
In some circles of modern ministry, a certain preaching style is prevalent—one that prioritizes emotional appeal and personal agendas over careful biblical exposition. This preaching style can leave congregants stirred in the moment but spiritually empty in the long run. It often lacks theological depth, distorts Scripture, and leads to a biblically weak congregation.
At its core, this preaching style can be described as Emotionalism-Driven Preaching with an element of Man-Centered Eisegesis that finds its truest expression in Erratic Topical Preaching. This approach is not rooted in sound doctrine or faithful exposition but rather focuses on stirring emotions, shallow application, and personal agendas. This approach can hinder a church's spiritual growth, leaving it less equipped to navigate life's challenges and to grow in the richness of God's Word.
1. Emotionalism-Driven Preaching: Prioritizing Feelings Over Truth
Emotionalism-driven preaching is the foundation of this approach. In this style, the preacher’s primary objective is not to explain the text of Scripture but to stir the emotions of the congregation. The aim is often to create an emotional high, leaving people feeling uplifted, excited, or even convicted—though typically in a vague and general sense—without grounding these emotions in the solid teaching of God’s Word.
While emotions themselves are not wrong and are a natural part of human experience, emotionalism-driven preaching uses them as the primary tool for engagement. The preacher’s words may be energetic and passionate, but the content lacks real biblical substance. The focus is on the preacher’s ability to manipulate the atmosphere, leaving people feeling good in the moment, but with no lasting spiritual transformation. In such sermons, biblical texts are not the foundation; rather, the preacher's emotional state becomes the driving force behind the message.
2. Man-Centered Eisegesis: Imposing Personal Agendas on Scripture
At the heart of emotionalism-driven preaching lies Man-Centered Eisegesis, a method of interpretation where the preacher reads their own ideas, emotions, or agenda into the text rather than allowing the Scripture to speak for itself. This practice distorts the intended meaning of Scripture and bends the text to fit the preacher’s personal narrative or cultural moment.
In man-centered eisegesis, the preacher may select a text but impose a meaning that the original authors did not intend. For example, the preacher might take a passage from the Old Testament, such as the story of David and Goliath, and interpret it as a metaphor for overcoming personal struggles, rather than focusing on the true theological message of the passage. While it's true that we can learn from David's courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the true theological point of the story is not about us overcoming our "giants" but about God’s deliverance through His chosen king. The passage reveals God’s power, His covenant faithfulness, and the way He raises up leaders to accomplish His purposes. Preaching this passage merely as a self-help guide distorts its true purpose and misses the grand narrative of God's redemptive plan.
The problem with this approach is that it diminishes the power and authority of God’s Word. Instead of letting the Bible shape the message, the preacher molds the Bible to fit their own desires, often at the expense of sound doctrine and biblical/exegetical faithfulness. This not only misrepresents the text but also leads to a shallow understanding of Scripture that is more about personal empowerment than about glorifying God.
3. Erratic Topical Preaching: Preaching Around the Text Rather Than From It
This kind of emotional, man-centered preaching often manifests itself most clearly in Erratic Topical Preaching. In erratic topical preaching, the preacher selects a broad theme—such as “victory,” “healing,” or “overcoming obstacles”—and then pulls Scripture from different places that may loosely relate to the topic, without regard for the passage’s original context or meaning. When handled carelessly, this approach can result in a disjointed message that lacks a biblically grounded understanding of the topic and fails to reflect the full counsel of God’s Word.
Rather than starting with the text and carefully unpacking its meaning (expository preaching), the preacher in erratic topical preaching begins with their own agenda or emotional appeal. They may take a verse or passage out of context to support their theme, without considering the historical or theological implications. This method often relies heavily on personal stories, anecdotes, and illustrations, rather than on the faithful exposition of the Word.
While some of the topics addressed may contain elements of truth, there is often a lack of depth in the teaching. As a result, while the congregation might leave feeling encouraged emotionally, they may not have been equipped with a deeper understanding of God’s Word that fosters lasting transformation. Without a solid foundation in expository preaching, the church risks becoming spiritually weak and theologically underdeveloped
4. Expositional Preaching: Letting the Word Speak for Itself
At the heart of faithful, biblical preaching is Expositional Preaching. This approach is rooted in the careful and systematic explanation of Scripture. Instead of starting with a personal agenda or a topic and seeking to fit Scripture into it, expositional preaching allows the text itself to determine the message. The preacher works through a passage, verse by verse, bringing out the original meaning of the text and applying it to the modern context.
In expositional preaching, the preacher aims to explain what the text meant to its original audience and what it means for us today, always with the goal of exalting Christ and equipping the church for growth in holiness. Rather than simply drawing out moral lessons or offering feel-good advice, expositional preaching focuses on the central message of the Scripture: God's revelation to us through His Word. The result is a congregation grounded in sound doctrine and a deeper understanding of the whole counsel of God, which leads to spiritual maturity and lasting transformation.
