Last week I began a list of reasons why we need expository preaching.  I began by making the case that in a culture of unpredictability, we need predictability.  We must know what’s coming next.  Bible teaching that moves through books of the Bible verse by verse is, if nothing else, predictable.  

Last Sunday, we opened again, Matthew 2 where we learned about two kings.  Herod, the supposed king of the Jews versus Jesus the rightful King of the Jews.  Herod, who represents Satan and anti-Christ, versus Jesus who is Messiah and ruler.  Herod, insane, suspicious, and a baby-murderer versus Jesus, sovereign ruler, shepherd, and Savior.  A counterfeit king outed by the One True King.  For me, being reminded of this Christ who is our King, was both timely and nourishing.  

So, expository preaching in one sense is predictable in terms of the method but perhaps surprising and specific to an immediate need in terms of the message.  Day-to-day news is increasingly unpredictable. Even the way that people around town treat you can be unpredictable! So, hopefully knowing that we will be in Matthew 2:7-12 is something you can hang on to.  We will be fed from there, Lord willing!  You can read ahead to get a jump on what the Lord wants you to know and learn, and you can anticipate that the Lord will open up a treasure as we dive into the text with depth on Sunday.  

Today I want to talk about biases.  This is the second reason why we need expository preaching right now.  Our world is filled with bias.  I can read the headline of any article and no matter the subject on the face, predict the agenda that pervades the rest of what is there.  Someone’s biases and set of presuppositions ingrained in their thinking is what will determine how someone interprets life.  Biases or leanings left to themselves are like the fictional monster “The Blob”, a giant-sized amoeba that grows without being satisfied.  Biases are virtual contact lenses that someone forgets he is wearing, that control how everything is being viewed.   Eventually, biases will concretize into convictions controlling how someone feels about everything.  

2 Timothy 4:1-4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 

When the church started, some 2,000 years ago, Paul warned Timothy that bias would reign even inside the church.  Verse 3 says, “…people will not endure sound teaching.”  I am sure this was the case then and surer this is the case now.  The culture will always creep into the church.  People unwittingly interpret Scripture by laying their bias overtop of Scripture’s clear meaning.  Twisting and reshaping the bible’s true meaning into something it was never meant to say, creating false teaching.  This is very dangerous to the one who does this and to anyone who follows those that do.

Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book 

Scriptural truth clearly taught, explained, and preached is always a refreshing need-especially now. The Bible is the baseline for understanding reality, for discerning between what is right and wrong, good and evil, true and false.  This is because God’s Word is from God.  When God speaks, we should listen.  God’s Word informs how we view everything, so let’s pay close attention right now! 

More on this next time.