Pastoral Ministry, Part 4: Expository Preaching

The pastor equips his flock by the systematic, consecutive, expository preaching of Scripture. Expository preaching is sometimes misunderstood. It is not dull running commentary of tediously long passages of Scripture. Well done expository preaching should be vivid and engaging because it expounds passages that are living, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. Expository preaching unfolds the meaning of a biblical text, providing contemporary application to God’s people directly from His Word without relying on the fallible opinions or whims of the pastor. It teaches people how to read and interpret the Bible for themselves, making them personally familiar and comfortable with it. Expository preaching focuses the church on the primacy of Scripture and precludes the pitfalls of emotionalism, showmanship, stunts, and gimmicks. Finally, it removes the work of edification from the pastor’s hands and places it squarely in the hands of the Holy Spirit, the inspirer and illuminator of Scripture.