Proclaimer Blog
It can still be expository preaching if….
…the preacher doesn’t take us explicitly through every verse in the passage. Different preachers will take different views on how often they should say “now look with me at v.15”, or “did you notice the therefore in v.1?”, or “see how those three participle clauses all depend on the same main verb” (I threw that last one in as a joke).
Just how much of that the preacher actually says in the sermon seems to me to be entirely an area for freedom of choice. It will be determined partly by the preacher’s style; it should also be significantly determined by the audience he’s speaking to: what will genuinely help these particular people open themselves to what the Holy Spirit aims to do in them by means of this Word?
Of course there are limits. On the one hand, we rejoice in the Protestant heritage that put the Bible in everyone’s hands, so that people can literally see for themselves that the minister’s authority is derived only from the Word. Therefore we will want to show them clearly that our message comes from Scripture, not from ourselves. On the other hand, we are not there to give oral commentaries in which every interesting and supporting textual feature must be mentioned.
Between these two extremes is a freedom for the preacher to explore with wisdom, as he seeks to preach to his particular flock as well as he can. As with so many things, perhaps it’s good to break a habit deliberately sometimes. Do you love mentioning Greek connectives, especially if you think your English Bible foolishly missed one out? Lighten up. The main point will still be clear enough in the English words that are there. Could someone leave your sermon not entirely clear that it was Scripture you were preaching? Get their noses in the God-breathed words that are your authority.