Preaching Methods and the Unwise

Elevation of Men

There is a segment of Christianity who so elevates a style and method of preaching that in some cases it has become idolatry upon a pedestal of self righteousness. These are those who proclaim with solid uncertainty that only expository preaching is approved of by God, and in fact, any local church whose pulpit does not adhere to that kind of preaching is not a Biblically based church.

The term “expository” is exactly what the word seems to mean - an exposing of the meaning within a certain context. It is indeed a beneficial way to preach and teach, and it is certainly an essential in understanding the Scriptures. But it is far from the only and exclusive way to preach, and if a preacher uses it while he subtly and not so subtly attaches some spiritual superiority to his mode, then he undermines the basic quality of teaching and preaching - humility and brokenness. And on some level he diminishes the power of the written Word when he suggests that the plate upon which it is served is as important as the meal itself.

II Tim.4:1-3 - I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Notice the phrase “Preach the word” which can easily be translated “Preach the truth”. “Thy word is truth” says our Lord, and the “Truth (Word) shall set you free”. If you are not preaching the Word than you are not preaching truth, and conversely if you are not preaching truth than you are not preaching the Word. They are inseparable. All preaching, if it is accurately based upon the Scriptures, is expository and reveals God’s truth. But when you insist that if a preacher does not strictly adhere to an expository method of preaching he cannot be approved of God and is practicing a somewhat deviant way of preaching, well then, you have crossed the line.

Expository preaching does not insure Biblical accuracy and adherence to the truth. I have listened while cult teachers exposed the Scriptures verse by verse and yet taught damnable heresies. I have often preached by an expository method and I have often preached by a topical method as well. Both must be empowered by the Spirit or else the effectiveness can be compromised, but not altogether made useless. But my overarching point is that expository preaching is a good tool, but it should not morph into a lofty castle of spiritual hubris and the mark of Biblical authority among a chosen ecclesiastical fraternity.

Preaching the Word of God is a sacred responsibility that should be afforded an extremely high priority in the local church. It should not be presented in some dry way which accentuates academics to the detriment of the spiritual and transforming power inherent within the mystery of those written words. And I have also had to sit and listen to preachers give lengthy explanations of the context which include the date of the writing, a detailed description of the city to which it was written, the kind of Greek used primarily by the writer, the level of education of the common people, and a veritable host of other nonessential facts and issues. Ok, we get it, you know a lot.

But preaching the Word must be for the express purpose of revealing the Lord Jesus and changing the hearts and lives of those who are listening. Just informing people is useless, and impressing people is nothing more than being an ecclesiastical thespian. Discipleship is more, much more, than becoming versed in doctrine and systematic theology and being able to explain the meaning and context of New Testament verses. In fact, many theologians have already done that work for you and bound them in inanimate books and web sites. It is not nearly enough to fill your mind, but your heart must be filled to overflowing resulting in living replications of the theology you so thoroughly have learned.

And therein lies a subtle problem which upon the surface seems to be Biblical and spiritually mature. We have been taught that discipleship revolves around learning the Word of God, and so it does. However it cannot stop there. A disciple is one who follows a teaching, and in this case, a Teacher. The exhortation to “Take up your cross and follow Me” is not a command to learn Koine Greek and Old Testament Hebrew. It is not an instruction to memorize a systematic theology and be pronounced a mature disciple.

Surely a Scriptural foundation is necessary for a believer to become a dedicated disciple, but we have many who are well versed in Scriptural truths and adept at Biblical exegesis who exhibit very little of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is not only a serious problem, but that countermands the entire New Testament principle of being living epistles who manifest the Lord Jesus in sacred and practical ways. Jesus is the Word, but Jesus is much more than a book. And if we allow ourselves to become enamored with our theology or our preaching style, then we have created a spiritual library rather than living followers of the Incarnate Christ.

Christian blogs are littered with pictures and likenesses of dead and living men who were known for their preaching, writing, and general faithfulness to Christ. But they are not who we follow. Those who use men to identify the particular kind of faith they espouse are making a mistake, however unwittingly. To use a preacher’s quote or illustration is one thing, but to identify yourself with a man is unwise and misleading. The names of Luther, Wesley, Calvin, Spurgeon, or other names that denote denominations or theological streams are again, unwise. And in that same vein, to suggest that a certain preaching method identifies that church or preacher as superior is both unwise and self righteous.

And with that I huddle around my post point. Let us never shine the spotlight upon ourselves and our methods. And let us never rest upon the laurels of our theology, regardless how Biblical and orthodox it seems to be. And let us be extremely careful as to how we lift up or portray men. But let us always,

“press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”