I came across a great quote on the benefits of expository preaching in a second-hand book I picked up this week. The book is ‘The Excellence of Exposition’ by Douglas M White and what first got my attention was an extract from Stephen Olford’s foreword which is quoted on the back cover - “Preaching is primary….exposition is paramount”.

The main quote I wanted to share with you is by Faris Whitesell, speaking about expositional preaching: “This is the favourite method of scriptural preaching for most Biblical preachers. It sticks closest to the Bible, submits more completely to the Bible, and most highly honours the Word of God. Above all other methods, it takes the Bible as it is, and seeks to find and apply the true grammatical-historical-contextual meaning.

Expository preaching is at its best when a preacher is expounding a book of the Bible, section by section, in his best homiletical style. And, since the expository preacher will wish to hold himself on the straight track of God’s revealed truth, he will often, perhaps usually, take a longer passage than a single verse. The key idea to remember about expository preaching is that it is explanatory. Herrick Johnson says: ‘But explanatory discussion has its chief crown and glory in what is technically known as expository preaching. This preaching is based upon a somewhat extended section of Scripture. But while the chief business of expository preaching is explanation, it is always explanation in order to persuasion. It is not mere commentary.’ The ideal explanatory discussion is that which so exhibits God’s truth by narration, description, exemplification, or exposition, that it not only makes the meaning absolutely clear, but also shows a distinct and dominating purpose to reach the will and move it Godward.”