The Consequences of Emotionalism-Driven Preaching
The consequences of emotionalism-driven preaching are severe. When the church focuses on emotional experiences rather than biblical truth, it creates an environment where spiritual growth becomes stunted. Congregants may feel good for a time, but they are not equipped with the theological foundation necessary to endure trials, face challenges, and grow in their faith.
In contrast, sound biblical preaching—rooted in careful exegesis, theological depth, and faithful application—leads to real transformation. When Scripture is handled rightly, it cuts to the heart, convicts of sin, encourages the weary, and points the believer toward Christ. Expository preaching equips the church to grow in grace and knowledge, leading to lives that reflect the glory of God and the truth of His Word.
Conclusion: The Call for Faithful Preaching
As preachers, our task is clear: we must commit to preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word. We must avoid emotional manipulation and personal agendas that distort Scripture, and instead, let the Word of God speak with clarity and power. The congregation needs more than just an emotional lift; they need to be rooted in the truth of God’s Word, which alone has the power to save, sanctify, and equip for every good work.
The church at large must hold preachers accountable to this standard, ensuring that the message proclaimed from the pulpit is faithful to the text, theologically sound, and aimed at building up the body of Christ in truth. Only through faithful, expository preaching can the church grow into maturity and reflect the biblical image of Christ to the world.
The Call for Greater Depth and Faithful Exposition
For many who have been raised on topical preaching or are currently practicing it, the shift to deeper, more faithful exposition might seem unnecessary, even daunting. After all, topical preaching offers immediate emotional impact and easy applications. But it is essential to understand that such preaching—while it may appear to be effective in the short term—cannot sustain long-term spiritual growth.
1. Emotionalism Alone Will Not Sustain the Christian Life
The reality is that emotional highs, while powerful at the moment, do not equip believers for the challenges of life. In times of hardship, personal struggle, or doubt, an emotional jolt will not be sufficient to hold a believer fast in their faith. The Word of God, when preached with depth and faithfulness, has the power to sustain believers through every season of life. The Bible speaks to every aspect of the human experience—offering comfort, correction, and hope that is far more enduring than any temporary emotional boost. Only sound, expositional preaching can ground believers in this enduring truth.
2. The Need for Spiritual Maturity
Many who have grown up in churches where emotionalism and shallow applications dominated the pulpit may have never experienced the richness of faithful, expository preaching. The result of neglecting sound doctrine and depth in preaching is spiritual immaturity. When people are constantly fed a diet of superficial teaching, and they do not study the Bible deeply for themselves, they will never grow in their understanding of God’s Word or in their relationship with Him. It is through expository preaching—unpacking the meaning of the text, considering the text in its grammatical/cultural/historical/theological context, and applying it to our lives today—that we experience the full range of spiritual nourishment.
True spiritual maturity comes when we know the Scriptures, not just when we have an emotional response to them. It comes when we understand the depths of God's grace and truth, when we know how to apply His Word in every situation of life, and when we stand firm in the face of trials, not because we feel good in the moment, but because we have been rooted in His Word. Expositional preaching lays the foundation for such growth by consistently pointing the believer back to the Word of God, rather than to the preacher's emotional state or personal agenda.
3. Faithful Exposition Honors the Authority of Scripture
Topical preaching that isolates verses from their broader context often results in misapplication and distortion of the text. When we fail to handle Scripture accurately, we undermine its authority. Faithful exposition, on the other hand, honors the authority of God's Word by allowing the Scripture to speak for itself. It takes the time to carefully unpack the meaning of the passage, to consider what the original author intended, and to recognize the truths that transcend time and culture.
Expositional preaching treats the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. This approach instills a greater reverence for Scripture in the congregation, teaching them that the Bible is not just a collection of moral stories or inspiring quotes but the very Word of God—alive and powerful, capable of transforming hearts and minds.
4. The Example of the Apostles and Early Church
The early church provides us with a model for faithful, expository preaching. The apostle Paul, in his letters to the churches, consistently pointed believers back to the truth of Scripture, using it as the foundation for his teaching. Similarly, in Acts 2:42, the early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine,” showing us that the early Christians valued sound, doctrinal teaching as a means of growing in the faith.
In 1 Timothy 4:13, Paul commands Timothy, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” The clear implication is that faithful, doctrinal preaching is essential to the health of the church. We are following the example of the apostles and early church when we commit to faithfully unpacking and applying the Word of God.
5. The Power of the Word to Transform Lives
Finally, it is important to remember the transformative power of the Word of God. The Bible is not just a collection of stories or rules—it is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). It is through faithful exposition of God’s Word that lives are changed, hearts are convicted, and sinners are brought to repentance.
The emotional highs of some styles of preaching may feel satisfying, but they cannot change hearts the way the Word of God can. When we preach the Word faithfully, in its context, with depth and application, the Spirit of God uses it to bring about true transformation in the lives of believers. It is the Word, not emotional manipulation, that changes lives.
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