Exhorting from the Text

We have seen that truly expository preaching involves exposing people to the text, explaining the meaning of the text, and exhorting to a proper application of the text (1 Timothy 4:13). Obviously, everything about expository preaching is driven by the text. I have already spoken in detail about exposing and explaining, so in this post I want to address exhorting.

A lot of zealous preachers are fond of quoting 2 Timothy 4:2 which says, "Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season." They will then go on to talk about the importance of preaching the Bible, not politics or psychology, but the Bible. These preachers will emphasize the centrality and importance of preaching because that is what we are commanded to do. Also we are to preach in season and out. That means we are always to be ready. It means that we are to preach the word when people want to hear it and when they don't want to hear it. All of this is well and good but sometimes these zealous preachers forget the rest of the verse. It says, "Reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction." As you can see, the last part of the verse adds valuable instruction as to how we are to preach the word.

We are to reprove, rebuke, and exhort. We are to show people how they are disobeying or misapplying the word, and instruct them in the right application. Having given them an accurate meaning of the text, what a tragedy it would be to give an innacurrate application or none at all. Yet this often happens. People need help in seeing how what the Bible says connects to their life and it is the preacher's job to help them. When we don't give an exhortation to application, then the people are left to themselves to try to figure it out. They need pastoral assistance in this. When we don't give an exhortation, then people may think they can do whatever they like with the text. Worse yet, they may think that they don't have to do anything. People can actually think they are okay just because they have heard the word even if they don't do it.

As people hear the word proclaimed they should eventually be brought to the point where they ask, "What shall we do (Acts 2:37)?" When Peter was asked that question he did not say, "Do whatever you think is best," or "Do whatever you want to do," or "Be sure to vote Republican," or "Be sure to come to church every week and give money," or "Be sure to read your Bible and pray everyday." No, he specifically told them what to do in order to rightly respond to what he had just preached (Acts 2:38 -39). In fact we are also told that "with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them (Acts 2:40)."

Exhortation, it is necessary and important if we are to truly practice expository preaching.