Expository preaching is not for lazy preachers, but for the person willing to invest the time and study, it can reap exceedingly rich rewards. The purpose of expository preaching is the same as that of all preaching: to glorify Christ, to draw men to Him, and to lead them to Christian maturity. The particular method involved is expressed in the term "expository." It is to expose a passage of Scripture to the audience.

The intention in expository preaching is not to devise an outline on a Bible topic; it is to discern the Scripture writer's own flow of thought. It is not to search throughout the Scriptures for information on a given subject, but to expose the light from a particular passage.

The Rewards of Expository Preaching

The rewards of expository preaching are varied. The preacher is less likely to impose his own ideas on the text if his goal is to understand and "expose" or bring to light the author's own meaning. The danger is also reduced that he will ignore the context (as sometimes happens in "text-preaching"), for the context is studied as a unit. In expository preaching the audience enjoys a situation similar to that of the first-century church to whom the words of Scripture first came. The hearers are addressed directly by the Word of God. This can be, therefore, the most direct and profitable method of preaching. But there are also special demands on the preacher of expository sermons.

The Responsibilities of Expository Preaching

Perhaps especially in expository preaching, the preacher must earnestly desire and diligently seek to free himself of prior notions about the verses covered. His goal is to see, as if for the first time, the pure Word of God. Many passages and verses have been abused or misused through careless "proof-verse" preaching and teaching. The expository preacher seeks to share the message intended by the Scripture writer, not merely to use Bible words in expressing his own ideas.

The expository preacher must keep in mind (as any Bible student should) not simply one but two questions as he inquires into the meaning of the text. It is not enough to ask, "What does it mean?" Rather one must first ask, "What did it mean?" Only then is he ready to determine what it means now. This is not to say that the Bible has changed. It has not. Nor have the basic spiritual problems or needs of man. But social and historical situations have changed (for example, the holy kiss). And particularly in expository preaching one does well to keep this point in view.

When the preacher has prepared himself to begin his study in attitude and approach - he must then spend thoughtful and prayerful time in the presence of the passage involved. It is only proper to read the entire passage, including the context, several times before attempting a detailed study. This gives an over-all view of the text. If one has a favorite modem-speech translation or paraphrase, reading the passage in it can be of help at this point. An artist first sketches his model's general appearance; only then does he draw the details. So the preacher profits most when he first understands the general context, and then investigates particular verses and words.

Building Sermons From These Outlines

Although the three steps mentioned have been taken in composing these outlines, the preacher using them would do well to repeat them for himself. As the first two essentially regard attitude, most preachers should be expected to have made them part of regular sermon preparation. In other types of sermons one also would ordinarily read the passage several times to understand the Biblical situation or setting if he would gain the most from his study and put the most into his sermon.

These outlines will not help the preacher seeking a substitute for study. They are intended to assist the preacher - novice or veteran - who wants to combine a study of the passages involved with the expository method of preaching. It is hoped that the user will benefit from the word studies and other research which has gone into their composition. Like the old water-pump which had to be "primed" before giving its water, these outlines will be of service only when one brings to them a desire and willingness to contribute first of himself.

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