Methods, Challenges, and Benefits of Biblical-Theological Preaching
Biblical-theological preaching is not simply a theory—it is a practice that shapes how preachers prepare sermons, how congregations hear God’s word, and how the church as a whole grows in maturity. This approach ensures that preaching reflects the organic unity of the Bible while addressing the concrete needs of God’s people today.
1. Methods for Practicing Biblical-Theological Preaching
The practice of biblical-theological preaching begins with reading the text in multiple contexts. Most preachers are trained to observe the literary context—verse, paragraph, and book. But biblical theology adds further questions:
Where does this passage fit in the unfolding history of redemption?
How does it connect to God’s covenant promises?
What role does it play in the story that leads to Christ?
How does the New Testament interpret or fulfill this passage?
For example, when preaching on David’s kingship, the preacher does not stop with the historical reign of Israel’s greatest king. Instead, he shows how the promises to David find their fulfillment in Jesus, the greater Son of David whose reign extends to all nations (2 Samuel 7; Luke 1:32–33).
2. Expository and Thematic Approaches
Biblical-theological preaching can enrich both expository and topical methods. In expository preaching, moving through a book verse by verse allows the preacher to unfold the theological development of an author’s thought in its canonical setting. A series in Deuteronomy, for instance, can highlight covenant themes that anticipate the gospel.
Topical preaching, while more challenging, benefits equally. Addressing marriage, suffering, or prayer requires not only isolated proof texts but an understanding of how the Bible develops these themes across the canon. This prevents sermons from being driven by cultural clichés or personal opinion and grounds them in the fullness of God’s revelation.
3. Application Through Biblical Theology
Application is one of the hardest tasks for preachers. Without biblical theology, application easily becomes moralism—“try harder, do better.” But biblical-theological preaching allows application to flow from the gospel itself.
When Paul wrote that “these things … were written down for our instruction” (1 Corinthians 10:11), he demonstrated that Israel’s story provides lessons for the church living in the “last days.” The preacher who understands this connection can call believers to holiness while grounding exhortation in the finished work of Christ and the hope of his return.
4. Benefits for Congregations
The fruit of biblical-theological preaching is not only doctrinal clarity but also spiritual maturity. Congregations learn:
The coherence of Scripture – seeing one story from Genesis to Revelation.
A Christ-centered worldview – understanding all of life in light of God’s redemptive plan.
Discernment – recognizing when Scripture is misused or taken out of context.
Hope – trusting God’s promises that move steadily toward the consummation of his kingdom.
In an age of fragmented knowledge and competing worldviews, biblical-theological preaching offers believers a grand metanarrative that gives meaning to their lives.
5. Challenges and Dangers
Like all methods, biblical-theological preaching carries dangers. Preachers may be tempted to preach the theology behind a text rather than the text itself, or to overwhelm listeners with dense theological detail. Others may use biblical theology selectively, highlighting favorite themes while ignoring the breadth of Scripture.
The task, then, is balance. The preacher must let the text speak in its particularity while situating it within the whole counsel of God. Application must remain concrete and pastoral, not lost in abstraction.
6. Biblical-Theological Preaching as Apologetic
Another practical strength of biblical-theological preaching is its apologetic value. By presenting the Bible as one coherent story, the preacher equips believers to resist rival worldviews—whether materialism, relativism, or secularism. Paul described this task as “taking every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
When congregations see how God’s word speaks into every sphere of life—creation, fall, redemption, new creation—they are better able to engage culture without compromising the gospel.
7. Equipping the Next Generation
Biblical-theological preaching also shapes how believers themselves use the Bible. Congregations learn from their preachers not just what Scripture says but how to read it. As they see the connections across the canon, they grow in their ability to read Scripture contextually, avoiding misuse and misapplication.
This means biblical-theological preaching is inherently discipling. It forms a people who live and breathe the story of God’s redemption, carrying it into their homes, workplaces, and communities.
Conclusion: Preaching the Whole Christ
Biblical-theological preaching is not merely a scholarly method but a pastoral necessity. It provides preachers with tools to handle the text faithfully, equips congregations with a coherent worldview, and ensures that Christ is proclaimed from all of Scripture. As Paul declared, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
Preachers who embrace biblical theology will proclaim not just isolated lessons but the whole Christ from the whole Bible, nurturing believers in the hope of the kingdom until the day of its fulfillment.
