives of contemporary listeners. 1 Ramesh Richard s describes this way of preaching when he states, Expository preaching is the contemporization of the central proposition of a biblical text that is derived from proper methods of interpretation and declared through effective means of communication to inform minds, instruct hearts, and influence behavior toward godliness. 2 An additional definition will assist us in our quest for what exposition is, namely, At its best, expository preaching is the presentation 1 Jerry Vines and Jim Saddix, Power in the Pulpit, (Chicago: Moody, 1999), p. 28. 2 Ramesh Richard, Prep aring Expository Sermons, p. 19
2 of biblical truth, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, Spiritguided study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit applies first to the life of the preacher and then through him to his congregation. 3 In layman s terms, I often describe expository preaching as proclaiming God s Word, verse by verse. This clues in the typical evangelical who is not familiar with the word expository. Likewise, many people in today s churches will understand this rare breed of sermon when they are informed that the Pastor is preaching through a book of the Bible. A similar way to communicate the truth of this method of proclamation is to describe what exposition is not. This kind of preaching is not topical, that is, it is not built upon or around a theological or biographical subject matter. At one extreme, it is not a series of cross references assembled without exegesis, and on the other extreme, it is not a grouping a scholarly, exegetical data that has no theme or homiletical rhetoric. Dr. Mayhue describes it this way, It is not a chopped-up collection of grammatical findings and quotations from commentaries without a fusing of the same into a smooth, flowing, interesting, and compelling message. 4 Lastly, it is not a rambling discussion about the Bible, rather, as Unger says, It is emphatically not preaching about the Bible, but preaching the Bible. What saith the Lord is the alpha and the omega of expository preaching. It begins in the Bible and ends in the Bible and all that intervenes springs 3 Haddon W. Robinson, What is Expository Preaching? Bibliotheca Sacra 131 (January-March 1974): 57. 4 Richard Mayhue, Rediscovering Expository Preaching, Rediscovering Expository Preaching, pg 10.
3 from the Bible. In other words, expository preaching is Bible-centered preaching. 5 In summary, expository preaching is a sermon from a man, who above all else, wants to glorify His Lord by studying a passage to find out what is means to God (so many wrongly think that the object of the preposition during study is me ), and then he persuasively proclaims that truth, in context, interpreted in a grammatical, historical way, revolving around a central proposition, to a group of His sheep. ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF AN EXPOSITORY MESSAGE` Many differ on the exact number of parts that the expository message must contain. We will look at five mandatory pieces that every exposition is obliged to include if it is to honor our Lord and represent the text well. To start, the man preparing the message must be regenerated and called into the ministry. The godliness of the man preaching is too underestimated today. The Old Testament designation of a man of God speaks of God s messenger, but also of a man who is holy and specially set apart for the use of the Lord. The expositor is someone that the Lord has groomed in His special and providential way. He sovereignly uses his unsaved background, his theological training, his family life, and everything about and around him, in order to create a unique vessel for a unique local church. The second step in the expository process is the preparation. Research and study are non negotiables that under gird the systematic proclamation of the Bible. This study contains exegesis, grammatical, historical hermeneutics, prayer, all with the purpose that 5 Merrill F. Unger, Principles, 33.
4 the pastor will understand exactly what God meant when He inspired every letter and word. This extraction process bridges the gaps of history, culture, time, and language. The third essential component of the message is the introduction. This is not an attention getter or a statement that secures the audience s interest. Instead, it tells the congregation how the specific passage ties into the overall context. In other words, it connects the passage to the one just before it and gives the hearer a proper foundation to understand the truth. As one said, In short, expository preaching demands that, by careful analysis of each text within its immediate context and the setting of the book to which it belongs, the full power of modern exegetical and theological scholarship be brought to bear upon our treatment of the Bible. 6 The fourth step is to actually teach the congregation what God said. The pastor is to expose the congregation to the passage and explain it as he proceeds. This explanation of the original meaning is the bulk of the message. Ideally, each main point is subservient to the central proposition of the text. This is not a running, grammar lesson full of super technical phrases, instead, it is a flowing, comprehendible analysis of an portion of God s Word. The terminology and vocabulary needs to be suitable for the majority of flock to understand and grasp. The exegete would simply categorize the raw product, but the expositor will arrange the meat on the platter in a well arranged and beautiful way. The fifth and final step is what I call the exhortation or what the Puritans used to call pressing the text to the congregation s conscience. Many would use words like 6 Greer W. Boyce, A Plea for Expository Preaching, Canadian Journal of Theology 8 (January 1962): 18-19.
