My endeavor is to bring out of Scripture what is there, and not to thrust in what I think might be there. I have a great jealousy on this head: never to speak more or less than I believe to be the mind of the Spirit in the passage I am expounding.[^1]
Today, when many people hear the words “expository or expositional preaching,” they generally respond in one of two ways. The first is, “What are you talking about? I’ve never heard of this kind of preaching.” The second is often a dramatic eye-roll, and a long sigh that communicates how they feel about it—dull, boring, tedious verse-by-verse lecturing. In my opinion, the second response shows greater ignorance than the first. At least the first response admits to a lack of knowledge, while the second response embraces inaccurate knowledge.
Sometimes, when trying to define or describe something, it’s helpful to start by clarifying what it is not. Since this article aims to define expositional preaching, we’ll begin from that perspective.
First and foremost, expositional preaching is not a verse-by-verse commentary on the text. Whether it is dull and tedious says more about the personality and preparation of the speaker than the content of the Scriptures. Additionally, it is not simply choosing an isolated text, reading it aloud, and immediately abandoning it, as the first disciples did with their fishing boats. They, at least, returned to their boats from time to time.
Expositional preaching is not topical either; that is, it doesn’t choose a subject and then look for Scripture passages that support it. This approach to teaching and preaching often overlooks the context of the chosen passages, which are selected specifically to confirm the presenter’s preconceived ideas. It risks the speaker imposing their own thoughts onto the text instead of letting the text speak for itself.
What then is expositional preaching? Did you know there is a biblical passage that defines it? In Nehemiah chapter 8, Ezra gathered the people together to hear the Book of the Law of Moses. Several names are mentioned of those who, along with the Levites, “helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.”
Prayer is an essential part of this process. Because we have often read the Scriptures and have heard many sermons, we may be tempted to think we know what the passage means. We must come humbly to the Scriptures, asking the Holy Spirit for wisdom and insight, because they contain a wealth of knowledge and truth we can never exhaust in our lifetime. Jesus said that one who is well-versed in the Scripture will bring out of his treasures that which is both old and new (Matthew 13:52).
The primary point of exposition is “to bring out of the Scripture what is there.” According to Nehemiah 8:8, this begins with a thoughtful, deliberate reading of the text. This important part of exposition is too often overlooked. Too many preachers and teachers read the Word hurriedly and sloppily, implying that what they have to say is more important than what God has to say.
The next step is a solid, thorough exegesis of the text. Exegesis is the critical explanation or interpretation of a scripture portion, designed to draw out its original, intended meaning. In the words of Nehemiah, this is “giving the sense” or meaning.
Finding the meaning requires us to approach Scripture with an open mind. For those who have been exposed to the Word for many years, this can be particularly challenging. In a Methods of Study class I had years ago at SMBI, instructor Harry Brenneman insisted that the only copy of Scripture we could bring to class was one without any marginal notes or cross-references; just the text. Chapter and paragraph subheadings automatically influence our perceptions of the passage’s meaning. Furthermore, we had to decide where paragraph divisions belonged and how to outline a book of the Bible. This forced us to take a fresh look at familiar passages.
Exposition also considers the original literary and historical context. This cannot be overstressed. So many errors in interpretation and application result from failure in this area.
Since all Scripture was written long ago and in a culture very different from ours, we must explore the type of writing (prose, poetry, prophecy), setting, the reasons for its writing, and what the author hoped to communicate to his audience. We must determine whether the text is descriptive (narrative) or prescriptive (teaching). Comprehending how the original audience would have understood the message is also essential to proper interpretation.
Exposition examines factors such as geography, culture, politics, religion, and more as they influence how messages are communicated and understood. What was the wilderness like for the children of Israel on their journey from Egypt to Canaan? How far did Jonah travel from Joppa to Tarshish, and how far were they both from Nineveh? What was the political and religious climate of Jesus’ day that caused many to reject Him as the Messiah?
Another key to expositional preaching is to understand the overall theme or message of the Bible book that contains the passage you want to illuminate for your audience. A good first step is to incorporate the passage into your daily Scripture reading and read it repeatedly in its larger context. Reading the whole book several times will give you a better understanding of the author’s intent.
For example, how did the recipients of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians understand what he wrote in chapter 13? Did they see it as a basis for a wedding sermon or a marriage seminar topic? No, what we call “The Love Chapter” is actually Paul’s teaching on the proper use of spiritual gifts and their role in the church. This gives the text a completely different focus.
Once the context and message are understood, we must consider how they fit into the larger story of Scripture. However, to do this, one needs to be familiar with the Scriptures and have developed at least a general understanding of theology. Jesus used the Law and the Prophets to teach the two on the road to Emmaus all about Himself. Paul says that the failures of the children of Israel are recorded in Scripture, so we don’t make the same mistakes (1 Corinthians 10:11). We must see how the Scriptures are woven together in a narrative that conveys a central message – God’s redemptive plan for humanity.
Once you grasp the main idea of the passage, focus on what you want to communicate to your audience. Your teaching or preaching should revolve around a single core concept that you can express in a simple sentence or two. If you’re uncertain about your sermon’s goal and direction, your listeners will likely be confused as well. If you’re like me, you’ve heard too many “messages” that made you wonder, “What was that all about?” If people leave the building wondering what you were trying to convey, you’ve failed in your responsibility.
How do you take that key concept you’ve discovered through prayer and study and make it meaningful to your audience? A good pastor or teacher understands their audience and their struggles. They also need to be confident that God’s Word provides the answers people need to see life’s trials as chances for spiritual growth. People need to see that the Word of God remains as relevant in our technological age as it was in Jesus’ agricultural culture.
Effective exposition breaks down the key concept into small, understandable parts for your audience. Each point should logically follow the one before it. Remember, repetition is a fundamental part of learning. One of the main principles in expositional preaching is this: “Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them.”
I conclude with two points and an invitation. The two points are both deeply ingrained in my mind from my mentor, the late Dr. J. Otis Yoder. He said, “If you’re going to feed the sheep, you have to put the food where they can reach it.” And “Every expositional sermon should have a ‘hook’ in it that calls people to respond to what they’ve heard.”
Your preaching and teaching should communicate clearly and call people to commit themselves to obedience to the Word of God and the person of Jesus Christ.
The invitation is to attend a week-long seminar on Opening the Word held October 19–23 on the campus of Elnora Bible Institute. It is designed for pastors, Sunday School teachers, and anyone who wants to learn more effective expositional methods for teaching and preaching God’s Word.
For those who want further study on this subject, I recommend Expositional Preaching by David Helm (part of the 9Marks series on building healthy churches), published by Crossway, and Biblical Preaching by Haddon W. Robinson, published by Baker Book House.