There’s a moment in every preacher’s journey when you realize you’ve been doing it wrong. For me, it came when I understood the difference between preaching about the Bible and letting the Bible do the preaching. That distinction ignited my passion for expository preaching. Here are a few definitions for expository preaching I have found helpful:

1. Haddon Robinson (Biblical Preaching):

“Expository preaching is the 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.”

2. Bryan Chapell (Christ-Centered Preaching):

“Expository preaching is preaching in which the main idea of the biblical text becomes the main idea of the sermon, and is applied to the lives of the listeners.”

3. John Stott (Between Two Worlds):

“Expository preaching is opening up the inspired text with such faithfulness and sensitivity that God’s voice is heard and God’s people obey Him.”

4. Alistair Begg: (Preaching for God’s Glory)

“Expository preaching is unfolding the text of Scripture in such a way that makes contact with the listener’s world while exalting Christ and confronting them with the need for action.”

5. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Preaching and Preachers):

“Expository preaching is logic on fire. It is theology coming through a man who is on fire.”

Here’s a bonus definition!!!!

6. Ramesh Richard (Preparing Expository Sermons):

Expository preaching is the Spirit-empowered explanation and proclamation of the text of God’s Word with due regard to the historical, contextual, grammatical, and theological factors of a given passage, with the specific object of invoking a Christ-transforming response.

These definitions collectively remind us that expository preaching is both an art and a science. It requires careful study, faithful interpretation, and passionate delivery. The question for every preacher is: Does my preaching reflect these biblical principles? Am I truly expounding the text, or am I using it as a springboard for my own ideas? May we commit ourselves to the discipline and joy of opening God’s Word with both precision and fire. 

Have you read any good definitions not listed? Place them in the comments below.