Let’s start with the word, ‘more’ for today. You see, we certainly have nothing against expository (which is verse by verse, interpretive) teaching at SCC—in fact, we do it. What chafes my hide, however, are these pious preachers out there who insist that this is the only way to preach, almost as if ANY other method were sin.
Here are some of the arguments I’ll often hear from these folks;- Expository preaching is best because it nether adds nor takes away from scripture.
- Expository preaching is best because it is more systematic and orderly.
- Expository preaching is best because it is the favored method of preaching of stellar preachers over the last several centuries, men like, Charles Spurgeon, Ironside, Matthew Henry, Jonathan Edwards, John Calvin, Martin Luther, etc.
- Expository preaching is best because it starts with God’s Word rather than man’s felt needs,
- Expository preaching is best because my pastor said so!
One of the faithful SCC bloggers wrote a very good comment and I would like to address it;
Maybe I have the wrong definition of expository preaching. I always saw it as taking a passage of scripture, looking at what God is telling us through that scripture and making some sort of application. I’m not sure why that’s bad unless I have the wrong definition.
You’re actually right on, Mark, with two minor additions. True expository preaching should be as you defined it, but many have added the book by book, chapter by chapter and especially, verse by verse criteria as critical and nonnegotiable components. These same proponents almost never give proper attention to the ‘application’ piece you mentioned in your blog comment. And ANY teaching that does not have as its ultimate goal to cause ‘life transformation’ is insufficient and might find a place at the local cemetery…oops, I mean, seminary, but not in a message on the weekend. Thus, it is with this newer definition and breed that I have an issue.
In fact, I can list for you FANTASTIC expository preachers who even tend to go book by book…chapter…verse (I’ll overlook this minor tick because their preaching is so right on in most other areas) yet NEVER skimp on application. Here are a couple such heavy hitters;
1. John Piper
2. Mark Driscoll
3. Chuck Swindoll (though he swings both ways…in regards to preaching that is).
4. Tony Evans (also does both)
I could go on, but you get the point. These men aren’t effective because they go verse by verse, but rather, because they are faithful to exposit the Word AND apply the Word for life change. In other words, it’s not an either or but a both and (that was for you, Paul Allen 
Gotta go.
In part 3 I’ll address the flaws in thinking with the above bullet points.
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Rob Singleton is the lead pastor and founding pastor of 
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