At some point I’m not sure expository preaching has an angle because it’s word based. Homiletics on the other hand can become professional. Just thinking out loud here. I’ve seen abuse the other way though. Preachers who use just enough Bible or use it to say what they want to say. Then the preacher uses professional ministry approaches for everything else discipleship.

If I were to take Piper’s list in his prayer, then I would need to up my game in making changes to that list at some point.

Expository preaching is safe. It ensures we say what the Lord’s word says. I think the prophetic is found in the application, the tone, of addressing issues.

For example, in America, you rarely hear preachers address race. African-Americans address it from their angle. Anglos are scared to address it because they have checked out on race. So, a “professional” preacher is not going to take a risk. He’s a professional.

Or to preach against over extending yourself in a home. What preacher is going to say, “You should not have purchased a home you couldn’t afford.” Then say, “and it’s wrong for the gov to bail you out.” The preacher can’t say anything (or won’t) on some issues. It’s too risky. He’s a professional.

Just two examples. I’m going to be thinking about this because we need to be prophetic in our preaching, not professional. WELL, don’t get me wrong. I will still apply all I learned in homiletics from Haddon Robinson at Gordon-Conwell.

As with most things, professionalism would be in the heart. It seems the question should not be in which way to preach, but whether to preach at all. If the heart in preaching is for esteem and a dignified position in people’s minds, then I would say most assuredly no.