How Chuck Swindoll Defines Expositional Preaching
By IFL Staff
Expository preaching comes in a variety of styles.
Pastor Chuck Swindoll, John Piper, Tony Evans, John Macarthur—they’re all expository preachers, but they all have distinctive styles. So what is it than makes their sermons expositional?
Substance
In this article, we unpack what that means by taking a deep look at the way Chuck defines expositional preaching.
But before we do so, I want you to feel his conviction and passion behind this method of preaching. In his sermon, “Two Men on a Mission, with Us,” from his series on Titus, he said:
“Let me say this very clearly and very carefully. Preaching that does that is expository preaching. The systematic, thorough, consistent explanation of the meaning and the application of Holy Scripture is the most effective method of proclaiming God’s truth year in, year out. It isn’t the only method. It is the most effective method of getting knowledge from the page of the Bible into the hearts and minds of the believers. Expository preaching.
It is not the preacher’s job to be cleaver and cute. It is not the preacher’s job to be so creative that the message gets clouded. We are not to rely on our own manipulative skills or our own personal charisma in order to attract and impress or pack the house of worship. We are to be accurate, clear, and practical in the teaching of the Word of God. Because it is missing, churches are starving for truth.
Walt Kaiser in an outstanding book, Toward an Exegetical Theology [page 7], writes this:
“It is no secret that Christ’s Church is not at all in good health in many places of the world. She has been languishing because she has been fed, as the current line has it, ‘junk food;’ all kinds of artificial preservatives and all sorts of unnatural substitutes have been served up to her. As a result, theological and biblical malnutrition has afflicted the very generation that has taken such giant steps to make sure its physical health is not damaged by using foods of products that are carcinogenic or otherwise harmful to their physical bodies. Simultaneously, a worldwide spiritual famine results from the absence of any genuine publication of the Word of God . . . and it continues to run wild and almost unabated in most quarters of the church.”
To that I say, “Amen, Walt, preach it.” Nothing is more important for you to hear today than that.
The spine of this ministry, the life-giving nerve center of any ministry is the proclamation of God’s Word. I would say that if my calling were counseling, if my calling were music, if my calling were administrative. I don’t say it because I’m the preacher. I have said it before I was the preacher. I will say it when I’m no longer the preacher. I guess that’s when I’m in heaven. I will be saying it for all my life. Your solid diet of meaty food is what you need the most to grow spiritually. It’s not all you need, but it’s what you need the most. Just as a well-prepared meal must include that which is nutritious for your body, for your diet, so your spiritual lives hang on good, solid, meaty truth.”
Pastor Chuck Swindoll has given his life to expository preaching and, as you just read, it means a great deal to him. In case you don’t know, this article is part of our Preach the Word series (consisting of articles and videos). Our hope with this series is to equip and encourage you in the task of expository preaching.
So what is it?
Chuck has talked about it for decades in his sermons and throughout his writings, but we wanted to start by taking you to his book called Saying It Well (102–103).
“He calls it “exegetical exposition” and here’s what he says:
Preaching that is “exegetical” means the message is drawn out of the biblical text. Preaching is said to be “expository” when sermons explain the meaning, purpose, and import of a given Bible passage. The exegetical expository preacher’s sermon won’t revolve around a hot topic ripped from the headlines or a clever insight he gained through personal experience. Rather, he chooses a book of the Bible, divides it into manageable segments, and then preaches a sermon from each segment in order, from beginning to end. On any given Sunday, the passage itself provides the subject.
Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that every sermon series needs to walk through a book of the Bible. Chuck goes on to write:
A preacher might also preach a series of messages around a particular subject, such as marriage or the family, a Bible personality, a specific doctrine or some prophetic theme. The preaching can be exegetical and expository if the sermons are based on a compilation of passages that speak to the topic at hand.” (Saying It Well, 103)
In short the thoughts, the intentions, the feelings, the aims of the biblical author shape and drive the substance of your message. Chuck isn’t talking about style here. He’s talking about substance.
Delivery styles, like personalities, vary.
But if biblical truth does not dominate the substance of the message, then it is not a legitimate or useful sermon. Because without biblical, meaty truth in your message, people can’t connect with Jesus. They won’t be able to deepen in their faith, to enjoy spiritual transformation, to access all the promises and gifts and benefits Jesus offers us in His Word for walking with Him and navigating life.
It’s more than just dispensing information, though.
So we want to end by going a bit deeper on the how. Chuck preached a series called Searching the Scriptures, in which he explained how to study and teach the Bible. In it, he gets a bit more concrete in his definition of expository preaching and he outlines a checklist he uses to develop expository sermons. It’s a great checklist for all preachers to keep handy.
Actually, though, before that, we just can’t resist sharing this quick preaching story from Chuck about one of his teachers. Enjoy:
“But [here’s] my all-time favorite story Howard Hendricks told while he was still with us. He was preaching out in the sticks a long ways from any familiar area. And he said that the country preacher was introducing him to his congregation. And he began, “Well, folks,” he said, “there are different kinds of preachers. There’s topical preachers and there’s devotional preachers and there are doctrinal preachers. And there are suppository preachers. I’m pleased to announce that Dr. Hendricks is the head of the suppository preaching department at Dallas Theological Cemetery,” he says as he announces Hendricks. So I said to Hendricks later, he’s telling me this story and I am cracking up. I said, “What did you do?” He said, “I just stood up and so supposited the Scriptures.” Isn’t that a great line? Just supposited the Scriptures.”
Isn’t that hilarious?
Now, here’s Chuck’s concrete definition of expository preaching—from his sermon, “Setting the Table: Preparing to Dig into God’s Word”—and the checklist he uses to craft expository sermons:
“It occurred to me that I have not given you until now a definition of exposition so I want to do that. You don’t have to write it down if you don’t want to. It isn’t inspired; I wrote it so take it for what it’s worth.
But to me exposition covers three main areas. Exposition occurs, one: when the biblical text is studied, understood, and explained. When the biblical text is studied, understood, and explained. Second, exposition occurs when the text remains the central focus of attention during the delivery of any presentation. When the text becomes the focus point of attention. You never get far from the text of Scripture when you are an expositor of God’s Word. Third, exposition occurs when the text is illustrated and applied in keeping with today’s needs. When the text is illustrated and applied in keeping with today’s needs.
Those are good checkpoints to grade my messages from one time to the next. One, did Chuck literally observe the Scriptures for the purpose of understanding them and explaining them? (Have I done that?) Second, when I’ve delivered it, has it been based on the Word of God not some opinion I have or some idea I’ve come up with? Does he have his finger on the verse and does that verse speak with power to me and to others? And third: has it been applied and illustrated in a way that I can get it. I often have it pass through these grids in my mind. I always want my teaching to be accurate, clear, relevant, and practical. Accurate with the biblical text, clear as it’s being explained so that anyone can get it, not just the mature or older Christian, but anyone. I kind of decode what could be confusing by making it clear. And then, is it relevant? Do I realize how relevant God’s Word really is? And then as it is applied, is it practical? Do I have something I can take with me when I step out of a place of learning and move into the realm of living? After all, the whole purpose of the Bible is not to fill our heads with knowledge but ultimately, to fill our lives with purity, authenticity, so that we are able to live out the life of Christ before others who are reading His Gospel through the way we live.”
Additional Resources
First, sign up for our Swindoll’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you Chuck’s best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-age checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.
Second, check out our Preach the Word video series on YouTube where we’re posting Chuck’s best insights on this important calling. Coming early 2026!
Third, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.
Fourth, peruse more articles in this church leaders section.
About the author
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IFL Staff
