The Case for Systematic Exposition
The systematic, contextual teaching of the Word from the pulpits of America has fallen on hard times. Modern means of communication have greatly reduced our attention span to such things as a thirty-minute sit-com and even our ability to concentrate. The masses want to be entertained, not educated. How many people watch the Discovery Channel or the History Channel? People want to hear something that makes them feel good. In such an environment, who wants to listen to an exposition of an ancient text? That sounds like a history lecture. It gets worse. In the name of being “seeker friendly,” many modern evangelical pastors deliberately avoid such word as sin, judgment, and hell.
It is not popular, but I firmly believe that one of the greatest needs today is for pastors to practice the systematic, contextual teaching of the Word of God. I emphasize contextual because some systematic exposition is based on the theology of the pastor, not the context of the passage. The systematic, contextual explanation of the Scripture allows it to determine the spiritual diet of the congregation. Topical preaching (preaching on a single topic from several passages) and even most textual preaching (preaching on a single verse) lends itself to the pastor deciding what to feed the congregation.
This is not to say that topical or textual preaching is wrong. Such sermons can contain spiritual nourishment, but if that is the constant diet, the preacher is in control of what is taught. The messages the congregation hear are limited to what the Pastor thinks is important. As I have practiced the systematic exposition of the books of the Bible, I have found myself speaking on subjects that I would not have chosen to address left to myself. It has stretched me personally and, no doubt, those who listen to me.
Unfortunately, expository preaching has also gotten a bad reputation from its friends, not its foes. Too many (one is too many) so-called expository preachers have been boring and irrelevant. In my opinion, it is a sin to bore people to death with the Living Word from God, whether I do it or someone else does it. I have worked at making it interesting and relevant. I may not have always succeeded, but that has been my aim.
I was once told of a seminary professor (I believe it was Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.), who told a group of pastors that once every five years they should preach a topical sermon and, then, they should get on their knees and repent! That is strong. If taken literally, it is extreme, but he has a point. Pastors need to repent—of their preaching.
I hesitated to send this out for fear that people would get critical of their pastor. That is not my intent. You need to pray for your pastor. Nevertheless, in my opinion, one of the greatest needs in America today is for the systematic, contextual teaching of the Word of God. Let us pray.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 11/30/2006
It is not popular, but I firmly believe that one of the greatest needs today is for pastors to practice the systematic, contextual teaching of the Word of God. I emphasize contextual because some systematic exposition is based on the theology of the pastor, not the context of the passage. The systematic, contextual explanation of the Scripture allows it to determine the spiritual diet of the congregation. Topical preaching (preaching on a single topic from several passages) and even most textual preaching (preaching on a single verse) lends itself to the pastor deciding what to feed the congregation.
This is not to say that topical or textual preaching is wrong. Such sermons can contain spiritual nourishment, but if that is the constant diet, the preacher is in control of what is taught. The messages the congregation hear are limited to what the Pastor thinks is important. As I have practiced the systematic exposition of the books of the Bible, I have found myself speaking on subjects that I would not have chosen to address left to myself. It has stretched me personally and, no doubt, those who listen to me.
Unfortunately, expository preaching has also gotten a bad reputation from its friends, not its foes. Too many (one is too many) so-called expository preachers have been boring and irrelevant. In my opinion, it is a sin to bore people to death with the Living Word from God, whether I do it or someone else does it. I have worked at making it interesting and relevant. I may not have always succeeded, but that has been my aim.
I was once told of a seminary professor (I believe it was Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.), who told a group of pastors that once every five years they should preach a topical sermon and, then, they should get on their knees and repent! That is strong. If taken literally, it is extreme, but he has a point. Pastors need to repent—of their preaching.
I hesitated to send this out for fear that people would get critical of their pastor. That is not my intent. You need to pray for your pastor. Nevertheless, in my opinion, one of the greatest needs in America today is for the systematic, contextual teaching of the Word of God. Let us pray.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 11/30/2006