Expository
Preaching
Expository Preaching - Principles and
Practice by Haddon Robinson (18)
Three Types

Topical
a series of Bible verses loosely
connected with a theme

Textual
short text or passage as a gateway into
whatever subject the preacher chooses to
address.

Expository
focuses on the text and its context
(historical and contemporary).
What is Expository Preaching?

Webster ‘an exposition is a discourse to
convey information or explain what is
difficult to understand’
‘laying open the text to public view in
order to set forth its meaning and make
appropriate application’
The source (starting point)

Topic or Issue (Marriage)

Felt Need (How do I...)

Question
Explain, interpret and apply the
Scriptures. (LK.24:27)
Expository preaching is not



Exegesis – a commentary running from
word to word and verse to verse without
unity, outline and pervasive drive.
Linguistic analysis – a collection of
grammatical findings and quotations
without a fusing of these elements into a
smooth, flowing, interesting and
compelling message.
Historical recollection – a reconstruction
of the history of a text. (p.11)
Rooted in scripture

Not reflecting your views / ideas, but
representing or reporting biblical truth.
(ambassador)

Not just re-stating what scripture says
(rules, theology, history), but recreating an encounter with God’s word.
Narrative, poetry, dialogue

Re-telling the story.

Re-living the emotion.

Re-engaging the debate / issue.
Making scripture relevant and living for
a particular congregation / people.
Haddon
Expository preaching is the
communication of a biblical concept,
derived from and transmitted through a
historical, grammatical, and literary
study of a passage in its context, which
the Holy Spirit first applies to the
personality and experience of the
preacher, then through him to his
hearers.
Understanding the Expository
Process

Preparing the expositor.

Processing and understanding the text.

Pulling the expository message together.

Preaching the exposition.
1. Preparing the Expositor
(Ez.7:10)

Passion and love for God’s word

Giftedness (ability)

Inclined and trained (working
knowledge)

Sensitive to the Spirit (signs and sighs)
A man in tune with God’s Spirit and
Word is ready to begin a process to
discover not only what God originally
meant by what He said, but also
appropriate principles and applications
for today. (p.13)
2. Processing and Understanding
the Text

OBSERVE (what)

INTERPRET (why)

APPLY (How)
Observe

What stands out?

What is the big idea? (What is the passage
trying to say?)

What is the relationship to the whole?

What is the structure?

What type of literature?
Identifying the underlying idea

Subject (formulate as a question)

Complement
Interpret

Why is the writer saying these things?

What did they mean to those who first
heard them?
Apply

How does this idea / theme apply to me
/ congregation. (p.16)

What life experiences / situations does
it resonate with?
3. Pulling the message
together

Titles, outlines, introductions,
illustrations, and conclusions.
A4

Introduction

Key Points

Conclusion
Conclusion

What one expects to happen in the
hearer as a result of preaching the
sermon.

Not the idea / idea states truth /
purpose – what the truth should
accomplish (p18)

Key points – what is the key idea and
what information does this passage give
me in relation to that idea?

Introduction – Context / reading /
Question

Illustrations

Titles
Preaching the Exposition

Dress

Delivery

Dynamic