Introduction to Expository Preaching

Introduction

What happens when we have a lack of expository preaching. In two words: people starve!!!

Some of the preaching coming across our pulpits is only superficially satisfying.

--	It has little or no nutritional value.
--	It does taste good, at least sometimes.
--	It won't immediately destroy us.
--	But it is ultimately leading to spiritual starvation and it spoils our appetites.

On the other hand, I believe if expository preaching is done right,

It will not only taste good,

It can also deliver people from their addiction to junk food!!!

What does the bible say about expository preaching?

A. Expository preaching can be capsulized by a number of vocations which are alluded to and/or described in Scripture.

1. A Miner--Proverbs 2. This passage gives us a piece of the picture that describes the process involved, if we are to mine the truth of Scripture.

a. As a miner, we must have the persistence and dedication of one who digs under the earth for ore or metal--Acts 17:10-11; II Tim. 2:15.

b. Proverbs 2 says we are to look for understanding as if we are looking for silver--Prov. 2:1-11.

1) The condition: Prov. 2:1-4

2) The promise: Prov. 2:5

3) The reason: Prov. 2:6--"From his mouth comes knowledge and understanding."

2. A Sage--Ecclesiastes 12:9-13

a. Note the wise teacher/expositor's impact in verses 9-10.

b. The older and wiser teacher has the potential to instruct the younger with knowledge and truth.

How should that be done?

1) Care should be taken to make sure the words are just the right ones v. 10--"The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true."

2) Care should also be taken, through a study of the Word, to make sure that the wisdom passed on to others is "upright and true ."

c Wise words given by a loving person can have tremendous sticking power with others. v. 11--"The words of the wise are likegoads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd."
Definition of goad: The goad was a rod with an iron spike at the end. It was used to drive oxen--Jude 3:31; Acts 9:5.
Question: How will this happen? What will assure its happening? v. 9b--"He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10a] The Teacher searched to find just the right words. . . "
Application: This kind of impact happens when a teacher/pastor/ parent/wise person/sage is diligent in preparation and cooperates with the Divine Shepherd as to how he "nails" the truth.
Question: Wouldn't it be better to search all the books, e.g., the religious writings, the great philosophers and great literature of the world, and then decide what is true and how we will live our lives? Eccl. 12:12--"Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body."
Solution: The Lord has given us the answers we need to the most fundamental questions of life, and He has brought them together into one book - the Bible--II Tim. 3:16-17.

3. A Scribe--Ezra 7:10.

a. As we know, a scribe is simply a student of Scripture.

b. Our model for a good scribe is Ezra.

1) His ministry and life are capsulized for us in Ezra 7:10.

2) This verse describes the two main areas of an Expositor's life:
The preparation and the process for becoming a Scribe.

-- The preparation focuses on the heart, i.e., a new heart (I Cor. 2:14); a positive and hungry heart (I Pet. 2:2-3); a desire to grow (I Pet. 2:2-3; Heb. 5:11-6:3); a desire to be obedient (Matt. 28:18-20; Ps. 119:98-100); a desire to be usefulII Tim. 3:16-17.

-- The process involves three central segments: study, observance and teaching, or, being a student, a doer and a teacher.

4. As a detective. Prov. 25:2; Eccl. 7:25--"So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly."

a. First, Investigation : To arrive at the meaning of a text, the teacher of Scripture will need to carefully investigate each passage and its context.

b. Second, Interrogation : In addition, all good detective work entails searching for answers by asking the right questions, and interrogating fully, all those who might have information about the crime. Likewise, the serious study of Scripture will give considerable attention to seven interrogatives: who, what, when, where, why, how, so what?

c. Interpretation/Implication : After sifting/searching through the clues and asking the right questions of the text, the interpreter must draw some interpretations from this raw data, then carefully state the implications of those findings. All this will hopefully lead to an understanding of what is happening in a given text, and how these facts might be presented to others for action.

With those pictures in mind:

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