One of the most prolific writers among evangelicals, Warren Wiersbe's books are eagerly awaited by preachers as well as laypersons who admire his insightful interpretation and useful application of scripture.

Born in the Chicago area and raised in the industrial area of northern Indiana, Wiersbe made his commitment to Christ at a Youth for Christ rally where Billy Graham was the speaker. He attended Northern Baptist Seminary, then joined the Youth for Christ staff. After two pastorates -- including the Moody Church in Chicago (1971-1978) -- Wiersbe became featured speaker for the Back to the Bible radio broadcast, which he continued until 1989.

Today Wiersbe continues his ministry of writing and teaching from his home in Lincoln, Nebraska. Editor Michael Duduit interviewed him for Preaching during a recent speaking engagement in Birmingham, Alabama.

Preaching: You have spoken a good deal about the importance of doctrinal preaching. That's an area that increasingly seems to be overlooked. Tell me what you mean by doctrinal preaching and why you think it is such an important need within the church.

Wiersbe: Of course all preaching ought to be doctrinal. Any preaching that's not based on Bible doctrine is questionable. The doctrinal sermon is one that focuses primarily on the explanation and application of a specific doctrine -- justification by faith, adoption, the virgin birth, whatever it may be.

It's important because our faith is based on doctrine. Our faith is based on historical fact. 2 Timothy 3:16, the classic passage, says that scripture is profitable for teaching or doctrine. It's good to know what you believe and why you believe it -- that's what people need today.

Preaching: How would you compare or contrast doctrinal preaching with a typical expository sermon?

Wiersbe: There need not be contrast. You could take a key passage and develop a doctrine. You could develop the theme of justification by faith from Romans 4, and it could be expository; or you could develop the theme of regeneration from John 3. But often doctrinal sermons are more on the topical side because you could go on for a long time on justification by faith! But you should take one aspect of a theme from the text, and the sermon need not be topical. It could be expository.

Preaching: When you were in the pastorate, what was the nature of your own preaching ministry? Did you preach in series or otherwise plan your preaching schedule?

Wiersbe: In the first church I pastored (when I was a seminary student and pastor at the same time), I had no system. I should have had one, but no one told me exactly how to do it. When I was at Calvary Baptist in Covington, Kentucky, I always preached a series of sermons. I would work my way through a book. The mistake I made at Calvary was to let the series run too long. This was the thing you were supposed to do -- to be able to say to your pastor friends, "I just finished two years in Philippians!" Spurgeon talked about the man who spent eight years in Hebrews. The preacher got to the closing chapter where it says "suffer this word of exhortation," and Spurgeon said, "They suffered." That's what I am afraid I was doing.