If you’ve visited churches in the Milwaukee area, you’ve probably noticed something: not all preaching is the same. At CrossWay Community Church in Milwaukee, we preach expository sermons because we believe God still speaks today through His Word, clearly, powerfully, and sufficiently. Preaching is not a place for opinions or personality-driven messages. It is where God’s voice is heard.
This isn’t just a stylistic preference. It’s a conviction about what people truly need. We don’t ultimately need spiritual pep talks or inspirational advice; we need the living God to speak. We need clarity in a confusing world and truth in a loud world. We need Jesus held up before our eyes week after week. That is why expository preaching matters.
What Is Expository Preaching?
Expository preaching simply means that the main point of the sermon is the main point of the biblical text. It often includes, as it does here at Crossway, going through a book of the Bible week by week, rather than having sermons that are topical in nature. The preacher doesn’t invent a message; he submits to it. Faithful exposition begins with the biblical author’s intent, draws out the meaning inspired by God, shows how the passage fits within the story of redemption, and then applies it to the church today in light of Christ.
Put plainly, if the sermon’s main idea is not the text’s main idea, it isn’t expository preaching. This protects the church from ego-driven preaching, cherry-picked verses, and sermons built on agendas rather than God’s revelation.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “The preacher is not there to air his opinions but to proclaim what God has said.” John Stott echoed the same conviction: “We stand under Scripture, not over it. Our responsibility is to open it, explain it, and apply it.” That is the heartbeat of expository preaching.
Expository, Exegetical, and Topical—What’s the Difference?
Exegetical preaching uses sound exegesis to draw the meaning out of the text. It is necessary for faithful preaching, but it does not automatically make the sermon expository. Expository preaching goes further by building the entire sermon around one passage’s main point. The structure, the aim, and the emphasis all flow from the text itself. This is why expository preaching often works best when moving through books of the Bible week by week. It trains believers to think biblically, not merely to think like the preacher.
Topical preaching, on the other hand, begins with a subject such as marriage, anxiety, or money and then brings various passages together to address that topic. It can be helpful, but it can also drift into selective proof-texting if not handled carefully.
At CrossWay Church in Milwaukee, expository, text-driven preaching is our normal diet. Topical sermons are occasional supplements, not the main meal.
Why Expository Preaching Matters for Your Soul
Expository preaching ensures that God, not the preacher, sets the agenda. The text determines the message, tone, and urgency. Over time, it teaches you how to read your Bible well, how to see context, themes, and the sweep of Scripture for yourself. It also keeps us from skipping the hard parts. We do not avoid difficult doctrines or uncomfortable passages because God included them for our good.
Most importantly, expository preaching keeps Christ at the center. It is not dry commentary; it is showing how every passage points us to Jesus. Charles Spurgeon put it bluntly: “No Christ in your sermon? Then go home, and never preach again until you have something worth preaching.” The goal is always the same: to build durable faith. Emotional inspiration fades, but God’s Word gives roots.
Scripture’s Own Model of Expository Preaching
This approach to preaching is not new. Nehemiah 8:8 gives a simple pattern: “They read from the book… clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood.” Read the text. Explain the meaning. Apply it.
Paul gives the same charge in 2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” Not opinions. Not trends. The Word.
Why We Preach This Way at CrossWay
We preach expositionally because we believe Scripture is God-breathed truth (2 Timothy 3:16), because we trust the Holy Spirit to work through His Word, and because the church is healthiest when it receives the whole counsel of God. Real transformation happens as Christ is proclaimed from every passage.
Alistair Begg summarizes it well: “The pastor’s job is to teach the Bible. The Holy Spirit’s job is to convince and convert. Do not ever confuse the two.” Our aim is not for people to leave thinking, “That was clever,” but rather, “I met God in that text today.”
Looking for Expository Preaching in Milwaukee?
If you’re searching for a church where sermons are built from Scripture rather than opinions, where Jesus is preached from every passage, and where you’re invited to think deeply and live joyfully under God’s Word, we would love to welcome you to CrossWay Community Church. Learn more about us here!
Bring your Bible. Bring your doubts. Bring your need. You will hear the Word of God. You will see Jesus lifted high. And you will find a people being shaped by grace and truth.
Yours in the greatest cause,
Sam Park