The Value and Power of Expository Preaching
On May 15, 2026, Pastor Danny spoke at the Expositors Collective training event on the theme “The Value and Power of Expository Preaching.” Since preaching is at the center of what we do in worship every Lord’s Day here at OURC in Carlsbad, this address is a great place to learn what we do and why we do it. To see the principles of this address in action, see our expository and doctrinal sermon series.
Below is the video as well as text. In this address you’ll learn the following:
Key distinctions about expositorypreaching—what do we mean by “expository” and what do we mean by “preaching?”
The practical benefits of this kind of preaching for both the preacher and hearer.
The theology behind these key distinctions and practical benefits:
The eternal God brings his eternal promise into time through finite human words, so that real people are called to faith, grounded in truth, formed in godliness, and led into the hope of eternal life with him.
There can be no “value” in expository preaching unless it has divine “power” behind it! So, let’s jump right into the deep-end with my thesis:
Expository preaching is valuable and powerful because:
the eternal God brings his eternal promise
into time through finite human words,
so that real people are called to faith, grounded in truth, formed in godliness,
and led into the hope of eternal life with him.
1. Definitions & Distinctions
A medieval maxim said, “He teaches well who distinguishes well” (bene docet, qui bene distinguit), so let me briefly define terms and make distinctions.
Expository Preaching
We’re talking about “Expository Preaching.” Expository is an attributive adjective rooted in the Latin verb, exponére—“to expound,” “to explain.” In the sense I’m using it, expository preaching opens up a passage of Scripture by means of explanation, proclamation, and application. This means the text of Scripture isn’t a springboard for the preacher to show off his diving skills! Instead, the very words of the holy text govern the preacher’s method, message, theme, points, and application because the eternal God has chosen to communicate in time through words.
Expository Preaching
I’m talking about expository preaching—not merely teaching, lecturing, or giving word studies. It’s also not jumping over the text right into your anecdotes, examples, illustrations, stories, and applications.
I’m talking about real preaching here: opening up a passage of Scripture by means of explaining what God has saidso that you can proclaim what God is saying, right here, right now, to these people, and apply it to their minds and hearts. This is the prophetic element that’s so hard to find in today’s preaching. We do the hard labor of exposition so that we can say this is what the eternal God is communicating to you through finite human words. Then real transformational application flows.
Transition: So, why is expository preaching so valuable?
2. The Value of Expository Preaching
Let’s deal with the practical; then I’ll give the theology behind it.
The value of expository preaching for the preacher is threefold:
First, it humbles the preacher under the authority of God’s Word.
It keeps him in the Word, personally studying what God has said so he can publicly proclaim what God is saying. Newsflash: you’re not a pundit, therapist, brand manager, or entertainer but a minister—a servant—of God’s Word (minister verbi Dei).
Second, it disciplines the preacher with the whole counsel of God.
He preaches within the canon of Genesis to Revelation, whatever the next text in front of him is—not his personal crusades or current trends.
Third, it frees the preacher from the tyranny of novelty.
Preachers: you don’t need to create a message—you need to receive a message! Amen? Expository preaching gives anticipation of the next text so you can confidently say, “This is the Word of the Lord!” When Paul said: Κήρυξον τὸν λόγον, “preach the Word,” he wrote an imperative. That’s a command soldier, not a suggestion!
Application: So, let me put the fear of God into my fellow preachers and prospective preachers as a pastor of 26 years. James warns, “Not many of you should become teachers…for…we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1). When you refuse to let the Word that the eternal God gave govern your method, message, theme, points, and application, you’re asking: “hath God said?”
The value of expository preaching for the hearer is also threefold:
What does expository preaching do to a congregation over years?
First, it builds confidence in Scripture.
When people can see sermons arise from God’s Word, not the preacher’s personality, their confidence is in God and not charisma detached from Scripture.
Second, it trains people to read Scripture.
The hearer learns different contexts, genres, promises, commands, and Christ-centered fulfillments.
Third, it gives the church a full biblical diet.
Your people receive doctrines, warnings, comforts, and applications they don’t choose for themselves. Expository preaching feeds the sheep; over time, they learn to find green pasture.
Transition: Expository preaching’s practical value is rooted in divine power.
3. The Power of Expository Preaching
It’s is valuable because it’s powerful. Its power doesn’t come from the method, the preacher’s personality, or exegetical brilliance. The power is in the eternal God who brings his eternal promise into time through finite human words, so that real people are called to faith, grounded in truth, formed in godliness, and led into the hope of eternal life with him. That’s my thesis. It comes straight from Titus 1:1–3:
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior.
