In order to meet the challenges of the 21st century, preaching must be theologically informed. We face the same problem that Timothy faced: People are turning away from sound theology. People outside the church prefer what novelist David Brooks has termed “flexidoxy,” or flexible orthodoxy.1 In response, we must apply the same remedy that Paul recommended to Timothy: Preach sound doctrine.

This is especially important at a time when most people (including many churchgoers) have never been introduced to the basic principles of Christian theology. In these post-Christian times, a major pastoral task is to explain Christianity to people who really have no idea what it means. And once people come to Christ, they need to be taught the basic doctrines that will help them think and act the way a Christian should.

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It would be a mistake to think that doctrinal preaching is something different from evangelical preaching. The New Testament makes little or no distinction between teaching and evangelism. The apostles understood that the gospel is for Christians as well as non-Christians. Thus their teaching was always evangelistic and their evangelism included a heavy dose of teaching. In keeping with their example, Christian preaching for post-Christian times must be squarely doctrinal as well as solidly evangelical. There can be no preaching for conversion without an announcement of Christ’s divine person and saving work, both of which need to be explained in clear doctrinal terms. Similarly, no aspect of Christian theology should ever be taught apart from its relationship to Jesus Christ. And when theological instruction is Christ-centered, it has the power to draw people to salvation in Him.

Preaching must also be practical, and this was Paul’s primary concern for Timothy. The eternal truths of Scripture must be applied to contemporary culture and to the needs of daily life. To that end, Paul reminded Timothy to be practical in his preaching. A good sermon serves to “correct, rebuke and encourage” (2 Tim. 4:2).

To correct is to reprove; it is to warn those who persist in sin. To rebuke is to censure those who are in error, especially theological error. Here again there is a dual emphasis on life and doctrine. The preacher has a responsibility to teach the Scriptures in a way that reforms belief and transforms conduct. Then to encourage is to exhort, to press the truth of Scripture home to the heart. Biblical teaching is not effectively applied unless it comes with life-changing persuasion. Correcting, rebuking, encouraging — these are not the only ways to apply a sermon, but together they remind us that good preaching is as practical as it is evangelical and doctrinal.

The Great Need for Biblical Exposition

There is more than one way to preach a sermon. It is not my intention to say that every minister must preach exactly the same way on every occasion. The sermons we read in the Bible show that different preaching contexts call for somewhat different sermons. But if faithful preaching includes these three elements — gospel presentation, theological explanation, and practical application — then not just any sermon will do. A minister who wants to preach in the biblical way will not spend all his time preaching revival sermons, such as an evangelist might preach at a rally. Such sermons would be evangelical, but not very doctrinal. He will not deliver theological lectures, such as a scholar might deliver at a seminary. Although such lectures presumably would be doctrinal, they would not be practical. Nor will a minister preach about his own spiritual experience every week, which could be practical, but might not be biblical.