Expository Preaching

INTRODUCTION TO EXPOSITORY PREACHING Class Outline Definitions Foundations Characteristics Methods Pointers INTRODUCTION TO EXPOSITORY PREACHING The Levites...instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. - Neh 8:7-8 INTRODUCTION TO EXPOSITORY PREACHING Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. - Neh 8:7-8 WHAT IS EXPOSITORY PREACHING? Expository preaching is the proclamation of God’s word using Biblical context as the main basis for explanations. WHAT IS EXPOSITORY PREACHING? Compared with conventional preaching, expository preaching strives to focus and highlight the context of the Bible more than anything else. Exposition involves factual data that leads to Bible truths. Characteristics The foundation of expository preaching is the Bible. The focus of expository preaching is exegesis. The method of expository preaching is explanation. Example of Paul “preaching” They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes. - 1 Cor 10:3-9 Elements of Exposition  Information about the Text/Verse  Information about the writer  Information about the recipients or readers  Conclusion or principle learned Two Key Words Explanation explaining/shedding light on the verse Principles - pointing out main concepts, more than just specific challenges Advantages of Expository Preaching For (you) the preacher:  It keeps you sharp on the Bible  It gives you greater confidence in using the Bible as the true authority  It makes sermon preparation more interesting  It gives more emphasis on the Bible than the preacher  You can teach more with less verses; sermons become shorter but “meatier”  The background research gives you more material to preach with Advantages of Expository Preaching For the audience: It makes the sermon more interesting It increases appreciation for God’s word & encourages people to study the Bible It disarms the audience; less feel of coercion It equips people with solid principles than they can apply when they are alone It creates at atmosphere of deeper study & multiplies preachers Elements of Expository Preaching “The Central Idea of Text” (CIT) is a simple declarative sentence, written in the past tense, which says what the text meant back then. Elements of Expository Preaching “The Major Objective of the Text” (MOT) is a broad description of the primary purpose or intent of the text. In expository preaching, it is common to use one launching passage for the rest of the sermon. Elements of Expository Preaching “The Major Objective of the Sermon” (MOS) is a statement of what the preacher hopes to accomplish with this one message, for this one congregation. It should be a short simple sentence. Research Point of View The focal point of most worship services is the sermon… Highly effective churches have pioneered ways of maximizing the impact of the sermon… Research Point of View The first lesson from the highly effective churches is that people have to be taught how to hear truth. The first step in this process is often challenging people’s views of Scripture… Dr. George Barna Habits of Highly Effective Churches Biblical Text/s Central Idea of Text/s (CIT) Main objective of Text/s (MOT) Main objective of Sermon (MOS) WRITING THE SERMON Theme: Based on my MOS, what do I want to preach on? What is my launching idea? Title: How will I name this sermon? Introduction and Conclusion: How will I start and end? Body (Points/sub-points) : How will I develop my theme? Polishing & Practicing How to make the text apply Key concept or principle Context of the passage General Relevance for today Content of the passage Specific Application Biblical Text Sermon Text Results of conventional preaching F T Personal Experiences Marriage/Family Dynamic, World News/Secular Input, Church Needs, etc.) Biblical Study L O SERMON C K E X T Results of expository preaching Personal Experiences F T L E Biblical Study SERMON O X T C K Results... 1. Atmosphere of learning 2. Less Scripture abuse 3. Conviction of responsibility 4. Practice of self-confrontation Pointers for leaders & preachers 1. Always study context • Read a passage slowly • Ask questions: what, who, why, how • Keep a Bible dictionary handy • Try to explain the context in a short sentence Pointers for leaders & preachers 2. Develop a Berean atmosphere • • • • Have themes & goals Lift up those who show interest Give “HW” during preaching Feed them new things More Pointers 3. Highlight the text when preaching/discipling • • • • • Expect people to read with you Wait for people to turn Read with power & conviction Express personal interest Try out different versions More Pointers 4. Expect a response • Ask people what they think about the text, not about what you said • Focus on how they respond to the Bible, not to your challenges • Mention things from last message/s INTRODUCTION TO EXPOSITORY PREACHING Class Outline Definitions Foundations Characteristics Methods Pointers