Expository Preaching Exalts Christ

In previous articles, we have noted the importance of keeping our sermons based on the text. We want to discover and preach the message that the biblical author, under the guide of the Holy Spirit, intended when he wrote the passage. We want the content and intent of our sermon to faithfully reflect the content and intent of the text. This is what we mean by “expository” preaching.

But there is a final principle for biblical study and preaching, utilized in our training, that may strike some as odd. We at MissioSERVE believe that good expository preaching resounds with the exaltation of Christ in the text. We are convinced that New Testament preachers should exalt Christ. No matter which text one might be expounding, the preacher can and should declare the gospel of Christ from that text.

Now, since no biblical text commands preachers to always include Christ in their exposition, this principle may seem to contradict other principles we have previously championed. It gives the appearance that, rather than allowing the text to dictate the substance of the sermon, we are suddenly adding our own desired content at the end. To be sure, there is some legitimacy to this complaint. Some concepts of “Christ-centered” preaching do seem to force a “Cristo-centric” framework onto the text. And if our commitment to preaching Christ is nothing more than a personal conviction, then our sermons are not very different from others that are shaped by presuppositional influences rather than by the text itself.

However, if the Bible itself encourages preachers to preach Christ from every text, then the framework is no longer a personal fancy. It may still be viewed as a presuppositional influence, yet it is not based on the whims of the preacher but on a conviction formed by the example and expectation of the Scriptures themselves. If the Bible does indeed promote this conviction about preaching, then we are obliged to complete it faithfully and responsibly in a way that still honors all we have already said about the powerful and precise exposition of the Word.  

There are at least two ways in which the Bible calls us to exalt Christ in every exposition. The first is through the stated intent of the Scriptures themselves. The second is through the examples and testimonies of the New Testament preachers. These two elements combine to argue a strong case that every sermon we preach should point to Christ.

The Larger Intent of the Scriptures

We have already pointed out that there is no single text that mandates us to preach Christ from every text. However, as seen in previous articles, true expository preaching is not complete if it only reflects the content of a passage. For a sermon to faithfully communicate a passage, it must also capture the intent of the author. The meaning of a text cannot be divorced from the purpose of the text. This is why it is important to consider the broader context of a passage and look for clues about the tone in which it was communicated.

When dealing with the Scriptures, this attention to the intention of the text becomes more complex. Many passages possess an "intent" that may not be obvious within the text or immediate context. This stems from the mysterious and supernatural nature of the biblical writings. Since it was the Holy Spirit who orchestrated the writing of each passage, the Spirit’s intent “overarches” each passage He inspired. This fact does not, in any way, preclude the intent of the human authors. The Spirit purposefully used the specific circumstances, styles, experiences, etc., of the human authors to address specific needs of the day. However, the intent of the Divine Author did more than merely coincide with that of the human authors. Like a skillful mason building with uncut stones of different shapes and sizes, He selected each book to fit a precise space in the construction of the greater message. Each piece of inspired writing — complete with its original intent — was utilized by the Spirit to contribute to the message of the larger tapestry He was constructing.

In our next few blog articles, we will examine the foundational stones upon which the conviction of an “overarching intent” of the Holy Spirit is built. We will note specific verses that indicate this “greater purpose” was not only recognized but was preached as part of the intent of a text. We will also see that the purpose of pointing to Christ was pervasive, permeating every section of the Hebrew Bible.  

But for now, it is sufficient to note that preaching that does not point to Christ is not fully expository, for it fails to connect the immediate intent of the writer with the larger, Spirit-led intent of Scriptures as a whole. Admittedly, it may be difficult to grasp the specific way(s) in which a passage is connected to Christ, and we must not invent one at our own convenience (this will be the subject of a future series of blogs). Nevertheless, this urgent duty for New Testament preachers remains: We proclaim Christ (Col. 1:27-28).