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The Centrality of Expositional Preaching
Written by Dave Jenkins
Series, Contending for the Word Q&A
Question
Why Expositional Preaching?
Introduction
In every generation, the Church must ask a vital question, why does expositional preaching matter? Many churches today favor motivational talks or topical messages designed to inspire or entertain. Yet faithful preaching is not about the preacher’s creativity or charisma, it is about declaring what God has already said in His Word.
Expositional preaching is the God ordained means by which He nourishes His people, strengthens their faith, and shapes them into the likeness of Christ.
What Is Expositional Preaching?
Expositional preaching means that the point of the biblical text is the point of the sermon. It unfolds, explains, and applies Scripture in its context so that listeners understand what God has said and how it transforms their lives.
Paul charged Timothy, “Preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). This command was not a suggestion or a passing trend, it was the foundation of faithful ministry. The authority of preaching does not come from the preacher’s opinion, it comes from God’s revealed Word.
Why It Matters
The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). When preached faithfully, it accomplishes what human wisdom cannot. Expositional preaching allows Scripture to speak for itself, verse by verse, passage by passage, revealing the mind of God to the people of God.
This kind of preaching guards the Church from error and anchors it in truth. When pastors commit to expositional preaching, they protect the flock from being “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).
It also forms mature believers. As God’s Word is expounded faithfully, the Holy Spirit convicts hearts, renews minds, and equips the saints for every good work.
Expositional Preaching Glorifies Christ
All of Scripture ultimately points to Jesus Christ (Luke 24:27). Expositional preaching magnifies Him by showing how every passage connects to the gospel. Whether in Genesis or Revelation, the faithful expositor helps believers see the glory of Christ in the whole counsel of God.
Faithful preaching exalts not the messenger but the message, it keeps Christ central and the preacher humble.
A Word to Listeners
Hearing the Word exposited calls for more than passive listening. God’s people should come hungry for truth, ready to receive it with humility and faith. As James 1:22 reminds us, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
When believers sit under expositional preaching week after week, they are nourished by truth, trained in discernment, and grounded in grace.
Conclusion
So, why expositional preaching? Because God’s people need God’s Word. In every generation, the Church stands or falls by its commitment to Scripture.
Faithful preaching that unfolds God’s Word verse by verse ensures that Christ remains central, the gospel remains clear, and believers remain rooted in truth. Through expositional preaching, God continues to speak, build His Church, and glorify His Son.
For More
For more from Contending for the Word Q&A please visit our page here at Servants of Grace or at our YouTube.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.