1. The Holy Spirit Works Through the Preacher ✝️
- First, the Holy Spirit applies the truth of Scripture to the preacher’s own life.
- Then, through the preacher, God’s truth is delivered to the congregation.
- An expositor thinks in three stages:
- Study the text carefully → Understand what the biblical writer meant.
- Apply it personally → Let God’s Word change your own life.
- Apply it to others → Ask, “What does God want to say to my congregation?”
2. Application Gives Preaching Its Purpose 🎯
- Preaching isn’t just explaining the Bible—it’s about showing how it affects daily life.
- Like a shepherd, the preacher must understand the hurts, fears, and struggles of the people.
- Paul said Scripture is “useful for teaching, correcting, guiding, and training” (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
- Without practical application, sermons feel boring and irrelevant.
3. Avoid Two Common Problems ⚠️
Problem 1 — Same Old Sermon:
- Some preachers give every passage the same application or no application at all.
- This makes sermons feel repetitive and lifeless.
Problem 2 — No Real-Life Connection:
- People may think, “It’s true, but so what?”
- Listeners need to know how Scripture helps with real-life struggles:
- Job loss, family issues, finances, illness, doubts, temptations, relationships, etc.
- If the sermon doesn’t connect to daily life, people will tune out.
4. Preach to Today’s People, Not Just the Past 🕰️
- The preacher doesn’t just lecture about Bible history—he connects Scripture to current life situations.
- Example: Paul’s letters were specific to each church’s problems.
- Likewise, the expositor must know his congregation—their needs, fears, and struggles.
- Good preaching = studying both the Bible and the people.
5. Ask Life-Related Questions 🤔
When preparing the sermon, the preacher should ask:
- How did people in the passage relate to God and to one another?
- What values guided their choices?
- How are their struggles similar to ours today?
- What does God want us to do in response?
These questions help connect biblical truth to modern life.
6. Correct vs. Incorrect Application ✅❌
- A wrong application can be dangerous, just like bad interpretation.
- Example: Satan tempted Jesus using Psalm 91, twisting its meaning.
- Jesus corrected him with another Scripture: “Do not test the Lord your God.”
- This shows that proper application is as important as accurate interpretation.
7. Relevant but Faithful Preaching 🕊️
- Preachers must address real-world issues—like writers, journalists, and storytellers do.
- But they must not water down God’s Word to sound “modern.”
- The goal: Connect today’s struggles with God’s eternal truth.
- True expository preaching says:
“Thus saith the Lord,” not “This is my opinion.”
Key Takeaway
Expository preaching applies God’s unchanging Word to people’s real, everyday lives.
- Study the Scripture deeply.
- Understand the people clearly.
- Speak God’s message faithfully.
