From the beginning of creation, we see that life springs forth when God speaks. God is a preaching God and he has called his people to, with holy boldness, herald the Scriptures as they, by the power of the Spirit, point all peoples to the redemption found in Jesus Christ alone. So the centerpiece of our gathering is the preaching of God’s Word for it sustains faith in believers and creates faith in unbelievers.

What is Expository Preaching?
Simply put, preaching is expository when the main point of the biblical passage is the main point of the sermon. Expository preaching is the type of preaching that faithfully explains the authorial intent and relevantly applies the truth of a text, while relying on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in both preparation and proclamation. It is not a matter of preaching style, but of preparation method – the preacher does not approach the Scripture with a preconceived agenda, but allows the text to drive what he is going to say. Typically, this approach is best done when books of the Bible are preached through systematically, verse by verse, chapter by chapter.

Biblical Reasons
The Bible contains an array of Scriptures that present the supreme worth of God’s word. Within the first few verses of the Bible the reader comes to understand God is a God who speaks. In the Old Testament alone “The phrase ‘the word of the Lord’ or its equivalent occurs more than 3,800 times.”[1] In the New Testament Jesus came preaching the gospel (Mark 1:14) and after his departure the apostles devoted themselves to the “ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). Paul, likewise, gave himself to the proclamation of the Word (Acts 20:27; 2 Corinthians 2:2) and exhorted his disciple Timothy to “Preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2). Throughout Scripture God’s people rely on the power and authority of the preached Word.

The Bible is not only replete with people preaching the Word, but it also makes several direct statements about the various functions of the Word. The Word sustains and sanctifies us (Matthew 4:4; John 17:7). God’s Word builds up and preserves (Acts 20:32). God’s Word is the power for salvation (Romans 1:16). The Word creates faith (Romans 10:17). All of God’s Word is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training (2 Timothy 3:16). The Word performs God’s work in believers (1 Thessalonians 2:13). God’s Word convicts and judges (James 1:18; Hebrews 4:12). The Word gives new birth and saves (James 1:18, 21; 1 Peter 1:23, 25).[2] The Bible assures us that God’s Word does not return void, it always accomplishes its purpose (Isaiah 55:11). Simply put, God’s word has always been the chosen instrument to awaken faith, sustain faith, and build up God’s people together.

[1] Mark Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2000), 31.

[2] Paul Alexander, and Mark Dever, The Deliberate Church (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005), 34-35.