Expository preaching
Encyclopedia
Expository preaching is a form of preaching that throws light upon the meaning of a particular text or passage of Scripture. As "throwing light," this term is more general than exegesis, which is used for more technical and grammatical exposition, a careful drawing out of the exact meaning of a passage in its original context. While the term exposition could be used in connection with any verbal informative teaching on any subject, the term is most usually used in relation to Bible-teaching and preaching. The practice possibly originated from the Jewish tradition of the rabbi
giving a "Dvar Torah", explaining a passage from the Torah
, during the prayer services.
Expository preaching differs from topical preaching in that the former concentrates on a specific text and discusses topics covered therein, whereas the latter concentrates on a specific topic and references texts covering the topic.
There are a number of other techniques for preaching, some of which are covered in this article including textual, topical, topical-expository, and lectionary. According to the proponents of expository preaching the weaknesses of the other forms generally center around their inability to strictly expose the original meaning of the text. There is of course overlap between all types as they share one text. The expository method of preaching is favored among those who believe that the Bible is the very word of God and thus worthy of being presented in its purest essence, rather than modifying the message to match the characteristics of the audience.
lectio continuo, where each passage of the bible is read consecutively on each successive Sunday, or
of the minister and church.
Some disadvantages of expository preaching are as follows: 1) the truths in a particular Bible passage may not be those most needed by a particular audience at their point of life. 2) The topic presented may lack the unity afforded by the topical method. 3) By limiting the message to a certain passage, the presentation of topics in their fullness, may be neglected. Therefore, in order to properly address the context and content at hand in a given passage, the preacher may become topical by concentrating on the topic at hand, and integrating other supporting passages. W.A. Criswell managed to cover the entire Bible over a 17 year period as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. But John MacArthur (pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA) has spent nearly a decade in the book of Luke alone. J. Vernon McGee, radio preacher, preached through the entire Bible in 5 year cycles.
preachers have used systematic exposition, though the line between exposition, topical message, and rabbit paths is not sharply defined.
J. Vernon McGee of the Through the Bible radio program may be the best exemplar of the purely expository method of preaching in modern American times. He preached more than one 5 year cycle through the entire Bible.
Reputed to be a great evangelical preacher of the 20th Century D Martyn Lloyd-Jones
was the minister of Westminster Chapel
in London
from the late 1940s to the late 1960s. His series on Romans
took years to complete as he worked through the book almost a verse at a time.
Other famous expository preachers include John Stott
, Dick Lucas and Charles Spurgeon
from England, William Still from Scotland, Phillip Jensen
and David Cook from Australia, and Stephen F. Olford
, and Fred Craddock
from America.
John MacArthur
is probably the best known expository preacher in America, and is a proponent of the expository method of preaching (and an outspoken opponent of the topical method as used almost exclusively by some churches). In addition, the Calvary Chapel
group of churches, headed by Chuck Smith
, include the regular use of expository preaching as one of their distinctives.
Many such prominent preachers in the second half of the twentieth century have put on record that to a lesser or greater extent they were persuaded of the importance of systematic exposition as a result of reading the works of A.W. Pink
.
of religious understanding. This is most common in fundamentalist and evangelical
denomination
s that take the position that the Bible is God's inerrant
word, and contains sufficient information for the Christian to understand their faith and how they should live their lives. In historical theology, these churches may adhere to the Reformation teaching of Sola Scriptura
which is present in the statements of faith of a number of mainline denominations (e.g., chapter 1 of The Westminster Confession of Faith
).
In practice, many Evangelical and Fundamentalist churches are not regularly exposed to Expository preaching from the pulpit. Despite this, expositions of scripture are more likely to occur in these churches than in non-evangelical ones. The exposition is unlikely to be influenced by material from outside the Bible (though such material may be mentioned in the sermon, for example the writings of a commentator on the passage), but instead involves detailed comparison of one Biblical text with other texts on the same subject in order to reach a synthesis.
