Preaching Styles

[HumbleMan]

Good afternoon y'all!

Could someone explain to me the differences in preaching expositorily vs. topically, and what the advantages of each is?

Thanks!

 

[catch21wide]

The only thing I can say about expository is this: Expository preaching is explaing what each verse means in detail. The preacher breaks the verse down in segments to explain it. I don't know about the other type though.

 

[spopey]

Topical preaching: This is preaching on a subject or topic. Such as salvation, marriage or any number of topics. The preacher then would use different verses to discuss the topic.

 

[mlqurgw]

Expository preaching should be the norm. It can be breaking a verse down word by word or most often it is taking a section of Scripture, whether a couple of verses or a whole chapter or book, and givng the meaning and message of it. The advantage of it is that it gives those who hear a consistent diet of the message of the Bible. It lends itself very well to a series of messages on a book of the Bible. It gives the hearers understanding of the Scriptures as a whole rather than just snipits taken out of context and having no connection. If you preach through a book you will eventually deal with nearly every subject. The danger is spending to long on one passage by preacing on it several times in a series. Folks can become bored and loose what they have been taught previously.

Topical preaching is to pick a topic and preach on it. It should be used sparingly as it tends to the use of proof texts and if done often will leave the hearer with a prooftext understanding of the Scriptures. It has become the norm in a lot of pulpits today and that is why many have no concept of the teaching of the Scriptures as a whole. Topical preaching done as a steady thing usually turns into giving good advice and is not much different than what you can get watching Dr. Phil.

Let me say that it is possible to do a series on a topic effectively by preaching an exposition on each verse that deals with that topic. Also expository preaching doesn't mean that you must preach a series. Spurgeon was an excellent expositor of Scripture but never did a series that I know of.

 

[Imblessed]

our church does both kinds. Usually topical speaking on the weekends and expository during the Wednesday sessions. The Wednesday night church is geared towards maturing christians and they assume that all who attend are already christian and there to mature and learn.

The topical sermons during our weekend series are good though. Our pastor is pretty good at also breaking verses down and giving the history and background of the verses he uses and how they apply to the topic. Often he also gives the definitions and greek or hebrew words to explain harder words.....

I think topical preaching can become dangerous if not handled properly---as someone mentioned earlier, you may as well just turn on Dr. Phil----but if done right, it's a very good way of helping people learn how to deal with biblical principles in today's world.

 

[P_G]

I honestly feel as a pastor that topical preaching is best suited to more evangalistic endevours and that exigesis is for your congregation.

I am priamarily an exigesist but I can still deleiver a pretty fair salvation message.

The fact is that going through almost any chapter in the bible you will find at least one theme or central topic and I think you can actually do both at the same time.

PG

 

[mlqurgw]

I honestly feel as a pastor that topical preaching is best suited to more evangalistic endevours and that exigesis is for your congregation.

I am priamarily an exigesist but I can still deleiver a pretty fair salvation message.

The fact is that going through almost any chapter in the bible you will find at least one theme or central topic and I think you can actually do both at the same time.

PG

Every message preached ought to be full of Christ and point sinners to Him. The one who has been a believer for a long time will never tire of the message of Christ and the sinner seeking mercy for the first time may find it. Every time I stand in the pulpit I am aware that the people who hear me may not live even another hour and they need Christ. I wouldn't dare have someone leave and not heard of Him who is life. He is both the foundation and the top stone. We are built on Him and live in Him. He is our helper in time of need and our comfort in trial. He is made of God to us wisdom, righteous, sanctification and redemtion. We are complete in Him and lack nothing. He is to have the preeminence in all things and in Him we live and move and have our being. I want people to know Him, trust Him, be found in Him and live by Him. He is the message of the Scriptures and ought to be the theme of our preaching. Those who are believers need Him as much as those who aren't. To preach the Gospel is to proclaim all the council of God in Christ. All the practical instruction in the Pastoral Epistles are in the context of Christ and His love for His Bride,the Church, His people, the elect. He is all I need and all I want.

 

[JPPT1974]

I don't like people yelling
Or using bullying tactics
In order to get the message of Christ across
You should be firm & get to the point of God's message
But also be gentle and soft
Because in your face preaching could turn people off
Especially the non-Christians trying or wanting to believe.

