What is Expository Study? Your Guide to Understanding and Applying God’s Word.

            Have you ever opened your Bible, eager to learn, but found yourself wondering "what does this even means?" The words are there, but you feel disconnected from the meaning. First off, know that this is a common experience. You are not alone and it is why so many struggle to engage deeply with Scripture. Expository study changes that. So let's get started understanding and applying God's Word.

Expository study is a powerful approach to reading the Bible that prioritizes understanding the text as God intended. In this post, we’ll explore what expository study is, how it differs from other approaches, and how it can deepen your connection to God’s Word. As Jared C. Wilson stresses in The Gospel-Driven Church, good theology fuels worship and transforms lives.[1] Expository study offers a structured way to know Scripture, and ultimately, to love God more fully through His Word.

What Is Expository Study?

Expository Bible reading focuses on drawing meaning directly from the text rather than imposing our own ideas or interpretations onto it, or simply picking out the parts we like and disregarding the rest. The goal is to approach Scripture humbly, seeking to understand what God is communicating through His Word. In expository study, we aim to uncover the original intent of the biblical authors, which, in turn, reveals God’s intended message. This method is rooted in respect for Scripture’s authority and our belief that the Bible speaks clearly and powerfully on its own.

As Alister Begg says, the Word of God is alive and active, speaking fresh truth into every generation.[2] Expository study doesn’t allow the Bible to be manipulated to fit our preferences. Instead, it brings you closer to God’s truth by helping you see Scripture as it is.

Why Expository Study?

So why should we choose expository study over other approaches? The truth is, there are many ways people try to engage with the Bible, but not all of them are faithful to God’s message. Consider 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which states, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

Expository study honors this “God-breathed” nature of Scripture, helping you to understand what it truly says so we can apply it accurately to our lives. Expository study is particularly valuable because it respects Scripture’s authority and keeps you grounded in truth.

Some approaches, like eisegesis, involve reading one’s own meaning into the text, often shaped by personal experiences, biases, or cultural trends. Expository study, on the other hand, aligns with exegesis, where the meaning is drawn out of the text itself. This method prevents you from making the Bible say what you want it to say, and instead lets the Bible say what it God intended it to say.

The Three Core Steps of Expository Study

The first step to expository study is observation, asking what does the text say? Observation is all about examining what is actually on the page. Here, we pay close attention to words, phrases, and structures in the text. This step involves slowing down and looking carefully at each verse, noting repetition, contrasts, and themes.

Step two is interpretation, asking what does the text mean? Through interpretation, we move deeper, asking what the text meant to its original audience. Understanding the historical and cultural context can be invaluable when engaging in interpretation. For instance, a letter from Paul to the early church will have different nuances than a psalm written by King David. According to Mark Dever, rightly handling God’s Word requires diligent study and an obedient heart submissive to the larger teaching of Scripture.[3]

Step three is application, how does the truth in the text apply to my life? Application is where the text’s meaning intersects with your life. After observing what the text says and interpreting the intended meaning, you can confidently apply the lessons you have learned in ways that are faithful to Scripture’s original intent and profitable to your life. In other words, rather than asking, “What does this mean to me?” expository study encourages you to ask, “How can I live in light of what God has said?”

Expository Study in Action: A Practical Example

Here are these three simple steps applied to Matthew 7:24-27, where Jesus teaches about building a house on the right foundation. First, we observe that Jesus emphasizes hearing and acting upon His words. He contrasts two builders. One builder builds his house on the rock and another builds on sand. When the rains fell and floods came and the winds blew, only the house built on the rock was able to withstand the storm. In contrast, the foolish man who built his house on the sand experienced a great collapse when faced with the same storm.

Once we have observed what is in the text, how do we rightly interpret Jesus’ words? First, we know that verses 24-27 were spoken within the context of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, shortly after his baptism and temptation in the wilderness. This particular sermon was a message given to the great crowd that had gathered in the Galilean countryside after Jesus’s grand tour where He preached the good news of God’s Kingdom and performed a host of miraculous healings. This crowd was undoubtably filled with common folk and the religious elite. The sermon was a message of hope to the crowds desperately longing for deliverance, but also a diatribe against the Jewish leadership that had distorted God’s word. Jesus challenged the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees and offered a new perspective on pleasing God. The rock represents Jesus’ words, while the sand represents life built on anything else.

How does this truth apply to us today? What is the application? We must examine if our lives are grounded in obedience to Jesus. Are we building on rock or sand? Have you built your life on the Word of God? Or is the foundation of your life built on shifting sands? Many rely on their career, reputation, or status as their foundation of their identity and legacy. But Jesus said that the foolish man builds on something other than Himself. The only foundation that will survive the storms of life and endure from this life into the next is Christ. It is by the Word alone that stability in this life and eternal life are secure.

By following these three simple steps, observation, interpretation, and application, a more profound understanding can be gained of this parable and how it challenges believers to build a life of faith. You begin to understand that that nothing else can ever sustain or support you. It is by faith in the Word of Christ alone that your life is able to stand against the storms that come. But those that reject the rock, the cornerstone, will be utterly destroyed, and terrible will be their collapse.