However, in churches that elevate church tradition, individual experience, and/or human reason to a level on par with Scripture, expository preaching (if used) will include reconciliation of the Biblical text to other sources:
Regardless of these differences of emphasis, however, most preachers and congregations would agree that preaching must be honouring to God rather than to human beings. In practice, this means that the preacher as expositor should be concerned with speaking about what God sees as important. This will be of little use, however, if it does not connect to what the people in the congregation see as important - even if it only does so by seeking to upset their priorities. But the principle must be that when a church is exposed to expository preaching, they are being enabled to hear God speak rather than being told what they think they need to hear.
The biblical basis for expository preaching can be found in many places in the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is perhaps the most important, for it states that Scripture is "breathed out by God", which means that the Bible is actually God's words. The phrase "breathed out" is also a link to the Holy Spirit, which shows a link between the work of God's Spirit, and the work of God's Word. The verse also goes on to explain that Scripture is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness". This shows that the Bible is not theoretical, but practical in its application. Finally, it states that "the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work". This has been claimed to show the sufficiency of scripture - that it is all that a Christian needs to understand his faith and how to live his life.
Another important verse is Ephesians 6:17, which states that the "Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God". This indicates again the link between the work of the Holy Spirit and the work of God's word. It shows that when the word of God is read, examined and applied, there also works the Holy Spirit.
A third important verse is found in Hebrews
4:12, which says that "The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart". This second picture of God's word as a deadly sword is deliberate, not because of the violence it implies, but because of the change it can bring to those who listen to God's word. Here also the word of God is almost given a personality of its own - which implies, again, the hidden work of the Holy Spirit as it works with the word of God to change people's lives.
Most churches that are committed to Reformed Theology and Calvinism
are similarly committed to the practice of expository preaching. Most of the notable preachers mentioned above are Calvinistic in their theology. Expository preaching is not limited to those who embrace this theology, however, and can be found in a wide variety of churches.
Simon Perry, another evangelical preacher, has warned that most forms of expository preaching place the authority of Scripture above that of the Christ to whom the Scripture witnesses. As such, he claims, expository preaching is inconsistent with the teachings of Scripture itself.
Australia
Britain
Republic of Ireland
United States
Expository preachers thus assure themselves that, no matter the "results", so long as they preach the Bible and through the Bible, they have followed God's direction.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
giving a "Dvar Torah", explaining a passage from the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
, during the prayer services.
Expository preaching differs from topical preaching in that the former concentrates on a specific text and discusses topics covered therein, whereas the latter concentrates on a specific topic and references texts covering the topic.
General Overview and Background
Expository preaching is a term and technique that refers to the proclamation the content of the Bible as it appears in the text, as opposed to an emphasis on application to the hearers.There are a number of other techniques for preaching, some of which are covered in this article including textual, topical, topical-expository, and lectionary. According to the proponents of expository preaching the weaknesses of the other forms generally center around their inability to strictly expose the original meaning of the text. There is of course overlap between all types as they share one text. The expository method of preaching is favored among those who believe that the Bible is the very word of God and thus worthy of being presented in its purest essence, rather than modifying the message to match the characteristics of the audience.
Methods of Exposition
There are three ways in which texts are selected for exposition:- use of a lectionaryLectionaryA Lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian or Judaic worship on a given day or occasion.-History:...
(common in many mainline denominational churches),
lectio continuo, where each passage of the bible is read consecutively on each successive Sunday, or
- letting the preacher or individual church decide which books or passages are examined (common in evangelical churches from both mainline denominations and independent churches).
The Lectionary Method
A lectionary is a pre-arranged set of passages on which the preacher is to expound. The passages found in the lectionary are usually influenced by the church calendar, and are sometimes set by the particular denominationReligious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
of the minister and church.
- The primary advantage of using a denominationally based lectionary is that the same themes and passages are expounded at the same time throughout that body of churches. Use of a lectionary also has the advantage of covering large sections of the Bible so that the congregation is exposed to them over a reasonable amount of time.
- One disadvantage of using lectionaries is that the church and preacher are somewhat constrained by the lectionary's rules. Another disadvantage is that the set passages in the lectionary may not cover an entire book of the Bible, or may contain too much information for the preacher to cover in one sermon. Also, a lectionary produced by denominations may carry that denomination's biases in presentation.
