In the December 2013 edition of Top of the Mount we contrasted the benefits of the two most commonly adopted preaching methods: expository and thematic preaching. We’re taking it a little further in 2015, running an expository preaching intensive at BST with Mike Raiter (Director of the Centre for Biblical Preaching in Melbourne). We caught up with Mike to give you a little taste of what you can expect from the Master of Arts intensive…
What are the hallmarks of expository preaching?
Expository preaching is simply opening up and exposing the Bible to God’s people and the world. It is based on the conviction that God’s word is powerful, and when it is proclaimed clearly and applied appropriately, by the work of the Spirit it can make an eternal, life-changing difference in the lives of its hearers. This method of preaching acknowledges that all Scripture is God-breathed and therefore, the faithful pastor/preacher will preach the whole Bible. In effect it also allows the Bible to set the agenda in preaching where it then becomes the preacher’s responsibility to faithfully discern, explain, and apply the main idea and purpose of the text.
Some preachers/pastors struggle with adopting expository preaching, what do you think contributes to this?
Many have had little exposure to expository preaching and have not been taught how to expound the Bible. Or, they have been exposed to poor models of expository preaching. Too many expository preachers believe preaching is a synonym for lecturing. Frankly, too many expository sermons are dull. But the problem isn’t the Bible or expository preaching, the problem is the preacher!
In particular, preachers struggle to know how to apply the Bible, especially the Old Testament, to the contemporary context. For some, it is a lack of confidence in the Bible. The fear is that unless we preach topical sermons on everyday issues then people will become bored and believe our preaching is irrelevant. Nothing could be further from the truth. Opening up God’s word to His people is thrilling and impacting for them.
Can you tell us what are some of the major benefits to expository preaching?
When done effectively expository preaching has many benefits. Expository preaching is most likely to treat the Bible in the most faithful and accurate way possible. It takes seriously the context of the passage, its meaning, and purpose. Expository Preaching exposes people to the whole Bible, and preserves preachers from neglecting passages of Scripture that are unfamiliar or unappealing.
Given that most Christians tend to use in their own Bible studies the style of study presented to them in the pulpit, expository preaching helps to train our people on how to read the Bible for themselves. It benefits the congregation by focusing them on God’s agenda in the Scripture rather than on the minister’s own particular stable of hobby-horses.
If you’re struggle for a topic to preach on, expository preaching makes selecting a topic so much easier. The burden of what to preach on next weekend is lifted, as the preacher expounds books of the Bible.
Why should people come along to the expository preaching intensive?
My desire is for those who attend the intensive to grow in their passion to preach God’s word and be excited to preach the whole Bible. The aim is to help students be able to confidently expound and apply the Bible in a way that will bless and edify the congregation. I will share many practical tips to make their preaching both faithful and engaging.
When it comes to their preaching ministry, I hope that the intensive will be life-changing, and prove to be a watershed in their ministry.
Mike Raiter is the Director of the Centre for Biblical Preaching in Melbourne, a partnership between the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and St James Old Cathedral, West Melbourne. The Centre exists to train men and women, both pastors and non-pastors in Expository Preaching. Mike was the Head of the Department of Mission at Moore College and, more recently, Principal of Melbourne School of Theology. Mike spent 11 years working in Pakistan, largely in theological education. He is married to Sarah and they have 4 children (Joel, Nate, Pippa and Lauren). He is the author of over 35 books and articles, most notably the 2004 Australian Christian Book of the Year, Stirrings of the Soul.
Mike will be teaching the intensive from 13-17 July 2015. Whether BST is your home campus, or you attend another college as part of your Master of Arts in Theology/Ministry, we welcome all applications. Alternatively, if you have an interest in the topic, but are not yet ready to do a Master of Arts, you can audit the lectures at a cost of $260.
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