Dan Allen writes that there is little Biblical basis for expository preaching.
…expository preaching cannot be found to be a consistent example, let alone given as a mandate, in the Bible.
He goes on to say
In this, I think, is an assumption that makes expository preaching much more dangerous than topical preaching. When someone preaches an expository sermon the impression they give is that they are telling the audience what the Bible says, not what they think. This would be great, if it were true.
His ultimate point is that expository preaching can be just as full of hidden and personal agendas as can the topical sermon. I fully agree. I would go further and state that most expository sermons do not actually teach the passage of Scripture being dealt with. I believe the “expository preaching” method I was taught in seminary does more to mask the meaning of the text than to unfold and explain it.
I would like to make two caveats.
First, I think there might be more of a biblical basis for expository preaching and teaching than most imagine. Though I am working on a book about this, see my post on The Teaching Method of Jesus as in introduction to the idea.
Second, despite the fact that many pastors have hidden agendas when they preach expository messages, when I preach and teach an expository message, I have no hidden agenda. I am simply teaching and preaching the pure and unadulterated Word.
(Yes, I am making fun of myself. Please do not take that last paragraph seriously.)
The bottom line is that I agree with Dan. There is not one “mandated” way of teaching the Scriptures, and when we preach and teach, none of us just “Preach the Word.” Nevertheless, logically and practically, I do think that the best way to approach Scripture is book-by-book, verse-by-verse, both in our reading and in our teaching. This helps us understand the context and the thought flow of the text, and forces us to study and teach passages that we might prefer to ignore.
Well, as a fellow expository preacher with intentions as pure as the wind driven snow at all times… 🙂 I still have to agree that it is best… because of a necessity it does limit at least the personal agendas shining forth.
I also agree somewhat about the preaching method you and I both were taught… which is why I don’t really follow it (precisely, anyway). Then again, if I had my way, I would preach narrative all the time…
Do you mean preaching in a narrative style, or preaching narrative texts?
Where do you preach now?
I fear for good ppeloe who don't understand that it is the Word of God ITSELF that is living and active … and who feel compelled to minister what amounts to Systematic Theology in its place.Is this what results from being Reformed rather than Reforming?
I agree that expository preaching is by no means a guarantee of an agenda-free message, but it sure beats the heck out of topical preaching, which usually entails a collection of verses denuded of their context and force-fit to agree with each other.
Yes, context is SO important, and I believe that teaching through a book passage by passage helps maintain a focus on the context. Do you have any favorite teachers/preachers?
I naturally gravitate to preaching narrative texts… some might say I have a narrative style… I don’t know about that really.
I preach at El Paso Bible church each Sunday and am currently going through Acts ( with a two week break for Palm Sunday and Resurrection)
I’m with you on that. When I was a pastor, I tried preaching Ephesians and while I could do it, I find that I really enjoyed preaching narrative.
El Paso Bible Church. Hope all is going well for you.
I really miss many elements of Pastoral ministry, one of them being preaching. Keep leading and teaching!
I’ve found that dialogue and discussion help any type of teaching methodology, including both topical and expository.
-Alan
I’ve been finding that too. Although I must say, knowing that there is going to be a discussion causes me to study less. I feel like I am not getting as much out of the texts as I used to when I was responsible for all the teaching. I think everybody else is learning just as much and maybe more, but I really miss those hours of intense study and sermon preparation.
I am one of those preachers that values listening to the sermons of other preachers. I listen to them not as a “colleague” but as a fellow believer. For that reason, I very much appreciate being taught via the expository method. Expository preaching subordinates the teacher to the text.
David,
Yes, I love listening to expository preaching, and whenever I preach anymore, it is the method I use.