The Individual Choice Method
When the passages are determined by the preacher or the individual church, the preacher has the freedom to work out which passages are studied at particular times. In such a situation, the preacher will preach through an entire book of Scripture, which generally allows a far more detailed look at the text being studied. Under some circumstances, preachers may prefer to preach through whole books of the Bible systematically over a long period of time. For example, suppose a preacher decides to cover the book of I John. On the beginning week of the series, the preacher may explain and apply 1 John 1.1-4, then 1 John 1.5-7 the following week, then 1 John 1.8-10 after that, and would continue until all of 1 John is covered. Then another book of the Bible is examined, or else a specific topic is covered for a time (few if any churches use the expository method exclusively, even where it is predominant topical studies are used as either "breaks" between books or to cover a specific area of concern to the congregation).- The key advantage of this system is that the preacher is forced to expound passages that may not be examined or applied normally under a topical series.
- The disadvantage of this system is that certain parts of the Bible (especially the Old Testament) may be overlooked. The preacher is also able to ignore those parts of the Bible that might appear to contradict his selected text or his sermon's points.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Expository Preaching
Some advantage of expository preaching are as follows: 1) The presentation of the entire content of an entire Bible passage is attempted regardless of the desires of the congregation. Hot topics and controversial topics may not be avoided; pandering is diminished. 2) The preacher is never be lost for a sermon subject. 3) The preacher is not left to guess the needs of his flock and to present appropriate topics, since the preacher believes that God's word has God's comprehensive diet for his sheep.Some disadvantages of expository preaching are as follows: 1) the truths in a particular Bible passage may not be those most needed by a particular audience at their point of life. 2) The topic presented may lack the unity afforded by the topical method. 3) By limiting the message to a certain passage, the presentation of topics in their fullness, may be neglected. Therefore, in order to properly address the context and content at hand in a given passage, the preacher may become topical by concentrating on the topic at hand, and integrating other supporting passages. W.A. Criswell managed to cover the entire Bible over a 17 year period as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. But John MacArthur (pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA) has spent nearly a decade in the book of Luke alone. J. Vernon McGee, radio preacher, preached through the entire Bible in 5 year cycles.
Prominent Expository Preachers
Many famous evangelicalEvangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
preachers have used systematic exposition, though the line between exposition, topical message, and rabbit paths is not sharply defined.
J. Vernon McGee of the Through the Bible radio program may be the best exemplar of the purely expository method of preaching in modern American times. He preached more than one 5 year cycle through the entire Bible.
Reputed to be a great evangelical preacher of the 20th Century D Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Martyn Lloyd-Jones
David Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a Welsh Protestant minister, preacher and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London...
was the minister of Westminster Chapel
Westminster Chapel
Westminster Chapel is an evangelical church that has been based in central London since 1840. Situated in Buckingham Gate, just from Buckingham Palace and just off Victoria Street, the chapel has long been a popular place of worship for Evangelical Christians. The current building, seating around...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from the late 1940s to the late 1960s. His series on Romans
Epistle to the Romans
The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
took years to complete as he worked through the book almost a verse at a time.
Other famous expository preachers include John Stott
John Stott
John Robert Walmsley Stott CBE was an English Christian leader and Anglican cleric who was noted as a leader of the worldwide Evangelical movement. He was one of the principal authors of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974...
, Dick Lucas and Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a large British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers"...
from England, William Still from Scotland, Phillip Jensen
Phillip Jensen
Phillip Jensen is an Australian cleric of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney and the Dean of St Andrew's Cathedral. He is the brother of Peter Jensen, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney.-Education and ministry:...
and David Cook from Australia, and Stephen F. Olford
Stephen F. Olford
Stephen F. Olford was a 20th century Christian leader.Dr. Billy Graham called him "the man who most influenced my ministry."He was a personal confidant of Graham. Olford was also a role model and friend to prominent pastors such as Charles Stanley and Adrian Rogers. He was a pioneer in Christian...
