Textual preaching is more than making a comment or two on a text. Textual preaching, in contrast to expository preaching, focuses on the thematic unity of a biblical passage, challenging the preacher to seek the text’s central truth.
Textual Preaching versus Expository Preaching. Textual preaching is one of the most common and elementary sermon types, taking its main themes and divisions (or points) directly from the textual material. Like the expository sermon, the selected text may vary in length from a phrase to an entire biblical book. The textual approach, however, seeks to draw a unified subject from the biblical passage which will eventuate in supporting points for discussion and further understanding.
While an expository sermon seeks to have its entire thought content come from Scripture and tends towards continuous exposition in the natural order of ideas presented in the text, the textual sermon allows for greater freedom in the choice of external materials and development, as long as the unified theme and specific divisions come directly from the text. Textual sermons, then, are differentiated from expository sermons by the necessity of a unifying theme, and that the only text divisions incorporated are those that support the theme.
The Textual Sermon’s Design. The divisions, or points, drawn from the text can be elucidated in the natural order of their appearance. The textual thought units may be rearranged for effect or clarity, provided the preacher does not violate the proper understanding of the text. Certain elements of a text may be omitted at times, particularly if the text is lengthy and certain elements do not contribute to the overall theme. The contents of some textual divisions may overlap each other, forcing the preacher to clarify them and explain their particular emphases.
Advantages and Disadvantages. There are several advantages to textual preaching. First, it focuses the attention of the preacher and hearer on one part of the Scripture. In so doing it removes the tendency to “proof text” and allows a single, significant Scripture text to stand on its own. Second, a rudimentary textual sermon is relatively easy to prepare, as carefully chosen texts, after study, will yield a theme and divisions. Third, if the textual preacher has prepared well, the hearer will be able to follow the movements of the sermon as they unfold. Fourth, such a sermon brings the hearer into the inner meanings of the Bible. Fifth, the textual preacher need not fear preaching from the well-worn or favorite texts, as each preacher brings fresh exposition and arrangement of ideas.
There are also disadvantages to this form of preaching. One, not every text that makes for a good sermon lends itself to the textual approach. Two, a lengthy text or one rich in homiletic possibilities may contain more ideas than a preacher can present in one sermon. Three, a text may contain only one idea and not have divisions that could be artificially imposed upon it.