From my class notes this Sunday night on application and biblical preaching —
The material in this concluding section on expository preaching is adapted from Ramesh Richard’s book titled, Preparing Expository Sermons A Seven Step Method for Biblical Preaching. This is the single book that I would recommend for those wanting a crash course in how to study and teach a biblical lesson. It is only 140 pages (plus appendices) and presents all of the pertinent issues with clarity and practicality.
Richard provides this definition: “Expository preaching is the contemporization of central proposition of a biblical text that is derived from proper methods of interpretation and declared through effective means of communication to inform minds, instruct hearts, and influence behavior toward godliness.”
Contemporization is a key word in this definition. It explains the content of expository preaching. It answers the question, What is really happening in expository preaching? What is contemporization? It is the task of taking what was written centuries ago to a different audience and presenting it in the contemporary moment to an audience so that they can understand and apply its truth. There is no sense in which this improves the Bible’s message or “makes the Bible relevant.” The Bible is relevant. The preacher’s task however is to so interpret and explain that the Bible’s relevancy can be seen and heard, felt and experienced by his people.
Interpretation is another key word in the definition. It explains the how of expository preaching. How does it work? How is the content decided upon and formed? A proper method of interpretation is the process by which this is done.
Inform, instruct and influence are three key verbs in the definition. These describe the why of expository preaching. Why is it done? What is its purpose? Informing the mind is foundational because the whole process depends upon knowledge. But it does not stop with knowledge in the head. This knowledge must pervade the whole person so that the heart is instructed as well.