, and Fred Craddock
Fred Craddock
Fred Craddock is the Bandy Distinguished Professor of Preaching and New Testament, Emeritus, in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is an ordained minister of the Christian Church from rural Tennessee. He is the director of the Craddock Center, a non-profit service group which...
from America.
John MacArthur
John F. MacArthur
John Fullerton MacArthur, Jr. is a United States evangelical writer and minister noted for his internationally known and broadcast radio program titled Grace to You...
is probably the best known expository preacher in America, and is a proponent of the expository method of preaching (and an outspoken opponent of the topical method as used almost exclusively by some churches). In addition, the Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of...
group of churches, headed by Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith (pastor)
Charles Ward “Chuck” Smith, , is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement...
, include the regular use of expository preaching as one of their distinctives.
Many such prominent preachers in the second half of the twentieth century have put on record that to a lesser or greater extent they were persuaded of the importance of systematic exposition as a result of reading the works of A.W. Pink
Arthur Pink
Arthur Walkington Pink was an English Christian evangelist and Biblical scholar known for his staunchly Calvinist and Puritan-like teachings.-Biography:...
.
Relative importance of expository preaching
There has been some discussion among preachers of the relative importance of expository preaching. Some churches give Scripture the dominant position over all other sourcesWesleyan Quadrilateral
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral is a methodology for theological reflection that is credited to John Wesley, leader of the Methodist movement in the late 18th Century. The term itself was coined by 20th century American Methodist Albert C...
of religious understanding. This is most common in fundamentalist and evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
denomination
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
s that take the position that the Bible is God's inerrant
Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Some equate inerrancy with infallibility; others do not.Conservative Christians generally believe that...
word, and contains sufficient information for the Christian to understand their faith and how they should live their lives. In historical theology, these churches may adhere to the Reformation teaching of Sola Scriptura
Sola scriptura
Sola scriptura is the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Consequently, sola scriptura demands that only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid...
which is present in the statements of faith of a number of mainline denominations (e.g., chapter 1 of The Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
).
In practice, many Evangelical and Fundamentalist churches are not regularly exposed to Expository preaching from the pulpit. Despite this, expositions of scripture are more likely to occur in these churches than in non-evangelical ones. The exposition is unlikely to be influenced by material from outside the Bible (though such material may be mentioned in the sermon, for example the writings of a commentator on the passage), but instead involves detailed comparison of one Biblical text with other texts on the same subject in order to reach a synthesis.
However, in churches that elevate church tradition, individual experience, and/or human reason to a level on par with Scripture, expository preaching (if used) will include reconciliation of the Biblical text to other sources:
- Congregations with a strong view of church tradition or church authority (common in churches with a strong hierarchical structure) will want to know how their denomination has traditionally interpreted the passage.
- Congregations with a strong belief in personal experience (common in the charismatic and Pentecostal circles) will want to understand how the passage relates to their experiences.
- Congregations with a strong belief in human reason (common in churches which reject the view of Biblical inerrancy) will want to know what modern research has to say regarding the authenticity of the passage.
Regardless of these differences of emphasis, however, most preachers and congregations would agree that preaching must be honouring to God rather than to human beings. In practice, this means that the preacher as expositor should be concerned with speaking about what God sees as important. This will be of little use, however, if it does not connect to what the people in the congregation see as important - even if it only does so by seeking to upset their priorities. But the principle must be that when a church is exposed to expository preaching, they are being enabled to hear God speak rather than being told what they think they need to hear.
Scriptural basis for exposition
For those who believe that the dominant source of Christian understanding is the Bible, it may seem obvious that expository preaching should be essential (though this is not the case with the seeker movement). Nonetheless the logic of their position demands that preaching itself should have a scriptural warrant.The biblical basis for expository preaching can be found in many places in the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is perhaps the most important, for it states that Scripture is "breathed out by God", which means that the Bible is actually God's words. The phrase "breathed out" is also a link to the Holy Spirit, which shows a link between the work of God's Spirit, and the work of God's Word. The verse also goes on to explain that Scripture is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness". This shows that the Bible is not theoretical, but practical in its application. Finally, it states that "the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work". This has been claimed to show the sufficiency of scripture - that it is all that a Christian needs to understand his faith and how to live his life.