5 practical application, or principlization to describe this final stage. The preacher persuades, encourages, and calls the congregation to either believe or obey what they have just heard. To use the language of James, the flock must be called to be doers of the Word, and not merely hearers (James 1:22). Since the preacher is revealing God s Word, he carries all the authority of the LORD Himself, as He exhorts the people to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. Kaiser describes this phase, saying, Let it be stated as a sort of first principle that preparation for preaching is always a movement which must begin with the text of Scripture and have as its goal the proclamation of that Word in such a way that it can be heard with all its poignancy and relevancy to the modern situation without dismissing one iota of its original normativeness. 7 This is the most difficult stage. THE PRACTICAL JUSTIFICATIONS FOR EXPOSITORY PREACHING Biblical The Bible gives us both the models of exposition and the mandates for it. Let s examine some models first. Nehemiah 8:8 gives the tendency or flavor for expository preaching, saying, And they read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading. This was more than just reading or even translating. It contained study, explanation, and exhortation. From the teacher s perspective, Ezra did more than simply recite the biblical text, Ezra 7:10 says, For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to practice 7 Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Toward and Exegetical Theology: Biblical Exegesis for Preaching and Teaching, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981), p. 48.
6 it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. This implies the painstaking efforts undertaken by Ezra to properly teach all that the Lord had commanded (after thorough study). In terms of a pattern that has great significance, Paul told the Ephesians that he had discharged all his duty, saying in Acts 20:26-27, "Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Anything less than teaching the entire corpus would have been unacceptable to the Lord, and to Paul. Surely the only way to do this in three years would have been systematically and expositionally, book by book. Dr. Mayhue gives some examples of exposition when he states, A particular example is Jesus expounding of Isa 61:1 2 in the synagogue (Luke 4:16 22). He later gave a thematic exposition of Himself to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27, 32, 44 47). Philip in Acts 8:27 35 expounded Isa 53:7 8 for the Ethiopian eunuch. Stephen preached a historical/biographical expository sermon to the Jews before they stoned him (Acts 7:2 53). 8 This model is also followed by a mandate or directive by the Spirit of God Himself. The Holy Spirit, using the human agent Paul, said in 2 Tim 4:1-2, I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. This command from God to herald the Word must be taken to proclaim all of God s Word, and 8 Richard Mayhue, Rediscovering Expository Preaching, Rediscovering Expository Preaching, pg 11.
7 the most obvious way to do that is just the way it was breathed out, that is, one verse at a time, one after another. Theological Theologically, since all Scripture is inspired, sufficient, and contains the mind of the Lord, then it is our duty to teach and to preach all of it and in its entirety. It saves and sanctifies, so we must, as Paul says in 2 Tim 2:15-16, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Only responsible workmen need apply for expository preaching. This idea can be summed up by the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy, which states, WE AFFIRM that the only type of preaching which sufficiently conveys the divine revelation and its proper application to life is that which faithfully expounds the text of Scripture as the Word of God. WE DENY that the preacher has any message from God apart from the text of Scripture. 9 Lastly, it is an elder duty to know doctrine so well that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict (Tit 1:9). This can only be done after careful exegetical study of all of the God s Word. In order to teach and warn, the leg work of systematic study must be accomplished. Expository preaching is a great way to train up elders to teach every truth and warn of every error. Practical 9 International Council on Biblical Inerrancy, The Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics, article 25.