 

[edie19]

Expository preaching should be the norm. It can be breaking a verse down word by word or most often it is taking a section of Scripture, whether a couple of verses or a whole chapter or book, and givng the meaning and message of it. The advantage of it is that it gives those who hear a consistent diet of the message of the Bible. It lends itself very well to a series of messages on a book of the Bible. It gives the hearers understanding of the Scriptures as a whole rather than just snipits taken out of context and having no connection. If you preach through a book you will eventually deal with nearly every subject. The danger is spending to long on one passage by preacing on it several times in a series. Folks can become bored and loose what they have been taught previously.

Topical preaching is to pick a topic and preach on it. It should be used sparingly as it tends to the use of proof texts and if done often will leave the hearer with a prooftext understanding of the Scriptures. It has become the norm in a lot of pulpits today and that is why many have no concept of the teaching of the Scriptures as a whole. Topical preaching done as a steady thing usually turns into giving good advice and is not much different than what you can get watching Dr. Phil.

Let me say that it is possible to do a series on a topic effectively by preaching an exposition on each verse that deals with that topic. Also expository preaching doesn't mean that you must preach a series. Spurgeon was an excellent expositor of Scripture but never did a series that I know of.

great explanation - and as a strong proponent of expository preaching I find nothing to argue with.

edie

 

[DeaconDean]

Expository preaching should be the norm. It can be breaking a verse down word by word or most often it is taking a section of Scripture, whether a couple of verses or a whole chapter or book, and givng the meaning and message of it. The advantage of it is that it gives those who hear a consistent diet of the message of the Bible. It lends itself very well to a series of messages on a book of the Bible. It gives the hearers understanding of the Scriptures as a whole rather than just snipits taken out of context and having no connection. If you preach through a book you will eventually deal with nearly every subject. The danger is spending to long on one passage by preacing on it several times in a series. Folks can become bored and loose what they have been taught previously.

Topical preaching is to pick a topic and preach on it. It should be used sparingly as it tends to the use of proof texts and if done often will leave the hearer with a prooftext understanding of the Scriptures. It has become the norm in a lot of pulpits today and that is why many have no concept of the teaching of the Scriptures as a whole. Topical preaching done as a steady thing usually turns into giving good advice and is not much different than what you can get watching Dr. Phil.

Let me say that it is possible to do a series on a topic effectively by preaching an exposition on each verse that deals with that topic. Also expository preaching doesn't mean that you must preach a series. Spurgeon was an excellent expositor of Scripture but never did a series that I know of.

Thank you friend. As always, you give such good answers, and I look forward to reading them. I agree with you, expository preaching is the best. But so as not to get into a rut, topical every once in a while is good too.

God Bless friend.

 

[Phileoeklogos]

For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

There is a time for both types, and anytime we preach we should consider what is best for the time, opportunity, subject,audience etc.. that we are given, when I do preach topically, I try to exposit as much as possible.


I remember listening to John MacArthur"s radio show when he was teaching on expository preaching, and he was talking about the importance of using your time wisely and the realization that none of us will probably have the time to exposit the entire Bible, he told about a pastor, I can't recall the name but, the pastor started his pastorate preaching at Isaiah 1:1 and 40 years later when he retired, he had just gotten to Isaiah chap 26.

The one pitfall I would warn those that are bent toward the topical style from falling into is don't come up with a sermon in search of a scripture, I've heard too many topical preachers start with a verse, and by the time they finish, they are miles away from that verse and no one remembers how they got there.

 

[DeaconDean]

The one pitfall I would warn those that are bent toward the topical style from falling into is don't come up with a sermon in search of a scripture, I've heard too many topical preachers start with a verse, and by the time they finish, they are miles away from that verse and no one remembers how they got there.

They taught us in seminary school that this was called "chasing rabbits."

God Bless.

 

[BroShane]

I also agree that expository preaching is best most times. I do preach topical sermons from time to time, but there is a real danger to it, as stated above. It is better to give a more full understanding of scripture as a whole than to hand out proof texts for or against certain things.

As with most anything, context is king and it's hard to get that from topical sermons.

 

[HumbleMan]

Thank y'all for the responses. What you have said is kind of what I had thought the differences were. I prefer more of an expository approach to preaching, but can appreciate a good topical sermon.

My pastor generally preaches through a passage or book. It's refreshing to be able to actually take notes and learn something. At my former church, the pastor preached more topically (he was an evangelist), and even though the emotional high felt good when we left church, by the middle of the week, I felt like I hadn't been fed a thing.

 

[JPPT1974]

My preacher preaches from the Bible
But also takes notes down
As well as there are notes in a projector
Up on the board for people at the church
To take notes down.

 

[JPPT1974]

Again I don't like preachers that
Jump up and down as well as
Yell at you in your face
Just acting cool and calm
As well as collected is fine by me!