Another important verse is Ephesians 6:17, which states that the "Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God". This indicates again the link between the work of the Holy Spirit and the work of God's word. It shows that when the word of God is read, examined and applied, there also works the Holy Spirit.
A third important verse is found in Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews is an ethnonym used in the Hebrew Bible...
4:12, which says that "The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart". This second picture of God's word as a deadly sword is deliberate, not because of the violence it implies, but because of the change it can bring to those who listen to God's word. Here also the word of God is almost given a personality of its own - which implies, again, the hidden work of the Holy Spirit as it works with the word of God to change people's lives.
Most churches that are committed to Reformed Theology and Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
are similarly committed to the practice of expository preaching. Most of the notable preachers mentioned above are Calvinistic in their theology. Expository preaching is not limited to those who embrace this theology, however, and can be found in a wide variety of churches.
Criticisms
David Fitch, an editor of Leadership Journal, wrote three articles entitled The Myth of Expository Preaching & the Commodification of the Word part 1 part 2 part 3. Fitch, an evangelical, argues that an underlying assumption behind much expository preaching is an individualistic understanding of scripture and an over-reliance upon the exp ository preacher as the means by which God works in the church.Simon Perry, another evangelical preacher, has warned that most forms of expository preaching place the authority of Scripture above that of the Christ to whom the Scripture witnesses. As such, he claims, expository preaching is inconsistent with the teachings of Scripture itself.
Movements that promote Expository preaching
Within the broad Christian church, certain denominational and inter-denominational movements exist which promote Expository preaching as being essential in the life of the church, and should be the normative way in which sermons should be preached. Some of these movements include:Australia
- The Anglican Diocese of SydneyAnglican Diocese of SydneyThe Diocese of Sydney is a diocese within the Anglican Church of Australia. The majority of the diocese is Evangelical and low church in tradition and committed to Reformed and Calvinist theology....
, including Moore Theological CollegeMoore Theological CollegeMoore Theological College, otherwise known simply as Moore College, is the theological training seminary of the Diocese of Sydney in the Anglican Church of Australia... - The Australian Fellowship of Evangelical StudentsAustralian Fellowship of Evangelical StudentsThe Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students is an evangelical Christian parachurch organisation that aims to encourage university students to believe in and follow Jesus Christ...
- The Presbyterian Church of AustraliaPresbyterian Church of AustraliaThe Presbyterian Church of Australia is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Australia. .-Beginnings:...
, including The Presbyterian Theological CentrePresbyterian Theological CentreThe Presbyterian Theological Centre is the theological college of the Presbyterian Church of Australia in New South Wales. It provides theological education for candidates of the ministry and members of the laity, and is an approved teaching institution of the Australian College of Theology.The... - Sydney Missionary and Bible CollegeSydney Missionary and Bible CollegeSydney Missionary and Bible College is an independent, evangelical interdenominational Bible college in Sydney, Australia.The college was formed in 1916 by Rev. C. Benson Barnett. Its goal is to train people for ministry in Australia and abroad...
Britain
- The Banner of Truth TrustBanner of Truth TrustThe Banner of Truth Trust is an evangelical and Reformed Christian non-profit publishing house, structured as a charitable trust and founded in London in 1957 by Iain Murray and Jack Cullum. Its offices are now in Edinburgh, Scotland with a key branch office and distribution point in Carlisle,...
- The Evangelical Movement of Wales http://www.emw.org.uk/
- graceandtruth.org
- Sermons for Today
- Langham Partnership International http://www.langhampartnership.org/
- The Proclamation Trust
- ReformReform (Anglican)Reform is an Evangelical organisation within Anglicanism, active in the Church of England and the Church of Ireland. Reform in England describes itself as a "network of churches and individuals within the Church of England, committed to the reform of ourselves, our congregation and our world by the...
