What is Expository Preaching?

There are two kinds of preaching:

1. General knowledge preaching is when the content of the sermon comes out of the teacher’s pool of knowledge, beliefs experiences or readings from other books and is augmented or supported by the Bible.

2. Expository preaching is when all of the content of the message comes out of the text of Scripture. The preacher doesn’t think of it, he finds it.

Expository preaching feeds the soul with nourishment from heaven; general knowledge preaching does not.

Expository preaching delivers the wisdom of God to the believers heart, causing spiritual strengthening and growth and a deepening love for God; general knowledge preaching is human wisdom that empties the gospel of its power (1 Cor.1:17). Sitting under general knowledge preaching is like eating a constant diet of only plastic fruit. Over time you will become spiritually malnourished.

It is not always easy to discern between the two kinds of preaching (plastic fruit often looks just like real fruit). Both may contain numerous references to Scripture, go phrase-by-phrase through a Scripture text, and even have discussions of Greek or Hebrew words. General knowledge preaching is often disguised as expository preaching in this way.

Here is one way you can discern the difference: Pay close attention to the points of application for your life. Are the main lessons for application demanded by the Scripture text, or do they arise out of an illustration, story, or the pastor’s own experience?