A decisive factor in choosing a church is the preaching – and rightly so because sound doctrine and healthy teaching are referenced frequently in the New Testament. 

Yet all too often we judge preaching based on the style and the communication skills of the preacher and not necessarily his content or method. Is the preacher funny? Does he inspire me? 

But better questions to ask are: did the pastor preach the Bible today? Was Christ the centerpiece of his sermon? I am not advocating boring, mundane preaching, but style should always be considered secondary to substance.

Since I began in pastoral ministry at 26, I have had the privilege to preach at least 45 Sundays annually. While I have by no stretch arrived, and still have a lot to learn, one thing I have become convinced of over these years of pulpit ministry is that expository preaching is the best method to present the Scriptures to and build up the church, and I want to share its benefits.

But first, let’s define expository preaching, which is essentially seeking to focus the teaching in a sermon on a single portion of Scripture, and to explain and apply the passage to the congregation in its original context. 

Faithful expository preaching does not necessarily have to proceed systematically through a book or epistle, but I think it is most natural and most edifying course of action for a Bible-believing church. 

Now on to the church-building benefits of this approach to presenting God’s Word

1. Expository preaching makes the pastor accountable to the church to preach the Word. The pulpit is not a venue to produce creative content or put on a show. It is the time in the life of the church where, week-to-week, we are corporately exposed to God’s Word. Every pastor is still a sinner in the process of sanctification and has his fair share of hobby-horse topics. So, a high standard for expository preaching is the best way to
keep the preacher accountable to the congregation to stay focused on Bible truth, and not his favorite topic. 

2. Expository preaching keeps the church Word-centered. Mark Dever, in his book 9 Marks of a Healthy Church, asserts that throughout redemptive history, it is the Word of God, revealed and illuminated by the Spirit of God, that brings life to the people of God. Knowing this leads to a desire for a church not to be tradition-bound nor personality-driven but Word-centered. Even the sacraments themselves (the Lord’s Supper and Baptism) must be accompanied by the Word to have their efficacious effect in the life of a Christian. 

3. Expository preaching helps the church learn to study the Bible. Most Christians do not have the time or money to go get a seminary degree to study topics like Hermeneutics. Nor should they feel pressured to do so. Rather, pastor/elders should prioritize equipping members to study the Bible for themselves. Expository preaching is one of the best ways to teach believers, even inadvertently, how to interact with Scripture systematically and in-depth.

4. Expository preaching helps believers engage with all parts of Scripture. A congregation may be tempted to focus on emotive material like Psalms for those enduring suffering, heavily doctrinal content like Romans for those growing in the faith, or even practical, application-oriented teaching like James for those struggling in their daily walk. Yet a commitment to publicly teaching through books of the Bible will expose God’s people to all parts of the Scriptures, especially doctrinal issues that can be more challenging to understand and or controversial in nature.

5. Expository preaching allows the Lord to shepherd his church through His Word. Who is the best pastor we could possibly have? Jesus! He declared, “My sheep hear my voice and follow me.” Where do the sheep hear the voice of their Shepherd? In the pages of holy Scripture. I have been amazed at how many times God has used a text preached in corporate worship to shepherd His church directly through a challenging issue or time.

The term “expository preaching” may be completely new to you. Or you may have heard it done in an overly intellectual fashion, or where the application is not on the surface for you. For some, who are used to more topical preaching, it can be somewhat of an acquired taste. (And we’ll take on all those concerns in my next blog.)

But friend, give it time: once you “taste and see” true expository preaching, the conviction of your heart will be to have nothing but the Word preached on Sundays. 

Soli Deo Gloria!