This article is Part 1/2 of the essay written by Richard Philips (https://gospelreformation.net/five-reasons-to-practice-expository-preaching/). It is my hope that when you understand the importance of expository preaching, your heart will also be better conditioned to receive God’s Word.

I’ve been encouraged recently by many pastors’ commitment to the expository preaching of God’s Word. By “expository preaching,” we really mean two things. First, and most important, a Bible expositor preaches an expository sermon; that is, he makes the text of the passage the message he proclaims. The purpose of the sermon is to provide “a display of what is there,” with the aim that the Holy Spirit’s message in the text would be taught to the congregation. In expository preaching, the minister studies the passage in order to understand what the text is saying and how it says it. He then organizes his sermon to lay bare before the minds and hearts of his congregation the message and meaning of the passage.

Second, we speak of expository preaching as an expository series. This is known as the lectio continua approach, in which the minister preaches a whole book of Scripture from beginning to end. In both senses—expository sermons and expository series—expository preaching contrasts with topical preaching, in which the pastor decides on a message and then looks for passages to support it.

Let me urge pastors to consider expository preaching in light of the following benefits:

1. Expository preaching delivers the Word of God from the text to the congregation. Like the prophets of old, the expository preacher can declare, “Thus says the Lord!” His sermons contain not his own ideas or insights, but the message that came from the biblical author under the Spirit’s inspiration. The congregation leaves the service not thinking about how clever or interesting the preacher is, but rather thinking God’s thoughts after Him. Since the Word of God is “living and active” (Heb. 4:12), expository preaching is the best way to bring spiritual power to the church. Moreover, when the preacher has first put himself under the authority of God’s Word by preaching whatever the Bible says, the divine authority of the sermon is greatly enhanced.

2. Expository preaching presents a verse or passage in its biblical context. Those who have not long engaged in weekly preaching may not appreciate how significant this benefit is, but experienced pastors know that it makes a world of difference. Context is essential to understanding and teaching a passage accurately, and expository preaching provides this benefit. Instead of isolating passages (e.g., the “I Am” statements of Christ in John’s Gospel), the congregation follows the path laid by the apostle in approaching and discovering Christ’s message as the Holy Spirit gave it . . .

To be continued