Expository Study vs. Other Methods: What Sets It Apart?

There are several popular Bible study methods, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, so let us compare them to show what makes expository study so uniquely powerful. One extremely popular approach is topical study. Topical Bible study is focused on specific themes (e.g., love, anxiety, marriage) that are of immediate interest. While useful, topical study can lead to cherry-picking verses without regard for context and drawing conclusion that may not be wholly accurate.

Another popular study method is devotional study. Devotional study involves reading short passages and reflecting on them personally. Devotional study can be incredibly encouraging and have very useful applications. In fact, if you don’t have a daily devotional that you read, I would highly encourage you to find one and start! However, devotional study, by nature of its design, lacks the depth and rigor of expository study, and therefore while inspirational, may not be overly transformational.

Finally, we come to expository study. Expository study prioritizes the text’s meaning and context, aiming for an accurate understanding of Scripture. As Kevin DeYoung has pointed out, the Bible is not a book of magic spells or merely a collection of nice sayings to make us feel good. The Bible is about what God has done for us, and what God is doing in us.[4] Expository study invites us to understand the full depth of God’s Word without simplifying it to suit our tastes. For a time, there was a cheeky acronym many people liked to use to try to convey what the purpose of the Bible. B-I-B-L-E, basic instructions before leaving earth. While the Bible is instructional and extremely profitable for guiding us in the Christian life, the Bible is not an instruction manual for life. The Bible is a declaration of what Christ has done.[5]

The Benefits of Expository Study

Expository study has numerous benefits for believers, from deepening our knowledge of God’s Word to transforming our lives. Here are a three key advantages. Clarity and Confidence. Expository study provides a clear, structured path to understanding the Bible, giving us confidence in our interpretation. Faithfulness to Scripture. By focusing on the text’s original meaning, we honor God’s Word and avoid misunderstandings. Application to Real Life. Expository study equips us to apply Scripture accurately, preparing us to live in ways that align with God’s will. Through expository study, we aren’t just readers; we are transformed disciples of Jesus who let God’s Word shape us into the likeness of Christ.

Practical Tips for Expository Study

So, are you ready to start your expository journey? Here are four practical tips to remember. Start small. Choose a short passage rather than a whole chapter. This allows you to focus deeply without feeling overwhelmed as you begin your journey. Use a study Bible. Tools like a study Bible or a commentary can provide valuable context that you may not know or otherwise be familiar with. Take notes. Write down observations, questions, and applications. Journaling helps reinforce what you learn. You may want to consider sketch journaling if you are artistic or a visual learner. And most importantly, pray for insight. Ask God to open your heart and mind as you study. Let us remember the words we read in James 1:5 as James reminds us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God, who gives generously.

Final Thoughts: Embracing the Discipline of Expository Study

Expository study is not just a method; it’s a discipline that trains us to approach Scripture with reverence and clarity. As we journey deeper into expository teaching, we’re reminded of what we read in 2 Timothy 3:16, which tells us that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” By choosing expository study, we choose a path that aligns us with God’s Word in its purest form.

My hope is that as you engage in this process, you’ll experience not only greater knowledge but a transformed life. The Bible isn’t just a book to be read; it’s God’s message to be lived. As Jackie Hill Perry notes in her book Holier than Thou, the Bible is meant to transform your heart, not just fill your head.[6] Embracing expository study invites transformation from God.

Key Takeaways

• Expository study emphasizes understanding the Bible as it was intended, free from

personal bias, agenda, and cultural misunderstandings.

• The method involves three steps: Observation, Interpretation, and Application.

• Unlike other methods, expository study grounds us in the text, fostering both clarity and

depth.

• Engaging in expository study can transform not only your knowledge but also your

relationship with God.

Stay tuned for the next post in our series, where we’ll dive into Exegesis vs. Eisegesis: Why Does It Matter? and continue exploring how we can approach Scripture faithfully. Let’s journey together into the heart of God.

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Footnotes

[1] Jared C. Wilson, The Gospel-Driven Church: Uniting Church-Growth Dreams with the Metrics of Grace (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019), 64.

[2] Alistair Begg, Brave by Faith: God-Sized Confidence in a Post-Christian World (United Kingdom: Good Book Company, 2021), e-book.

[3] Mark Dever, The Church: A Biblical Understanding (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), 82.

[4] Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible Is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me (Wheaton: Crossway, 2014), 24.

[5] Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020), 19.

[6] Jackie Hill Perry, Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2021), 134.

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Bibliography

Begg, Alistair. Brave by Faith: God-Sized Confidence in a Post-Christian World. United Kingdom: Good Book Company, 2021. E-book.

Dever, Mark. The Church: A Biblical Understanding. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016.

DeYoung, Kevin. Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible Is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014.

Ortlund, Dane. Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020.

Perry, Jackie Hill. Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2021.

Wilson, Jared C. The Gospel-Driven Church: Uniting Church-Growth Dreams with the Metrics of Grace. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019.