Mohler: Stop saying, “I prefer expository preaching”

One of the first steps to a recovering of authentic Christian preaching is to stop saying, “I prefer expository preaching.” Rather, we should define exactly what we mean when we say “preach.” What we mean is, very simply, reading the text and explaining it—reproving, rebuking, exhorting, and patiently teaching directly from the text of Scripture. If you are not doing that, then you are not preaching. Mohler, 42.

Published by Chris

7 thoughts on “Mohler: Stop saying, “I prefer expository preaching””

  1. Yeah, but if I sent this quote to some of the people that I know, they wouldn’t agree with it at all. Is there more to the context that helps in the matter?

  3. That if you’re not reading and explaining scripture (like an expositor), then you’re not preaching. I know many who have pastors that generally “preach” for a while and then give the “proof text” for what they have to say later. I agree, this is not true preaching, but that’s not how some people I know would view it.

  4. Preaching (and exposition) is far more than a running commentary. Even one full of reproving and rebuking. I would say that’s what people think of when they think. To preach is to herald — to proclaim good news. And the good news is about Jesus. So, if Jesus is not the Hero of the text, and thus of the sermon — then we are not preaching. We are just talking — or reproving and rebuking with religious overtones.

    [I’m sure Mohler agrees with that as well, and the quote above may be more pointed at those “preachers” who tell a story (about themselves) and make their sermon supremely obey-able — 3 easy things you can do this week to make God happy, etc. Which means the sermon is ‘good news,’ but Jesus is not the Hero and it’s not The Good News.]

    Agree?

    —
    As for expository preaching, Stott writes in Between Two Worlds:

    It is my contention that all true Christian preaching is expository preaching. Of course, if by an “expository” sermon is meant a verse-by-verse explanation of a lengthy passage of Scripture, then indeed it is only on possible way of preaching, but this would be a misuse of the word.

    Properly speaking, “exposition” has a much broader meaning. It refers to the content of the sermon (biblical truth) rather than its style (a running commentary). To expound Scripture is to bring out of the text what is there and expose it to view. The expositor pries open what appears to be closed, makes plain what is obscure, unravels what is knotted and unfolds what is tightly packed. The opposite of exposition is “imposition”, which is to impose on the text what is not there. But the “text” in question could be a verse, or a sentence, or even a single word. It could equally be a paragraph, or a chapter, or a whole book. The size of the text is immaterial, so long as it is biblical. What matters is what we do with it. Whether it is long or short, our responsibility as expositors is to open it up in such a way that it speaks its message clearly, plainly, accurately, relevantly. . . .
    —John Stott, Between Two Worlds, pp. 125-26

    What’s in the text? God’s prior work in Jesus.

  5. I do agree. In fact, I think you speak to one of the common misconceptions – – that expository preaching is a running exegetical commentary.

    I am currently writing about this and I use the summary statement that expository preaching should be, “A biblical bullet fired at the life of the listener in the clear light of day.”

    I think Mohler’s statement makes a good point (which is why I posted it) – – but, it could easily be taken out of context.

  6. In keeping with your analogy, Chris: could we say Jesus is the tip of the bullet?

    I totally get the emphasis on Scripture and “biblical” as the focus of the content. But what is the focus of Scripture? Jesus.

    Too many — who rightly want to keep the Bible as God’s authoritative and living Word (awesome!) — miss the point and preach a moralistic message where Jesus is not the Hero. The Bible is authoritative, and sufficient. It’s sufficient because Jesus is the Hero of the text, of the universe, and when His bullet hits us, He becomes the Hero of our lives.

  7. Jeff – – yes, I would say Christ and the Gospel must be the tip of the bullet.

    I agree that preaching too easily becomes moralistic. We can’t be too Christ-centered, only Christ centered.

    In this context, Bryan Chappell’s book is a good one, Christ-centered preaching.

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