After graduating from Indiana Bible College, I spent several years as a full-time evangelist, which I enjoyed immensely. In 2021, I transitioned to the role I currently fill at my local Church: assistant pastor of New Life Tabernacle. In this new role, I asked my pastor how I could be most helpful to him and a blessing to our Church. He suggested that I cover our Wednesday night services at New Life Tabernacle. I joyfully accepted the opportunity to teach regularly, as most of my previous opportunities for ministry had been preaching, and I wanted to grow in teaching as well.
I thoroughly enjoy teaching God’s word to the wonderful saints at New Life Tabernacle. There are many different ways to teach the Bible, the most popular of which would likely be topical teaching, and there is nothing wrong with using that method to teach as long as one uses the whole voice of Scripture in one’s study. The danger with topical teaching is that it can lead to over-emphasizing some areas at the expense of others. I am particularly passionate about exegetical teaching. Since I started teaching on Wednesday nights, I have had the opportunity to teach verse by verse through five books of the Bible—Ephesians, James, 1 Corinthians, Revelation, and Philippians—as well as a significant portion of Romans. We recently completed our study of The Sermon On the Mount and are preparing to delve into 2 Corinthians.
In this post, I would like to give four reasons why everyone should teach exegetically.
1) Faithfulness.
I believe that teaching the Bible through exegetical methods is the most faithful approach. In verse-by-verse teaching, the context is paramount for understanding and interpreting Scripture correctly. This method requires delving deep into the text and considering the verses preceding and following the passage being studied. By studying in this manner, we gain a clearer understanding and a natural awareness of the Scripture’s context.
On the other hand, with topical teaching, there is a risk of proof-texting, where scriptures are used to support a particular point without considering their full context. This can lead to misinterpretation. For example, take Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” It’s often quoted by athletes to imply that it will help them perform better in their sports. However, the true meaning, understood in context, is about finding contentment in all situations because of the strength given by God.
2) It provides accountability
Teaching certain subjects can be awkward or challenging, particularly in a smaller congregation. By teaching exegetically, the preacher can address difficult topics as they are presented in the text without making anyone in the congregation feel targeted. This approach also helps the preacher avoid being influenced by current events or personal biases when delivering sermons. A commitment to teaching verse by verse keeps the preacher grounded and accountable to the text. We believe the Bible is sufficient for all of life; when we teach exegetically, we are letting that belief influence our methodology, ensuring we stay true to the text and its teachings.
3) It covers more ground
We believe that all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). When teaching topically, it is not uncommon for a preacher to stay in or near his favorite books or themes. By teaching exegetically, we are forced to cover more of the Bible than we otherwise would, touching scriptures, doctrines, and themes that are often obscure and neglected because they are not as popular. This comprehensive coverage allows us to delve into the richness and depth of the Scriptures, uncovering truths that may have been overlooked.
4) It teaches the audience how to interpret and study Scripture correctly.
The saints in the pew learn to study by how the preacher handles the word in the pulpit. If the pulpit mistreats the text to make a point, so will the pew. Therefore, one of the most beneficial aspects of exegetical teaching is that it teaches the congregation to prioritize the right things in interpreting the text, such as identifying the context and looking for what the author intends to communicate.
These are just a few reasons why I believe everyone should preach and teach exegetically. Is your Church working together through a book of the Bible? If so, let me know which book in the comments!
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As an Apostolic believer my whole life I there's one book mainstream Christianity severely neglects and misinterprets that is the Book of Acts or the Actions of the Apostles! It's my contention all the promises of salvation in the Book of Acts is still for us today. Many churches suggest for example speaking in tongues ended in the first century which Biblically and historically is incorrect. Jesus stated in Mathew that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church the baptized body of believers. I think an exegetical study of Acts would be pretty cool.
Great article brother thanks and God Bless!
Very well stated
Most of the problems we are dealing with in the church and in society stem from the silence of consistent preaching "line upon line" of God's pure Word
"They will not endure sound doctrine"