Topical preaching – What is it?

what does the bible say?

Topical preaching focuses on a single theme and draws from multiple biblical passages, which can be helpful for addressing specific issues but becomes dangerous when verses are taken out of context to support a preacher’s point (Isaiah 6:8). Scripture calls ministers to handle God’s Word carefully and accurately, recognizing the difference between descriptive passages and prescriptive commands (2 Timothy 2:15). The Bible models a broader approach to teaching, where God’s people are instructed in both the promises and the hardships of faithful obedience, not just selective themes (Isaiah 6:9–13). In the New Testament, Paul emphasized declaring the whole counsel of God, showing that faithful preaching must cover Scripture’s full scope, not just preferred topics (Acts 20:27). When topical preaching is balanced with expository and other forms of teaching, it can enrich understanding while keeping Christ and God’s complete truth at the center (Acts 20:20–21).

from the old testament

• The issue that often lies with topical preaching is the failure to cover the entire context of the verse that is being used to support the preacher’s topic of choice. For example, Isaiah’s exclamation to God in Isaiah 6:8 has been used many times as a call to open ourselves up to go wherever God wants. However, many preachers neglect the following verses in Isaiah 6, which reveal God’s response that explains Isaiah’s efforts will include much suffering. The preceding verses also discuss Isaiah’s attitude as a humble servant who recognized his sin before the Lord. Lastly, the passage is clearly a historical account of a personal conversation between Isaiah and God and as such, should be treated as a descriptive, not a prescriptive passage.

from the new testament

• Paul testified before the Ephesian elders, saying, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). He taught God’s truth on every topic, speaking the gospel as well as teaching the difficulties of the Christian life they would face. The Bible addresses the importance of teaching the full counsel of God, and when a preacher only does topical preaching, teaching God’s Word in the breadth and depth it deserves can be a hard, if not impossible task.
• A minister’s goal must be, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). He must rightly deliver the teachings of God’s word. As we strive to fulfill this mission, we can aim to do so by covering a range of topics and doing a variety of styles of teaching.

implications for today

Topical preaching can be used effectively, yet it must also be part of a balanced diet of biblical teaching to avoid bias or neglect of other areas of Scripture. When used alongside other preaching types, topical preaching can enhance understanding of important Christian themes, ranging from family, parenting, encouragement, worship, perseverance, finances, evangelism, prophecy, and more. When topical preaching is the only or primary form of preaching, however, certain problems can develop. For example, every person holds certain biases. If a pastor preaches only topical messages, the personal focus of the pastor tends to drive the topics chosen and which topics are neglected. Certain difficult Christian topics will be avoided in the process. Another concern with topical preaching is the tendency to use passages to prove a point rather than to interpret a verse within its context. For example, in Isaiah 6:8, the prophet says, “Here I am! Send me.” This passage is often used to encourage believers to boldly ask God to send them to serve wherever He desires. This application is misguided since the verse is clearly a descriptive account, not a prescriptive teaching for us to apply to our personal lives as readers. In the New Testament, Paul was very thorough in his breadth and depth of preaching (Acts 20:27). We should similarly strive for accuracy in exegesis and thoroughness in teaching from the Word of God—doing our best to present ourselves as approved, unashamed workers, “rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). A healthy diet of teaching and preaching will include teaching through books of the Bible in addition to topics from the Bible. This approach can help avoid some of the concerns of topical-only preaching and help promote learning from the full counsel of God to build mature believers in the faith.

Recap

understand

• Topical preaching focuses on one theme by drawing from multiple passages, which can be helpful for addressing specific issues.
• Topical preaching can be risky when verses are used out of context or used to support a point rather than teach their original meaning.
• Topical preaching works best as part of a balanced preaching approach that also teaches the full scope of Scripture, not just selected topics.

reflect

• How do you evaluate whether a sermon is faithfully teaching Scripture or simply using verses to support a theme or pastor’s perspective?
• Regardless of your preferences of type of sermon, what helps you focus when others teach God’s Word?
• How can you be sure you are listening to and learning from the Holy Spirit whether a sermon is topical or not?

engage

• What are the benefits and dangers with topical preaching?
• What must we do to ensure topical preaching is biblical and in context?
• How can we help each other listen to a sermon critically and biblically, ensuring that Scripture’s meaning—not personal preference—remains central?