A Guide to Expository Preaching

            James and Bill were excited to spend a weekend fishing on the county lake. It was early spring, and the bass were becoming more active. Both men loved to bass fish. They would spend way more money than they probably should getting ready for this fishing trip. As the men launched the boat, excitement filled them both. With ridiculous-sized tackle boxes, the men set out to catch some big bass. But as the day went on, no matter what bait they used, the bass would not bite. After the first day with no fish, the men approached the boat launch to return to the cabin. As they approached, an older man, known by the locals as Ol’ Joe, caught a massive bass from the dock. James and Bill were amazed at the size of this fish. Ol’ Joe told the men it was his seventh fish of the day, and he had only been fishing for a few hours. When the men asked Ol’ Joe what bait he was using, he replied, “The only bait I know.” Ol’ Joe did not have a giant tackle box like James and Bill; he had a couple of weights, hooks, and one bag of purple plastic worms. Ol’ Joe told the men they did not need all that fancy equipment; they just needed to know what worked.

Knowing what works is an excellent tool for the preacher. Expository preaching is one of many different styles of preaching that work. But what exactly is expository preaching? Can it be used in various ways to convey biblical truths? “Expository preaching is that form of sermon in which the main point of the chosen biblical text is the main point of the sermon preached. The essence of expository preaching can be summed up in two words: explanation and exhortation.”[1] Expository preaching delves into the depths of Scripture and helps connect its meta-narrative. The meta-narrative of Scripture is Jesus. Either the scriptures point towards Jesus or point back to Jesus. Expository preaching first looks at the meta-narrative and then expounds on the text. This preaching illuminates the mind and soul, enabling one to grasp the full beauty of the gospel and its teachings. For instance, how does Isaac in the Old Testament relate to Jesus? God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. As the story unfolds, the two men and a few servants head to the mountain. As Abraham and Isaac head up the mountain, Isaac would carry the wood for the sacrifice on his back, which would parallel Jesus carrying the cross. There are many other parallels in the story of Abraham and Isaac and the death of Christ. Expository preaching helps Christians understand the full scope of what Scripture is saying and helps connect these parallels. But expository preaching does more than draw parallels; it also exposes the full context of scripture.

Expository preaching deepens into the who, what, where, when, and why questions of scripture. “Most Christians desire to understand all of God’s Word, not just the easy portions. Many of us want to be able to dig deeper into that Word. We want to see more and to understand more of the biblical text. We also want to know that we understand the Bible correctly.”[2] The preacher can adequately understand and faithfully preach the text by asking the questions of who, what, where, when, and why. Once the preacher understands the depth of the text and these questions, they can adequately prepare their expositional sermons. These types of sermons will help preachers and their congregations to grow deeper in their understanding of doctrine and ultimately lead them to a deeper appreciation for the text. The soul needs the scriptures, just as the body needs oxygen to breathe. Neglecting the scriptures neglects the soul of one of its most basic needs. Preachers must breathe well and know what works.

[1] H.B. Charles Jr., On Pastoring: A Short Guide to Living, Leading, and Ministering as a Pastor (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2016), 140.

[2] J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading. Interpreting, and Applying the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001), 39.