8 There are a variety of practical validations for expository preaching. The most important is that preaching the whole counsel of God edifies both the Pastor and his congregation. Spurgeon, even though he was not an expository preacher, had a lot of insight in this area, saying, No truth is to be kept back It is not true that some doctrines are only for the initiated; there is nothing in the Bible which is ashamed of the light. Cautious reticence is, in nine cases out of ten, cowardly betrayal. The best policy is never to be politic, but to proclaim every atom of the truth so far as God has taught it to you. All revealed truth in harmonious proportion must be your theme. 10 Verse by verse teaching provides the congregation all of God s revealed mind, from His love to His wrath, from divine sovereignty to human responsibility, and from doctrine to duty. Every subject is covered, it is handled in proper proportions, and it is all covered exactly as God revealed it. Both the pastor and his flock become well rounded theologically, as they are forced to study the entire body of God s Word. This breadth of biblical knowledge is irreplaceable. The very core of exposition is the deep diving into the text and extracting out more the precious ore of God s Word. This should give the layman more than he could get with just his or her English text. Additionally, biblical explication inhibits the potential of the shepherd riding his favorite hobby horses. This particular, problem saddle can be mounted too often by topical preaching. Expository preaching prevents this, and on the flip side, it forces the preacher to deal with every problem text or controversial subject. The afflicted are comforted and the comforted are afflicted. Paul told Timothy to preach in such a 10 Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Lectures To My Students, (Grand Rapids: Reprinted by Baker Books, 1977), Vol. I., pp. 77-78.
9 variegated manner, saying, reprove, rebuke, exhort (2 Tim. 4:2). Verse by verse preaching will cover each of these commanded modes. This manner of preaching also actually serves as a self protection device in the pastorate which, by nature, is laden with potential pitfalls. The pastor must preach the next set of verses and a well trained congregation will be able to see right through an under prepared or doctrinally compromised view, since they are also seeing the context, etc. This safety measure does exactly what Ramesh Richard says, Basically, expository preaching helps the preacher promote God s agenda for his people. 11 God s Word, through expository preaching, stays in the forefront, which is its rightly deserved place of honor. Expository sermons are very practical because they save both time and stress. Every pastor knows the pressure of having to pick a passage that is simultaneously educational, motivational, Spirit directed, and encouraging. This pressure is horrendous and it can be totally avoided by letting the Lord direct you and the congregation by heralding the next set of verses. How great it is to arrive at the study on Tuesday morning and know exactly what the Lord wants you to preach, namely, the next set of verses! Still on the pragmatic vein, I always suggest to vacationers and other travelers that they need to only ask a potential church one question to ascertain if it will properly exalt Jesus Christ during Sunday morning worship: if your Pastor is preaching a book of the Bible verse by verse, which book is he preaching? Most liberal churches run 11 Ramesh Richard, Preparing Expository Sermons, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995, 2001), p. 18.
10 from expository preaching and much can be learned from any Protestant church that exposes people to a central truth in a set of verses. Lastly, one more practical justification is in order, and that is expository preaching helps the Pastor stay ahead of an ever increasing and mature flock. No matter how godly and scripturally insightful they are, they cannot devote 15-30 hours per week studying the text and therefore the most godly and educated can still worship and learn much in this type of proclamation from the pulpit. PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON EXPOSITORY PREACHING TODAY Status I think the state and status of the professing church today is in dire straits, and in my opinion, it is directly related to her abandonment of expository preaching. Kaiser goes to the heart of the issue, saying, It is no secret that Christ s Church is not at all in good health in many places of the world. She has been languishing because she has been fed junk food. The Biblical text is often no more than a slogan or refrain in the message. Biblical exposition has become a lost art in contemporary preaching. American parishioners are often rewarded with more or less of the same treatment: repetitious arrangements of the most elementary truths of the faith Where is that sense of authority and mission previously associated with the Biblical Word? 12 How true! The church has exchanged her birthright for a watered down stew of power point 12 Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Toward and Exegetical Theology: Biblical Exegesis for Preaching and Teaching, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981), pp. 7, 19, 37, 191, 20.
