Contours of a Great Commission Resurgence is a series of articles by faculty of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary that seeks to offer some definitions of what constitutes a GCR, why we believe the SBC is in need of such a movement, and what such a movement might look like in SBC life. The series will address biblical, theological, historical and practical issues related to a GCR with the hope that God will use our finite and flawed efforts for His glory and the good of the people called Southern Baptist.

The Crisis in 21st Century Preaching: A Mandate for Biblical Exposition, Part A

We believe the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is at a critical point, especially in the Western cultural context. To be specific, there is a real and serious crisis in our pulpits today. The situation must be addressed if we are to experience a Great Commission Resurgence. Walt Kaiser is exactly right when he says, “One of the most depressing spectacles in the church today is her lack of power . . . At the heart of this problem is an impotent pulpit.” Seduced by the sirens of modernity we have jettisoned a word-based ministry that is expository in nature. We have, in our attempt to be popular and relevant, become foolish and irrelevant. The fallout is quite literally indescribable.

Skiing across the surface needs of a fallen, sinful humanity we have turned the pulpit into a pop-psychology side-show and a feel-good pit stop. We have neglected preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word and the theology of God’s Word. Too many of our people know neither the content of Scripture nor the doctrines of Scripture. Preaching the cross of Christ and His bloody atonement is often absent. Some simply want to be cute or edgy. Others choose to focus on politics, the environment, social action, the emotions, or relationships, and the list goes on and on. If the Bible is used at all, it is usually as a proof-text out of context with no real connection to what the biblical author is saying. Many who claim and perhaps believe they are expositors betray their confession by their practice. This tragic fact is undeniable.

The words of the prophet Amos were never more piercing, “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it” (8:11-12).

It is disheartening when evangelicals walk the same path as the liberal and the neo-orthodox of a previous era. Claiming to believe in an infallible and inerrant Bible, far too many pastors handle the Bible in a way that is sloppy, irresponsible, and dishonest to the text, a text given as it is by the Holy Spirit of God. They are guilty of ministerial malpractice on their congregation. Evangelists, conference speakers, and pastors all stand guilty. By what they do they say we can see people converted and brought to maturity in Christ without the consistent and comprehensive teaching of God’s Word. Further, at least implicitly, they question the judgment of God the Holy Spirit in inspiring Scripture as we have it.  Topical preaching, narrative preaching, emerging preaching, and yes, even some types of doctrinal preaching, fundamentally suggest by their method and practice that the Holy Spirit should have packaged The Bible differently. This is spiritually ignorant at best, and arrogant at worst. Al Mohler is certainly correct when he observes, “Preaching has fallen on hard times. That’s the impression you would gain by listening to much of what passes for preaching in American pulpits. Something is clearly missingand that missing element is the deep passion for biblical exposition that always characterizes the great preachers of an era” (”Charles Haddon Spurgeon – A Passion for Preaching, Part One” [9-20-04]).

Now the question is rightly raised: What do we mean by biblical exposition and what are the essential components for this type of preaching?

It is often said that there are as many definitions of expository preaching as there are books on the subject. This statement has only a modicum of truth. It ignores the basic fact that these various definitions, though differing at particular points, are quite similar at the foundational level. What we discover is that there actually exist a genuine consensus on what expository preaching is among those who write about it and practice it.
 
Drawing from complementary definitions and descriptions of expository preaching, we would submit the following short definition followed by an expanded description. Our short definition, in ten words or less, is this: Expository Preaching is “Christ centered, text driven preaching designed to transform lives.” From this bare bones definition, we offer the following description. From it we shall develop several basic and fundamental principles, seven to be exact, that hopefully can provide a compelling case for biblical exposition in the 21st century.  Our description is:

  
Expository preaching is text driven preaching that honors the truth of Scripture as it was given by the Holy Spirit. Discovering the God-inspired meaning through historical-grammatical-theological investigation and interpretation, the preacher, by means of engaging and compelling proclamation, explains, illustrates and applies the meaning of the biblical text in submission to and in the power of the Holy Spirit, preaching Christ for a verdict of changed lives.

From this description we develop several mandates for a preaching/teaching ministry that is true to the high view of Scripture we profess, and absolutely essential for the health of the Church in the 21st century. This will be the focus of several articles to follow.