Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation

A great sermon doesn’t begin with a microphone—it begins with a voice that has been forged in obscurity. In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Pastor Ryan Marr of Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg invites listeners behind the scenes of that often hidden process, tracing the slow, sometimes painful work of *finding your own teaching voice*. Far from offering quick tips or performance tricks, Marr insists that true preaching is where life and doctrine collide, producing a message that not only informs but transforms both preacher and hearer.Drawing from the pastoral epistles and years in the pulpit, Marr describes the journey of discovering how God has uniquely wired you to communicate, then submitting that voice to scrutiny, feedback, and refinement. He urges teachers to ask unsettling questions—“Am I right on this topic? How can I grow?”—while relentlessly sharpening their words so that the **headline is always the story of Jesus**, not the personality of the preacher.But the heart of his message is not technique; it’s dependence. Marr argues that the most compelling preaching comes when a flawed, still-learning teacher chooses to **listen to God’s voice**, relying on the Holy Spirit more than eloquence. Along the way, he speaks candidly about fear, conflict, and the vulnerability of saying hard things from the pulpit, and he makes a surprising claim: what people remember most is not a perfect outline, but a preacher who **genuinely enjoys God**.For anyone on the long road of learning to teach the Bible—whether you’re nervously preparing your first sermon or refining your fiftieth—this episode offers a bracing, hopeful reminder: your voice is worth developing, not because it’s impressive, but because, in God’s hands, it can help others see Jesus more clearly.For information about our upcoming training events visit ⁠ExpositorsCollective.com⁠ Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective

In this episode, Clay and Mike reminisce about their Bible College days with their former Dean of Men, Pastor Sean Houseman. What begins with shared memories quickly develops into an encouraging and challenging conversation about teaching and preaching sacred Scripture with wisdom, patience, and humility.Drawing on years of pastoral experience, Sean reflects on how the Bible actually works as a book, cautioning against flattening all passages into proverb-like statements. Together, they explore how Scripture often unfolds like a treasure map, building its points carefully and leading readers toward conclusions over time, rather than offering instant answers.The conversation also touches on the subtle temptations faced by Bible teachers, including the pressure to appear especially spiritual, and the importance of being who God has actually made us to be rather than performing for others.This episode was originally released in October 2018 and remains a helpful listen for anyone involved in teaching, preaching, or simply wanting to handle God’s word more faithfully.For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective

Dr Don Sunukjian has devoted his life to the craft of preaching, both in the pulpit and in the classroom. With doctoral training in theology and communication, along with 21 years of experience as a senior pastor, he brings together rigorous scholarship and real pastoral wisdom. He now serves as Professor Emeritus of Christian Ministry and Leadership at Biola University.In this conversation, Don joins Mike Neglia to talk about oral clarity in preaching and why vivid, real-life examples are essential for establishing relevance. Together, they explore how preachers can communicate biblical truth with accuracy, interest, and persuasive force, helping listeners not only understand the message but feel its weight.Dr Sunukjian has made significant contributions to the field of homiletics and biblical studies, writing for resources such as The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Biblical Preaching, Bibliotheca Sacra, Walvoord: A Tribute, and The Big Idea of Biblical Preaching. He has led pastors’ conferences across the United States and continues to maintain an active preaching ministry.This re-released conversation remains a timely reminder that faithful preaching requires both careful preparation and thoughtful communication.Recommended ResourcesAn Invitation to Biblical Preaching : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/442010.Invitation_to_Biblical_PreachingHow Don Sunukjian Preaches (Homiletix) : https://homiletix.com/don-sunukjian-how-i-preach/ Biblical Sermons (Baker Academic) : https://bakeracademic.com/products/9781540967916_biblical-preachingFor information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective

In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Jeff Figgs offers a sober and deeply pastoral charge drawn from Paul’s final words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:10-11. Speaking from decades of ministry experience, Jeff reminds listeners that Christian leadership is ultimately measured not by recognition or platform, but by faithfulness, character, and endurance.Jeff serves as Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Greeley, where he has faithfully taught verse-by-verse through all 66 books of the Bible over the past 28 years. Ordained in 1992, he began the church in 1996 with a small Bible study that grew into a thriving congregation. He also hosts the radio programme Under the Fig Tree, co-hosts Calvary Live on GraceFM Colorado, and serves as a chaplain for the Weld County Sheriff’s Office. That long obedience in ministry gives particular weight to this exhortation.The session is set in the context of Paul’s final imprisonment in Rome. Knowing that his life is drawing to a close, Paul writes to Timothy, his “son in the faith,” warning that the last days will be perilous times. Paul describes a culture marked by misdirected love, counterfeit spirituality, and people who are always learning but never arriving at the truth. Against that backdrop, Paul draws a sharp contrast: “But you have carefully followed…”From there, Jeff walks through the qualities Timothy had observed firsthand in Paul.First, doctrine. Timothy had carefully followed Paul’s teaching from the time he joined him in Lystra on the second missionary journey. Sound doctrine is shown to be essential, not optional. Drawing from Acts 20 and 2 Timothy 2:15, Jeff emphasises diligent study, faithful preparation, and rightly dividing the Word of truth. Congregations, he notes, can tell when the hard work has been done, and the goal is not to impress with humour or stories, but to leave people saying, “We heard from God.”Second, manner of life. Paul does not only point to what he taught, but how he lived. This unique phrase highlights the inseparable connection between message and messenger. Referencing passages such as 1 Corinthians 11:1 and Acts 20:18, Jeff stresses that a godly message must come from a godly life. The call is searching and personal: to be the same person outside the pulpit as inside it, so that those closest to us would never say, “Not you, pastor.”Third, purpose. Ministry is framed as stewardship rather than self-promotion. Faithfulness, not fame, is the true measure of success. Jeff reflects on the seasons of ministry that shape character over time, including suffering, grief, discouragement, and perseverance. He urges leaders to maintain a genuine devotional life, not merely study for sermons, reminding listeners that we cannot lead others where we ourselves are not walking.Throughout the session, one theme remains clear: godly character matters because we carry a godly message. In a world of perilous times and noisy voices, light does not argue, it is seen. Faithful ministry flows from lives shaped by the Word of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, and marked by humility, love, endurance, and integrity.This episode is a timely reminder that the church does not primarily need famous leaders, but faithful ones, men and women who will handle the Scriptures carefully and live them visibly, for the sake of the next generation.Jeff Figgs in 2019 on speech impediments, introversion and the call of God: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3lirX6nlgYk1XDRHlIZsWM?si=515c1d9e1c7c4831For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective