Expository Preaching

"Do you do singing sermons?"

The above question came to me from an amiable furniture salesman I met while shopping for a new couch.  Before I could answer he volunteered his views about singing sermons, "Pastor Janet, the new minister at my church - it's the church over on the corner just out here - do you know Pastor Janet?  No?  Well Pastor Janet always does a singing sermon at least once a month and it is to die for!" 

Unsure how to respond to this man who described Pastor Janet's singing sermons in the way other people would describe chocolate cake I simply smiled and made a noise that was supposed to be sound like an interested "ah" but came out more or less like the a bleating sheep.  Ignoring my bleat the salesman continued with a bright smile on his round, jovial face,  "So, do you do singing sermons?" 

"Well you see..."  I began, "I...  um...  well, frankly the thing about it is..." and right then and there in the futon section I proceeded to share with him what the thing about it was.  Namely, I had to let him in on the fact that I do NOT do singing sermons...  a truth that left the man somewhat crestfallen.   


I mention this story because it helps raise another question:

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"What kind of sermons will I hear at All Souls Church?"

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Here at All Souls Church we are committed to Expository Preaching – and particularly a method called “SCEOTS” or Systematic Consecutive Exposition of the Scriptures (a phrase that I believe originally comes from Leith Samuel’s autobiography, “A Man Under Authority”).  

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"...The Bible... distinguishes the pulpit from the soapbox."

This is a method in which the preacher begins at the beginning of a given book or passage of the Bible and works his way through to the end, in an orderly fashion, over a period of weeks, months, or in some cases, years.  We believe that this is not only a great way for church-goers to learn the bible but also a great way to keep preachers off of their hobby-horses.  Never forget, it's the Bible - and the Bible alone - that distinguishes the pulpit from the soapbox!  If a pastor commits himself to systematic exposition of the Bible he is unlikely to stray off into unhelpful realms more reflective of his own biases than of God's Word.   


If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of expository preaching here’s a great article.