From the Heart of the Pastor

We are currently in a 9 week sermon series entitled, “The Nine Marks of a Healthy Church.”  During this series, I would like to use these weekly newsletter articles to reinforce the previous Sunday’s mark.  One of our core values at Oak Crest is to consistently practice “expository preaching,” more specifically, “text-driven preaching.”  It is very important that we are reminded of what this really means.  I want to remind you of the importance of solid, biblical exposition in preaching.  Let me first of all say, I do not always succeed in doing expository preaching.  When I don’t, I fail as your pastor and as a minister of the gospel.  What is expository preaching?

Very simply, expository preaching is preaching the bible.  You may say, “Everybody does that!”  I am not certain they do.  Many preachers refer to the Bible in their preaching, but does the biblical passage set the agenda of the sermon?  It has been said that expository preaching is, “preaching which expounds what Scripture says in a particular passage, carefully explaining its meaning and applying it to the congregation.”  I think that is a good definition.  Haddon Robinson is one of the most well known and beloved professors of preaching in the country.  He has defined expository preaching as, “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 the preacher, applies to the hearers.”

It should also be said that expository preaching as I have discussed it in the previous paragraph is not just one “style” of preaching along with many others.  No, it is far more than that.  It is a theologically and biblically driven philosophy of God’s word.  Expository preaching upholds the centrality of the word of God as the sole authority in a local New Testament church.  If God is not speaking to us through the Bible, then we cannot rightly be called a church.

Why do we make such a big deal about this?  When preachers don’t preach the word of God, it is deadly dangerous.  When preachers preach themselves, or self-help and self-esteem, or they preach to felt needs, God himself is veiled from the people.  God has revealed himself in his word.  “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ,” (Romans 10:17).  No word – no Christ, no Christ – no salvation.  Can we afford not to preach the truth of God?  I am recommitting to you as your pastor to preach the word.

In Christ,

​Blain Craig