1 Point Preacher
Episode 31

Show Notes:

I ask Joshua Bagas about his commitment to expository preaching, right after his completion of Romans.

Q: how did you used to preach, and what preaching have you heard?
Topical sermons, with 3 points. With alliteration.
Choosing a text based on feeling, what's easy, what's familiar. The situation of the congregation, or wants to hear.
Example: February, choose a topic for Valentine's Day.

Q: was that a good method of preaching, for you or your congregation?
No. The congregation would hear the same themes over and over. No threatening passages. It's not the whole gospel.
And the pastor cannot learn. He cannot grow.

Topical preaching makes it easier for a preacher to not develop. The texts will always be up to him. He has undermined the process, and will keep himself from being challenged. Sequential exposition forces the preacher to up his game.

It's not automatically bad to consider the reaction of the congregation.
Come to terms with the fact that the gospel is offensive to people.
Whether you will avoid offense and hurt feelings is the real question.

With sequential expository preaching, you cannot avoid hard texts.

Topical preaching is island-hopping.

You need to study for expository preaching, because of all the topics that you encounter.
Example: Romans 16, and the list of names. One response: it's as if that text was not even there.
Things that are rarely emphasized can be preached and applied.

Parts of the Bible people skip or skim (like genealogies). People don't know what to do with those.
Expository preachers have the challenge and privilege in showing the congregation how this part of the Bible is profitable for them.

You only appreciate any one text in context to the whole book.

Q: what sold you to expository preaching?
#1, learning. Have to do a lot of study.
Secondly, choosing texts is hassle free. Preach the next verses.
This is the only way the congregation can learn how to study the whole book.
It's the only way they can grow. They cannot appreciate the Bible from topical sermons.

It's a balanced diet. Expository preaching delivers the variety of Scripture.
It challenges the preacher and the people.

The Bible isn't revealed as a textbook of topics, but a collection of different types of literature.

Instead of looking for many cross-references, you can rely on the sermon text. Understand the text in its context.

Ironically, expository is less work than topical preaching.

Q: have there been any other obstacles or challenges?
There are maybe 4 expository preachers, here.
But nobody opposed the change. They appreciate it.
Even during holidays, simply continuing the expository series didn't arouse objection.

One of the greatest advantages: when the Word is hurtful, the people don't take it personally from the pastor. It's simply from the text. The preacher cannot be accused of targeting.

It's more clear to the congregation that sits under expository preaching that this is God's preaching plan, God's agenda, God's Word that's being delivered.
Not the feelings, whims, emotions of the pastor.
You are "just the messenger."


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Bumper Music:
???? Murder On The Bayou
Written by Bryan Teoh
https://freepd.com/music/Murder%20On%20The%20Bayou.mp3