"True expository preaching always involves a lengthy, full treatment of the biblical text. When Ezra stood before the people of Israel in Nehemiah 8, he read 'from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law" (Neh. 8:3b).'
The service went from sunrise to high noon, from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. It was a six-hour period of time. Obviously, this was a unique setting and situation. Every sermon is not to be six hours long;
But our delivery should be long enough to be deep. Nehemiah did not cut it short; his treatment of the Word was
lengthy. This is not the scene we see at many churches in the U.S. a twenty minute sermon and a twenty-minute invitation. This is not the spiritual fare at the average "seeker" church- one hour of syrupy choruses and a twenty minute pep talk from someone sitting on a stool. No, this was a
full treatment of the Word. Ezra presented the Word without watering it down.
Careful Bible exposition requires considerable time in the pulpit. It takes time for there to be introduction, transition, homiletical points, explanation, word studies, cross references, historical background, thematic context, authorial intent, application, illustration, exhortation, persuasion, and conclusion. It always takes longer to get a 747 off the runway than it does a crop duster. So it is with preaching. An in-depth sermon requires a full-length exposition.
