After forty years of pastoral ministry, I remain convinced that the greatest need in any local church is biblical, Christ-exalting preaching. Programs matter, planning matters, and leadership matters; but nothing shapes a congregation more deeply than what happens when the Word of God is opened and Christ is proclaimed.

Paul’s charge to Timothy makes this plain: “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). He didn’t instruct Timothy to offer opinions or cultural analysis. He instructed him to preach Scripture.

Biblical, expository preaching simply means allowing the message of the text to set the message of the sermon. The church does not thrive on the creativity of the pastor but on the clarity of the Scriptures. God blesses His Word—not our cleverness. 

As Dr. John Goetsch wrote in his tremendous book, Homiletics from the Heart, “God may bless our homiletical outline, our illustrations and stories, but He does not promise to do so. He only promises to bless His Word.”

Biblical preaching begins by standing under the authority of Scripture and letting the passage itself determine both the substance and the structure of the sermon.

But biblical preaching does more than explain the text. It points us to Christ, because Scripture itself is Christ-centered. Jesus said of the Scriptures, “They are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). And on the road to Emmaus, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

When we faithfully preach the Bible, we inevitably preach Christ. “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

As I have taught on preaching over the years, including to students at West Coast Baptist College, I have worked to summarize the process of developing sermons that are faithful to the text and focused on Christ. The steps below are not a formula but a roadmap. I pray they encourage and strengthen your ministry of the Word.

1. Prayerfully Select the Text

The most important aspect of any sermon is the text of Scripture. Beyond anything we say, God’s Word alone has power to change lives. So begin by prayerfully asking the Lord to direct you to the passage His flock needs.

A few times a year, I set aside time to seek the Lord about upcoming sermons. Typically, I preach a themed series on Sunday mornings and a verse-by-verse study on Sunday nights. Midweek studies vary. Expository book studies make weekly text selection simple, while themed series allow me to plan several messages at once.

Planning never replaces sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Even with a schedule in place, I remain open to the Lord leading me to adjust a text according to the needs of our church family.

Above all, treat the text with reverence. G. Campbell Morgan said he read his text at least fifty times before preaching it.

2. Schedule Sufficient Time for Study

Nothing meaningful in preaching happens accidentally. Study takes protected, prioritized time. Spurgeon wrote, “Your pulpit preparations are your first business.”

Give your best hours to your study. Dr. W. A. Criswell called his early hours “mornings to God.” Whether your strongest hours are early mornings, late evenings, or uninterrupted afternoons, devote them to hearing from the Lord through His Word.

Interruptions will come. rises will arise. But a pastor who routinely prepares sermons at the last minute cheats his congregation of a well-studied message—and forfeits the clarity that comes through lingering in the Scriptures.

3. Study the Context and Historical Setting

A text cannot mean something today that it did not mean when it was first inspired. Before outlining or applying, understand the book, paragraph, genre, and historical moment surrounding the passage.

Helpful questions include:

• Who is speaking, and to whom?
• What issues frame this passage?
• When was it written, and who was the dominant governmental leader?
• What historical or cultural details matter?
• How does this text fit within the message of the book?

Good expository preaching begins by entering the world of the text.

4. Discern the Theme of the Passage

After understanding the context, determine the passage’s central message. This is not something we impose on the text, but something we discover in the text.

Look for:

• Repeated words or ideas
• Commands, promises, contrasts, transitions
• Grammar and structure (subject, verb, modifiers)
• Tone: warning, prophetic, comforting, edifying

The clearer the central idea becomes, the clearer the sermon will be.

5. Develop Main Thoughts from the Passage

Every passage has a central idea, but most also contain several supporting truths. These natural divisions form the main points of your sermon. J. C. Ryle observed, “If you study the sermons of men who have been and are successful preachers, you will always find order, and often divisions, in their sermons.”

Once these divisions become clear, shape your outline around them. Alliteration or parallel phrasing can make a sermon more memorable, but they should never be forced onto a text.

A good outline is not decorative; it is functional. It helps the preacher and the listener follow the flow of God’s Word with clarity and conviction.

6. Show How the Passage Exalts Christ

All Scripture points to Christ—not by artificial insertion, but by divine design. Whether through prophecy, typology, doctrine, or application, the entire Bible presents Christ as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan and the center of the Christian life. 

As mentioned earlier, expository preaching is Christ-exalting preaching because the Bible itself is Christ-centered revelation.

This means that to interpret a text accurately, you must consider how this passage points to Christ.

• In an Old Testament narrative, Christ may be seen in God’s covenant faithfulness, redemptive foreshadowing, or human need for a Savior.
• In a Psalm, Christ may appear in fulfilled prophecy, the expression of His attributes, or in how He leads His people through suffering.
• In a doctrinal section of an epistle, Christ is explicit—His work on the cross, His resurrection, His lordship, and His grace that empowers obedience.
• In passages addressing Christian living, Christ is our example, our power, and our motivation for holy living.

The goal is not to “force” Jesus into the sermon but to show how the truth of the text finds its ultimate meaning in Him. “…that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). 

7. Find the Application

Once the central idea is clear, ask:

• What truth is God impressing on His people?
• What response does this text call for—repentance, faith, obedience, worship?
• How should this reshape our thinking, affections, or actions?

Biblical application is specific truth producing specific action. A clear sermon purpose answers this question: What should God’s people do in response to what God has said?

8. Add Helpful Illustrations

Illustrations let light into the sermon, helping listeners see truth clearly. Without them, even strong exposition can become dense and out of reach.

Purposeful illustrations—stories, testimonies, historical examples, personal experiences—give the mind space and the heart clarity. They don’t replace truth; they serve it. 

Maintaining a simple filing system of illustrations can provide rich material when crafting a message. Their value lies not in entertainment but in how effectively they illuminate the text.

9. Develop an Introduction and Conclusion

A strong introduction arouses interest and directs attention toward the text. This opening “hook” might be a compelling historical story, a thought-provoking question, or a concise statement that highlights why the passage matters. Whatever form it takes, the introduction should prepare the listener to engage with Scripture.

The conclusion is equally vital. Many good sermons lose their force because of an unfocused ending. The conclusion brings the message back to its central idea and calls the listener to respond. You might briefly recap the main points or focus on one key application. Preach toward a response. Call God’s people to action, faith, obedience, or worship.

10. Edit and Refine the Message

Finishing the conclusion isn’t the end. Careful review and editing bring the message to final clarity. Tighten transitions, eliminate rabbit trails, and ensure that every part of the sermon supports the central truth of the passage and points to Christ.

One of the goals in editing is to purge the message of self and ensure that it is centered on Christ. Galatians 6:14 guides my heart in this phase: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

A Final Exhortation

Preaching is hard work, but it is holy work. God has entrusted us with the stewardship of His Word, and faithfulness demands diligence. 

Scripture repeatedly urges ministers not only to preach but to cultivate their calling: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee” (1 Timothy 4:14). “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them” (1 Timothy 4:15). In other words: develop the call God has given you. Strengthen it. Practice it. Grow in it. 

When preaching is driven by the text and centered on Christ, the church is fed, hearts are changed, and Christ is exalted.