Title: Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today

Author: David R. Helm

Summary

Expositional Preaching is part of a nine-book series published by 9Marks. This book is a short, 120+/- page, quick read. Even though this book is short and sweet, it covers most all of the bases for preaching, especially for a beginner like myself.

The author, David Helm, breaks down expositional preaching into four categories or steps to take. The first is contextualization, where the preacher uses the surrounding texts to contextualize his main preaching passage. The second step is exegesis, where the preacher allows the text itself to control the outline of the sermon. The third step is theological reflection, where the preacher asks himself what the passage tells us about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The fourth and final step is labeled “today,” where the preacher applies what he’s learned about the passage to today’s Christian.

Interesting Pieces

Helm contrasts realists preaching with impressionists preaching. The impressionist preacher, similar to the impressionist artist uses wide brush strokes to cover the Biblical text and then adds human experience to support the preacher’s points.

On page 54, Helm lays out the different types of Biblical texts that can preached upon and how they should be handled differently. The different genres are Old Testament narrative, prophetic, apocalyptic, wisdom and poetry, epistles, gospels, and Acts.

On page 102, the author points out the primary purpose of all preaching: a change of heart. Preachers should be aiming for more than just Biblical knowledge or even knowledge of God. Ultimately, when the listeners’ hearts are changed, actions will be changed and disciples will be made.

Review

I honestly feel this small book is a comprehensive approach to speaking in the pulpit. I would highly recommend this for any new preachers and since it is small enough, it might be a good idea for experienced preachers to read through once every year or two. Previously, I read and reviewed “Between Two Worlds” and I think I might have said the same thing about that book. I now believe this book handles the topic well enough in a short number of pages that I would recommend this for both beginner and experienced preachers.

Where to Buy

You can buy Expositional Preaching by David R. Helm from Amazon.