The eternal God has had a plan from eternity “past” to bring people into eternity “future.” And the connection point between the two is preaching! Wow! My finite human words as a preacher are the means God’s eternal plan comes crashing into time, confronts consciences, and turns ordinary people’s lives upside down. I believe the best way to do this is ordinarily to exposit book-by-book what God has said so I can proclaim what he is saying.
Transition: How does expository preaching powerfully bring God’s eternal plan to bear on people’s actual lives?
Expository preaching connects us to God’s eternal purpose through words
Paul was appointed an “apostle for the sake of the faith of God’s elect” (v. 1). He assumed God elects. He learned this as a boy and taught it as a rabbi. Why did the Lord choose Israel? “…not becauseyou were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you…but…because the Lord loves you…” (Deut. 7:6–8)
Preaching is instrumental in God’s eternal plan to share his love and life with us. He connects our “hope of [future] eternal life” with God, to God’s promise of eternal life “before the ages began” (v. 2). By “eternal” he doesn’t merely mean God isn’t bound by time. “Eternal” is the kind of life God has. So, our hope isn’t to exist outside the bounds of time; but to live within the bounds of God’s own life. Paul connects this future hope of living with and enjoying life with God to preaching.
Application: This should transform how those of us who speak, do so! The truth about preaching is that when we gather, something eternal is being spoken that has nothing to do with life as you know it. This is why the pulpit must not be debased with mere secular noise. Those of us who preach have something that no other religion, philosophy, politician, motivational speaker, or influencer has: a message from an eternal God inviting you and I into his eternal life.
Application: This should also transform how those of us who listen, do so! Something eternal and other-worldly is happening when you hear faithful preaching. The eternal God draws near. He transports you out of your chaotic, disappointing, and mundane life to share in his eternal life. You need this! You need something other than the drivel that floods the airwaves; you need something other-worldly to lift your eyes and hearts to what’s worth hoping for! Amen?
Transition: How does expository preaching powerfully bring God’s eternal plan to bear on people’s actual lives?
Expository preaching makes God’s eternal promise present
Note the contrast between the promise of eternal life “before the ages began” from the time this promise was “manifested in his word through…preaching” (v. 3). God began to fulfill his plan by sending his eternal logos in flesh (John 1:14). This is why preaching must be centered on being a manifestation of who Jesus is and what he did. When it is, God’s eternal plan for the world to come is revealed. That hope of eternal life with God that we are waiting for is revealed through preaching.
Application: Again, Christianity is different from the world. We have our own vocabulary that needs to be taught and learned. We have our own view of human history that’s moving towards a goal of life with God. It’s to that hope—eternal life with God—that we are moving.
Transition: How does expository preaching powerfully bring God’s “past” eternal plan of “future” eternal life to bear on people’s actual lives?
Expository preaching brings God’s eternal plan to bear on faith, truth, godliness, and hope
God’s eternal plan comes to bear on our faith through preaching. Paul labored and preached for the sake of the faith of God’s elect (v. 1). In other words, our finite human words in preaching brings sinners to faith and strengthens their faith.
God’s eternal plan comes to bear on our knowledge of the truth through preaching. Paul labored for their knowledge of the truth (v. 1). Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6). Preaching makes him known through finite human words that explain his Word.
God’s eternal plan comes to bear on our godliness through preaching. Our knowledge of God’s truth accords with godliness (v. 1). Knowledge isn’t merely info we store in the hard drive of our heads, but leads to godliness. Theology must become biography.
God’s eternal plan comes to bear on our hope through preaching.Paul labored and preached in hope of eternal life (v. 2). We’re battered, bombarded, bruised, and broken by the world. So, when we come together it’s to hear what God has to say to our souls about a better world that “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined” (1 Cor. 2:8).
Conclusion
In short, expository preaching carries both value and power because through it God does something eternal in time. By binding the preacher and the hearer to the very words of Scripture, it becomes the means by which the eternal God brings his ancient promise to bear on real people—drawing them to faith, grounding them in truth, shaping them in godliness, and lifting their eyes to the hope of eternal life with him.
That's why I'm convinced the best way to connect people to God's eternal purpose, and to make his promise present, is to open Scripture book by book—explaining what God has said so that we can proclaim what God is saying, right here, right now, to our minds and hearts.