The church, Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3:15, is the “pillar and foundation of the truth”. That’s a big responsibility. Along with Jesus, we believe God’s “word is truth” (John 17:17). So, we study it. Read it. Memorize it. Preach it. Teach it. Discuss it. Apply it. Obey it. A major component of all this is expositional preaching. In other words, we preach it book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse.

These thoughts by D. A. Carson* help explain why such preaching is so important:

“The aim of the pastor or teacher is not to be the most popular speaker of the age. His aim is not to pique curiosity, speculate or amuse, but instead he is to explain the Bible and apply it to life. Thus, when it hurts, it also heals; when it instructs, it also edifies. No better way to accomplish this end exists than through expository preaching. Expository preaching deserves to be the primary method of proclamation.

1. It is the method least likely to stray from the priorities of Scripture. Small points are not made major points and vise versa.

2. It teaches people how to read the Bible, to think through passages, and to apply God’s Word to their lives.

3. It gives the pastor authority and confidence in his sermon. If he is faithful to the text, his message is God’s message. Regardless of what is going on in the church—whether it is growing in number or whether it is growing in depth—the congregation will know that the pastor is proclaiming God’s truth.

4. It meets the need for relevance without letting the popular clamor for relevance dictate the message. Expository preaching keeps the eternal perspective relevant.

5. It forces the pastor to handle the tough passages of Scripture such as divorce, homosexuality, women in ministry, etc.

6. It enables the pastor to expound systematically the whole counsel of God allowing the congregation to receive the fully orbed message God intends for His children.”

*(D. A. Carson, “Accept No Substitutes.” Leadership, 17 (Summer 1996): 87.)