Republic of Ireland
- Reform Ireland http://www.reform-ireland.org/
United States
- Chuck SmithChuck Smith (pastor)Charles Ward “Chuck” Smith, , is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement...
and Calvary ChapelCalvary ChapelCalvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of... - The Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsAlliance of Confessing EvangelicalsThe Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is a Christian ministry which produces print and internet resources, broadcasts radio programs The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is a Christian ministry which produces print and internet resources, broadcasts radio programs The Alliance of Confessing...
, including The Cambridge DeclarationThe Cambridge DeclarationThe Cambridge Declaration is a statement of faith written in 1996 by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, a group of Reformed and Lutheran Evangelicals who were concerned with the state of the Evangelical movement in America, and throughout the world.... - Monergism.com
- BibleExposition.net
- Reformed BaptistReformed BaptistReformed Baptists are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology. They can trace their history through the early modern Particular Baptists of England. The first Reformed Baptist church was formed in the 1630s...
s, especially those associated with Founders Ministries - Mark DeverMark DeverMark E. Dever has been the senior pastor of the Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. since 1994, and is the president of 9Marks , a Christian ministry he co-founded "in an effort to build biblically faithful churches in America."...
and 9Marks Ministries - C. J. MahaneyC. J. MahaneyCharles Joseph Mahaney is the former leader of Sovereign Grace Ministries , a network formed to establish and support local churches, and was one of the founding pastors and leaders of Covenant Life Church, in Gaithersburg, Maryland.-Selected publications:* Why Small Groups?* Disciplines for Life*...
and Sovereign Grace MinistriesSovereign Grace MinistriesSovereign Grace Ministries is a group of Reformed, neocharismatic, Evangelical, restorationist, Christian churches primarily located in North America. It has been described as an apostolic network... - John MacArthurJohn F. MacArthurJohn Fullerton MacArthur, Jr. is a United States evangelical writer and minister noted for his internationally known and broadcast radio program titled Grace to You...
and The Master's SeminaryMaster's CollegeThe Master's College is a non-denominational, conservative Christian liberal arts college located in Santa Clarita, California, USA.-History:... - Albert Mohler and Southern Baptist Theological SeminarySouthern Baptist Theological SeminaryThe Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the oldest of the six seminaries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention . The seminary was founded in 1859, at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to Louisville...
- The Simeon Trust http://www.simeontrust.org
- R. Kent HughesR. Kent HughesR. Kent Hughes is Senior Pastor Emeritus of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, USA. Hughes is the author of numerous books, including the best-selling Disciplines of a Godly Man. He is also editor and contributor for the projected 50-volume Preaching the Word series, including Mark: Jesus,...
, Senior Pastor Emeritus of College Church and editor of the Preaching the Word commentary series, which are a collection of expositional sermons on various books of the Bible
The expository preacher
Expository preachers generally believe that their main duty as a pastor is the preaching of the Bible. As such, they will spend a considerable amount, if not the majority, of their time studying and understanding the text in question, as well as associated texts on the same subject, believing it to be absolutely necessary for the welfare of their congregation. While studying, they will also be praying that God will reveal to them the proper meaning of the text, and that the hearts and minds of the congregation will be changed by it (believing that they do not have any inherent ability to effect such change, only God can do so).Expository preachers thus assure themselves that, no matter the "results", so long as they preach the Bible and through the Bible, they have followed God's direction.
Books on Expository preaching
- Anointed Expository Preaching - Stephen F. Olford http://www.amazon.com/dp/0805431292/
- I Believe in Preaching (Between Two Worlds in USA) - John Stott.http://www.amazon.com/dp/0802806279/
- Preaching and Preachers - D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.http://www.amazon.com/dp/0310278708/
- Christ Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon - Bryan Chapell.http://www.amazon.com/dp/0801027985/
- Rediscovering Expository Preaching - John F. MacArthur Jr.http://www.amazon.com/dp/0849909082
- Biblical Preaching - Haddon Robinson.http://www.amazon.com/dp/0801022622
- Power in the Pulpit -- Jerry Vines and Jim Shaddix http://www.amazon.com/dp/0802477402
- The Passion-Driven Sermon -- Jim Shaddix http://www.amazon.com/dp/0805427228