Is Expository Preaching the Silver Bullet?

Another trait I observe is the constant putting down by pastors of any preacher who dares to use any other method besides ‘expository’ preaching.   They make it sound like this method is the silver bullet that will cure all bad preaching.

I’ve heard many expository preachers, including some big names who have written books and commentaries. When I listen carefully, they don’t follow their own rules, and take texts out of context themselves. They jump on their hobby horse and still force the text to say what they want to say, using it as a springboard for their pet topics.

One reason given for using this method is that it forces the preacher not to skip a text.  Well, I’ve heard expository preachers skip texts all the time, especially when it is controversial or difficult to preach. They still pick what they want to preach out of a paragraph or chapter. You cannot do justice to a passage in one sermon without skipping texts. If the preacher tries to cover every text in a passage, it will be superficial otherwise he will run out of time.  They fail to let the text expose itself.  The exception I see is when Martin Lloyd Jones goes through the book of Romans. He goes verse by verse and it has taken him years. Are the expository champions willing to do this?  Does the normal preacher have the skill to do this?

I’m for expository preaching. But this is just one method, and there are other methods.

Talk a look at the ‘prince of preachers’ Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and tell me if he uses the expository methods.  Look at the greatest preacher in the world – Jesus Christ.  Does He use expository methods?   It will be a hard case to make if you were to say Jesus only uses that method.  I would say His method is closer to the topical method, depending on the person or situation He is ministering to. Study the sermon on the mount.  It that topical or expository?

I can see the strengths of expository preaching, especially in forcing the preacher to stay within the context of the passage.   I’ve heard many topical sermons that are all over the place, but I’ve also heard pretty good ones.  No expository method is going to make up for poor bible study by the preacher. BTW, pick up a book that teaches a Christian practice e.g. prayer and you'll find it will be topical.   Each method has its place.

One definition I like is  ”Expository- a sermon in which the proposition and main points are derived from the text”.  Under this definition, you can take one text, one passage or one chapter of the bible, preach it and still call it expository preaching. You can take texts from different books each week and still call it expository preaching. As long as you preach the text faithfully, let the Holy Spirit do His work.

‘Text without context is pretext’.