I am strongly committed to expository preaching. But a lot of what is called expository seems to fall short. 

For many it seems to have become an exegetical showcase, or a structural/creativity showcase, or a prideful showcase of arrogant orthopraxy.

Exegetical showcase

For many, expository preaching is essentially to be equated with effective outlining of a text to demonstrate the skill of the preacher in accurate exegesis. 

Actually, I hesitate to say skill in accurate exegesis, because often outlining of texts seems to lead to a message other than the text’s message – perhaps a show of doctrinal orthodoxy, or an exercise in structural balancing. 

Nevertheless, for many, expository preaching has become an opportunity to show the fruit of their exegetical labour as if that were an end in itself. 

Be accurate, please, but don’t think that accurate presentation of a text is expository preaching.

Structural / Creativity showcase

I hinted at this above. This is where the sermon is an opportunity to demonstrate the ability of the speaker to create a balanced, parallel, aurally or visually appealing and supposedly memorable outline based on a text. 

There tends to be a value placed on tripartite structuring and balanced insertions of “illustrative” materials. The connections to expository sermonic expectations are clear on many levels, but the connections to the text can be strenuous at times. 

This isn’t what expository preaching is about – this is a culturally defined expectation trained into listeners (and yielding very affirming feedback!)

Arrogant orthopraxy showcase

I suppose this is tied to the previous point. This is where the preacher is concerned, perhaps subconsciously, to demonstrate that their preaching is in line with their heroes (usually in the current generation, sometimes historical figures). 

The concern seems to be to declare that “I am a true expository preacher!”  It is amazing how much insecurity we see in the church as people seem desperate to play the association game, name drop, seek approval, etc.

Expository preaching is not about displaying the preacher’s skill in exegesis, or craft in sermon construction, or association with a certain camp of evangelical Christianity. 

Expository preaching should come from an accurate understanding of the nature of Scripture, not a commitment to sermonic form or fashion. 

Expository preaching should come from a passion for God’s inspired and relevant Word to be communicated clearly to specific people that they might respond to Him.

Peter Mead is mentor at Cor Deo and author of several books. He blogs at Biblical Preaching.