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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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Pastor Chuck’s Definition of Exposition

“Exposition is in three parts, as I see it. Exposition occurs, one, when the biblical text is carefully studied and clearly understood and interestingly explained. That’s the first part. Second, when it remains the central focus of attention during the delivery of the message. And three, when it is illustrated and applied in keeping with today’s real-world needs. That’s exposition.”

Study the Word with Diligence

“Toxic ministers have no self-awareness. They don’t care. They’re in it for the money or the glory or the whatever. ‘You, Timothy, you be diligent to present yourself approved to God.’ Diligent workmen stay at it. I don’t care if you’ve been doing it for 50 years, stay at the study. Do your own work. Don’t get your sermon off the Internet. That’s sloppy theology. That’s lazy preaching. You dig it out. You build a library. You go to the hard work of preparing it so that your messages are original.”

Cut a Straight Line with the Word

“You accurately handle the Word when you cut a straight line, as best as you’re able to do in the time you have between what God has written, what it meant to the people to whom He wrote it, and now what it means to us who live today. And I’m going to tell you something. You do that faithfully and regularly and people will love you for it. They are starving for it and they don’t get it most places.”

Be an Expositor, not an Entertainer

“Now, become an expositor. Don’t become an entertainer. They’re a dime a dozen. Everybody wants to build a quick little church by being an entertainer. So, they’ll out entertain the guy down the street and they’ll use all the gimmicks to bring in the people. You, faithfully deliver the Word of God.”

The Rugged Task “It’s a long journey from earth to heaven and it’s rugged, Lord, and that shouldn’t surprise us. Your Son was on this old earth for 33 years and He got beat up those last three and a half years more than most could even imagine. But He finished the task. He left us with the plan. He modeled it beautifully and He trained a handful of men, all of whom were very human, and they turned the world upside down. You still want to do that, Lord, and we love You for that. Thank You for not expecting perfection from us, but for calling us to do a rugged task, and yet to do it well and always for Your glory.”

Additional Resources

First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.

Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.

Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your finger tips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.

Fourth, 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.

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