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The Power Of Expository Preaching - Articles | Preachit.org

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The Power Of Expository Preaching

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There are a number of great ways to preach the Word of God, but one of the most effective is  expository preaching.

Stephen Olford defines expository preaching this way;

Expository preaching is the Spirit-empowered explanation and proclamation of the text of God’s Word with due regard to the historical, contextual, grammatical and doctrinal significance of the given message or given passage, with the specific object of invoking a Christ transforming response.”

That is a pretty heavy definition, let me simplify; “The text  does the talking, the preaching, the teaching and the transforming.” The message is already there, you just have to open it up and discover it for yourself. Expository preaching forces the man of God to open his own heart first and allow the scripture to change him before it ever changes his audience.

An expository sermon comes from a portion of text that is usually at least one paragraph in length, and where at least a good portion of the story is told in its context. For an expository sermon to have impact, the story of the text must be opened up to your audience. A casual reading and retelling of the scripture is not quite what it is about. Nor is it a step by step outline of each verse. There is a message in the story of the text that must be shared in a meaningful way.

There is a pressure in our culture today for preachers to be ‘relevant’ to their audience. In doing so, expository preaching has become less and less popular. Many insist that it is no longer effective. Most of today’s mainline preachers have adopted the ‘topical’ style of preaching in their attempt to become relevant. In this style of preaching they choose a topic and then go to the Word to see what the scripture says about it. The danger in this is that they become so topical in their preaching that there is very little of the Word of God left. The one or two scriptures they do use are often taken out of context and used in ways that alter their intended meaning. I would like to say that there is nothing more relevant for our culture today than the Word of God. The Word of God transcends time, tradition and culture. The writer of Hebrews declares that the Word of God is quick enough, sharp enough and has enough power to pierce into the thoughts and hearts of every person.

Hebrews 4:12

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This generation needs to rediscover the power that is in expository preaching. Even as you prepare your sermon, let the Word of God change you. That is what expository preparation will do. Read the text over and over and over again. Let it come alive in you as you unfold the language and the meaning of the story. Spend some time in prayer about what you are studying and allow God to speak through His Word; first to you in preparation, then to your audience as you deliver. Share with them what you discovered and learned through the leading of the Holy Ghost as you prepared your sermon, but do it in a way that keeps their attention. Don’t just read the text to them and state the obvious, you have to pull them into the message and meaning of the story.

 John MacArthur states it this way;

You know, the average ‘expository’ preacher I hear reads the text, states the obvious, and tells stories about it. But the text holds some truths and meaning that the average lay person does not have the tools or the time to draw out. I need to unfold those things in  a way that will excite the hearer –  at least that’s the goal. I keep them in the text with the promise that something is going to unfold – something very, very important that they will miss unless they are with me in the text.”

In other words, you don’t have to tell your audience everything at once, keep them wanting more and more of the story. They should be sitting on the edge of their seats. Your sermon should take on the form of the story of the text. By that I mean every good story has parts that pull you in and amaze you and you are left with that feeling of awe, wonder and adventure. The same is true of the Word of God, an expository sermon does not have to be boring to your audience. It ought be an exciting and wonderful thing for your people to ‘go back in time’ and ‘live’ in the Word as the scripture comes alive during your preaching. There is nothing more powerful than a sermon that comes alive in a person’s life. It is a life changing, life altering, life transforming experience. At the same time don’t make the mistake of trying to be an entertainer. You are a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The message of God’s Word all points to Christ, and your preaching should as well!

Paul stated;

1 Cor 2:1-5

2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

As I stated earlier, there is a pressure to relate to people in your preaching. Man tries to relate through ‘enticing words’. We do this through the use of illustrations, humor, fancy words, body language, props, passion and a variety of other ways. These are all great and have a proper place in a sermon, but never forget the power that is in God’s Word. If your preaching is not in demonstration of God’s Word and God’s power, then your preaching will be in vain. Stay in the Word! You can’t change anybody, only God’s Word can. Study the Word, pray the Word, live the Word and preach the Word!