In previous blog posts I have asserted that Text-driven preaching is the apostolic mandate for all preachers, in all times, in all places. We must preach the Word in season and out...(2 Tim. 3:15-4:5).
Elsewhere I attempted to show the proper relationship between preaching and the doctrine of God's sovereignty (read here). I've also shown how expository preaching is the natural overflow of an inerrant text (here); and have posted a few articles concerning the doxological nature of genuine biblical exposition (see this)... Properly done preaching and singing fuel authentic, corporate worship! Along the way I have also posted articles about how shallow preaching robs the people of God of spiritual riches. Many of these articles have arisen out of the overflow of my doctoral studies at the Master's Seminary in expository preaching.
In this vein, one of the most debated issues among evangelical Christians today is "Must every sermon highlight the person and work of Christ if it is to be considered a 'Christian sermon' ?" Is Spurgeon's quote, "A sermon without Christ is an awful thing" a helpful way to judge preachers and preaching today?
During Dr. John MacArthur's D. Min lecture series this January he encouraged a room full of fifty pastors to carefully consider Dr. Walt Kaiser's many resources on exegesis and exposition. Both Kaiser and MacArthur believe that it is the duty of all ministers of the gospel to preach expository sermons that are exegetically driven. He reminded us that our theology ought to be fruit of a literal hermeneutic and sound exegesis. So I ask again, "Must every sermon focus on Jesus?" The following article by Dr. Kaiser is the most helpful summation concerning this topic that I have ever read. Tolle lege.