11 presentations, drama, methods, psychology, techniques, and programs that are designed to fill the pews, but they will not fill the person in the pew with hygienic, sound, meaty doctrine, which will be critical for the potentially brutal week ahead. We need men in our sacred desks today, that will not apologize for cutting the truth straight, in context, with boldness, directed at the heart, and properly exegeted. Call these men dinosaurs, obscurantists, sheltered, cave dwellers, or troglodytes, but the Judge of the living and of the dead will call them obedient servants. The more the people swap sound doctrine for felt needs, practical relationships, and feel good homilies, the more the man of God ought to be determined to feed them the pure milk of the Word, that they may grow and mature into Christ likeness, from one level of glory to the next. After five years of expository preaching (Sunday morning and Sunday night), it has revolutionized our church. It has not arrived, but it has grown in doctrine, love, and worship, and it will no longer accept the lowest common denominator, dumbed down, sermon pabulum. In this, I rejoice! Importance Expository preaching is so important, that I believe it is safe to say that it is the pastor s number one duty, bar none. Preaching is important, but the right kind of preaching is the type that exposes the congregation to the mind of God in a way that is understandable and compelling. Is there something less central and key than that? It is so critical that Dabney said, that the expository method (understood as that which explains extended passages of Scripture in course) be restored to that equal place which it held in the primitive and Reformed Churches; for, first, this is obviously the only natural and efficient way to do that which is the sole legitimate end of preaching, convey the
12 whole message of God to the people. 13 I often tell people that I have many goals in preaching, but I do have a secondary goal, which is to so preach the full counsel of God, that the congregation could never go back to topical preaching. The best way to learn doctrine and the glories of Christ is to study them as they were revealed by the Holy Spirit, namely, one verse at a time, in context and passionately presented. After all, we are heralds of more than words printed on onion skin paper. Paul said that the apostolic message was vital and the church accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe (1 Thess. 2:13b). Since this is true, just how important must expository preaching be? May we never forget to implement, by God s grace, the words of Mark Steege, highlighting the magnitude of exposition, saying, Through our preaching the Lord seeks to change men s lives. We are to be evangelists, to awaken men to their high calling in Christ. We are to be heralds, proclaiming the messages of God to men. We are to be ambassadors, calling men to be reconciled to God. We are to be shepherds, nourishing and caring for men day by day. We are to be stewards of the mysteries of God, giving men the proper Word for their every need. We are to be witnesses, telling men of all that God has done for them. We are to be overseers, urging men to live their lives to God. We are to be ministers, preparing men to minister with us to others. As we reflect on each of these phases of our work, what emphasis each gives to the importance of preaching! 13 Robert L. Dabney, Sacred Rhetoric (reprint, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1979), 78-79.
13 What a task the Lord has given us! 14 14 Mark J. Steege, Can Expository Preaching Still Be Relevant in These Days? The Springfielder 34 (March 1971): 261.
14 BIBLIOGRAPHY Broadus, John A. Preparation and Delivery of Sermons. New York: A.C. Armstrong and Son, 1906. Kaiser Jr., Walter C. Toward an Exegetical Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981. Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn. Preaching & Preachers. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971. MacArthur, Jr., John and The Master s Seminary Faculty. Rediscovering Expository Preaching. Dallas: Word, 1992. Meyer, F.B. Expository Preaching Plans and Methods. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1910. Richard, Ramesh. Preparing Expository Sermons. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995, 2001. Spurgeon, Charles H. Lectures to My Students. Grand Rapids: Reprinted by Baker Books, 1977. Stott, John. Between Tow Worlds. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1982. Vines, Jerry and Jim Shaddix. Power in the Pulpit. Chicago: Moody, 1999.