Think of a time when you have experienced the power and presence of God. (Perhaps a time of prayer, or singing, or solitude in nature.) Often, however, we experience God through his Word – and specifically the preached Word. Have you ever asked yourself, “How did the preacher know I needed to hear that?” The preacher declares the Word; the Spirit cuts us to the heart; in a moment, God illuminates our sin with his light. How does this happen? In Encountering God through Expository Preaching, coauthors Jim Scott Orrick, Brian Payne, and Ryan Fullerton put it this way:
“Preaching occurs when a holy man of God opens the Word of God and says to the people of God, ‘Come and experience God with me in this text.’”
As the authors unpack this statement, the book offers practical advice to become a better preacher, but also casts a vision for what preaching could be and should be. The first section of the book defines and defends expository preaching. Expository preaching flows out of the belief that God’s Word carries with it God’s power and presence. The preacher does not “come up” with a message. Rather, “when the main point of the text is the main point of the sermon, the preacher has the assurance that the Lord himself is coming to speak and act” (34).
In part two, the authors explain how to find the meaning of the text. This requires studying the context and the grammar, but also seeking the Spirit’s illumination. Preaching requires something more than the preacher can offer. It requires the Spirit to infuse the preacher with boldness and love, to give him understanding and words.
The authors encourage preaching consecutively through books as a rule, but recognize that topical sermons also have a place. For practical reasons, preaching through books simplifies the pastor’s study time and helps the congregation to better grasp the overarching flow of scripture. It also allows (and requires) the pastor to address thorny topics as they arise in the text. Topical preaching, on the other hand, allows the pastor to address specific needs in the moment. One caveat: “when you preach topically you must never forget that you are primarily preaching textually” (81).
This book calls pastors to a hard, but rewarding standard: “Do not succumb to the easy ways of getting sermons, always borrowing from someone else . . . Walk with God. Meditate in God’s Word. Be a man of prayer. Be a holy man of God” (204).
This book is for pastors, but it’s relevant even if you aren’t one. How to study, how to get at the meaning of a verse, how to read aloud – these are skills all believers can benefit from. Read this book, then give it to your pastor. It will give him a fresh reminder of his calling and give you a fresh reminder to pray for him.