I’m a verse by verse type of teacher. We do some topical series throughout the year, but I mainly preach through books of the Bible. I think it’s a great way for people to learn, but also it’s how I teach best. (Rule #1 for communicators: know thyself)

Yet here’s one of the strengths that preaching expositionally has, you hit topics you might not normally hit on a strictly topical diet. Last Sunday as I am preaching through Mark, I taught on the beheading on John the Baptist (besides that John the baptist is my favorite Bible character – of which I hear there’s a decent book out on his life 🙂

Expositional teaching also makes me start with the text, then adding creative elements. Putting the creative elements before the Scriptures to me is like putting the cart before the horse. Creativity is about communicating the Scriptures, not having an idea and then finding the Scriptures that could work in that context.