Letting the Bible Set the Agenda
Expository preaching is a method of preaching that walks through a passage of Scripture — often verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book — and explains what it means and how it applies to life. Rather than starting with a topic and finding verses to support it, expository preaching starts with the text and lets the Bible set the agenda.
At Trinity Church of Portland, this is how we preach every Sunday. We believe this approach honors the authority of Scripture, protects the congregation from the biases of any single preacher, and ensures that over time the whole counsel of God is proclaimed.
How It Works
In a typical sermon series at Trinity, our pastor will begin at the start of a book of the Bible and preach through it systematically over weeks or months. For example, our congregation has walked through the Gospel of John, Genesis, 1 Corinthians, Mark, and many other books.
Each sermon focuses on a specific passage. The preacher explains the historical and literary context, unpacks the meaning of the text, connects it to the broader storyline of Scripture, and applies it to the lives of the congregation. The goal is not to entertain or impress, but to faithfully open God’s Word with clarity, depth, and pastoral care.
Why We Preach This Way
We are committed to expository preaching for several reasons:
- It submits to Scripture’s authority. The text drives the sermon, not the preacher’s preferences. This keeps us accountable to what God has actually said.
- It covers the whole Bible. Over time, a congregation that sits under expository preaching will encounter the full breadth of Scripture — the comfortable and the challenging, the familiar and the surprising.
- It protects against hobby horses. Every preacher has favorite topics. Expository preaching prevents a pastor from only preaching what he finds interesting and ensures the congregation hears what God has to say — even when it’s unexpected.
- It models how to read the Bible. When people hear their pastor carefully interpret a passage in context, they learn how to do the same in their own study.
- It connects to the gospel. All of Scripture — from Genesis to Revelation — points to Jesus Christ. Expository preaching traces that thread, showing how every passage connects to the good news of what God has done for us in Christ.
More Than Information
Expository preaching is not a lecture. At its best, it is an encounter with the living God through His Word. The preacher’s job is not merely to inform the mind but to engage the heart — to comfort the grieving, convict the wayward, and encourage the weary. It is preaching that is both faithful to the text and tender to the people.
Listen for Yourself
We have an archive of over 230 sermons spanning years of verse-by-verse preaching through books of the Bible. You can browse our full sermon library or subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.