Continue the Reformation Through Expository Preaching

It's not merely enough to protest against Rome. There are many who protest against Rome who are just as heretical as Rome. What's not too surprising is to find some "Baptist" preachers who reject the badly needed art of expository preaching. Why do we need expository preaching? To know why we need it we must first define it.

Defining expository preaching

This is what the book "By the Book: The Whys and Hows of Biblical Preaching" would define expository preaching:
Expository preaching. When the main theme, its main points and further development of the points of the points or sub-points are all derived from the content, context and structural flow of a longer text in Scripture. This is popular when expounding paragraphs, stanzas, and chapters of a book and especially when doing a series of preaching from a book. (p. 45)

Here is the definition from Got Questions on "What is expository preaching?":
Expository preaching involves the exposition, or comprehensive explanation, of the Scripture; that is, expository preaching presents the meaning and intent of a biblical text, providing commentary and examples to make the passage clear and understandable. The word exposition is related to the word expose — the expository preacher’s goal is simply to expose the meaning of the Bible, verse by verse.

Studying the Bible is no walk in the park

So while I'm in favor of topical preaching but there's also importance for expository preaching. Sure, a pastor should also preach on current events like government corruption, vigilantes, prostitution, pornography, alcoholism, narcotic trading and a lot of evils in society but any local New Testament church needs both. So why do churches still need expository preaching? It's because before topical sermons can be effective there must be a thorough understanding of the Word of God. I don't think Bible studies and devotions are enough to do that monumental task.

You are tasked to read the Bible. It's not only your right to read the Bible but it's also your duty. But interpreting the Bible is no walk in the park that's why God has ordained people to do his job. Ephesians 4:11 tells us the wonderful truth that God has ordained others to be evangelists, pastors and teachers to help in the work of the LORD. The Old Testament had God ordained priests. The New Testament no longer needs the priesthood but the pastorhood. All believers are now priests in the sense that they are no longer separated from the Holy of Holies (1 Peter 2:9). The Bible is a required book to read but it's certainly not an easy book to read. That's why there's expository preaching comes in where the pastors help the flock understand the Bible.

Expository preaching means the Bible is explained and expounded. There's a lot of stuff you need to understand with the Bible such as (1) the use of figures of speech vs. literal interpretation, (2) the cultural context of that day, (3) the understanding of the what changed and what remained between the Old Testament and the New Testament, (4) the usage of certain Greek words and their multiple meanings, and (5) reconciling alleged contradictions of the Bible such as Paul and James. This is what the Reformers did. Martin Luther wrote several commentaries and John Calvin is known for contributing to the Geneva Study Bible. Later, we have Matthew Henry and John Gill who both labored to make extensive commentaries of the Bible.

Why do a lot of topical preaching fail? It's because of a lack of expository preaching. I still can't forget how I listened to one of Dr. John F. MacArthur's lectures online and mentioned some of the worst examples. How can anyone preach on the Rapture of the Church from John 11? How can Mary be the pre-Tribulation and Martha the post-Tribulation? It should be very stupid to preach the Rapture when that passage of the Bible doesn't even talk about it.

It's all about taking verses into context

Taking verses into context should always be put into consideration. The problem with Roman Catholicism and pseudo-Christian organizations is that they take verses out of context. I remembered watching the discussion of James White with some members of anti-Trinitarian cults. I really couldn't help but get mad at out Scriptures were taken out of context. The Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ but not the same Churches of Christ cult) has misquoted Isaiah 24:15 and 43:5 to justify their existence. However, getting a closer look at all those verses point to Jacob or Israel. They take verses out of context and because people are too lazy to study the Bible so they believe it.

I still can't forget these words from Homilitical and Pastoral Review which inadvertently refuted Catholicism's objection to expository preaching:
The ideal Evangelical sermon not only teaches the meaning of the biblical text, it also applies that text to the real-world concerns that the members of the congregation face. Many pastors use expository preaching, which means the pastor will have a series of sermons on a single book of the Bible. Each week, the sermon explains another section of the book, verse by verse, so that by the end of the sermon series, the congregation has a good understanding of the main message of the book. Sadly, expository preaching is probably the biggest reason that Catholics leave the Church in favor of an Evangelical congregation. Ex-Catholics often say that they understood the Bible for the first time after regular attendance at an Evangelical church.

It's no surprise either that the Roman Catholic institution is against expository preaching. I wonder which is really funnier between Roman Catholics who end up refuting themselves by mentioning Scriptural truths or Roman Catholic sites that end up revealing why they don't like expository preaching. The same article also shows that ex-Catholics often say that they have understood the BIble for the first time in an Evangelical church. As a former Roman Catholic I can say that myself that I have understood the Bible better through expository preaching than the homily of the Roman Catholic priest.

When you learn to take verses into context it's easy to see through the deception of Scriptures taken out of context. That's why expository preaching is a must. When people learn the Bible more and more then you have less false converts and more true converts. Many of these fakes will either get converted or feel too uncomfortable to stay in a church that stands by the Word of God.

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