The Incomparable Value of Expository Preaching by Bob Hostetler

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The Incomparable Value of Expository Preaching

The Incomparable Value Of Expository Preaching

By Bob Hostetler on Apr 6, 2023

DesperatePastor.com

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There's a whole lot of preaching today that makes good points and says good things in entertaining ways, but something's missing.

Scripture: None

Tags: Preaching, Expository, points, missing, preaching, expository (view more) (view less)

I'm not one of those people who thinks only expository preaching (that is, preaching that relies on—rather than obliquely refers to—a passage in the Bible, explains what it says and how it applies today) is good or valid. However, I much prefer it. Much. May I say to you: Much.

Here's one reason why: There is a whole lot of preaching in churches today that makes good points and says good things in entertaining ways, but which relies mostly (or even exclusively) on the preacher's perspective and opinions rather than on sound interpretation and explanation of the Bible.

But when a preacher tasks himself or herself with a passage of Scripture and lets it decide and guide what is said from the pulpit (or, as is often the case, music stand or Plexiglas lectern), it can be both limiting and liberating. When you preach from a text, there is far less room (if you're honest) for opinions and personal prejudices to creep in. It can still be done, of course, but not so easily without raising red flags in the preacher's soul.

The problem many of us preachers face, however, is that we want to preach what we want to preach. We want to make certain points that Scripture may not make—or may not make unequivocally. But that is exactly why I prefer expository preaching, because it forces me as a student and communicator to make the points Scripture makes instead of the points I really want to make. And that's a good thing.

Bob Hostetler (website: DesperatePastor.com)

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Bob Hostetler is a writer, editor, and speaker from southeastern Ohio. His 30 books, which include Quit Going to Church and the novel The Bone Box, have sold over three million copies. He has coauthored a dozen books with Josh McDowell. Bob is a frequent speaker at churches, conferences, and retreats. He has been a disc jockey, pastor, magazine editor, freelance book editor, and, with his wife Robin, a foster parent to 10 boys (though not all at once).