Proclaimer Blog
Topical preaching….?
I am just getting into Jason Meyer's Preaching: a biblical theology. Stimulating stuff. As is my want, I skipped forward, because I was interested to read what case he made for expository preaching (very strong) and how his view of topical preaching fitted into this. I heard Peter Adam (at my very first ever PT residential conference) make a case for preachers preaching one topical series a year as a way of making sure congregations were fed a regular expository diet but allowing room for applying the Bible in particular areas of life. This is Jason's take on the same topic:
The Bible does not contain the phrase expository preaching, but I believe with all my heart that expository preaching is the best fit for the biblical concept of preaching. The Bible itself commends expository preaching. The [last three chapters] have attempted to show that other systematic truths from Scripture support expository preaching. My main point in this chapter can be stated simply: a preaching ministry with a steady diet of expository preaching is the best strategy for the long term health of the body of Christ. Therefore, expository preaching should have pride of place in the regularm rhythm of congregational life. I affirm that preachers can hold up the primacy of expository preaching without denouncing or demonizing topical preaching. (p297).
Only, I'm not sure I'm quite with him. I think my categories are ever so slightly different. Here's how. I think what he's describing is systematic expository preaching – i.e. working through a book of the Bible. If – as I think I understand it – expository preaching is (to use Dick's phrase) a mindset not a method, then a topical sermon should be expository too; it is still saying what the text says and letting that guide the sermon. The best kind of topical sermon is rooted in a text and so, the best way to preach a topical sermon is surely to practice some of the same hermeneutical approaches we use when preaching a sermon series. Topical preaching can still be (and I think, should be) expository.