At Cornerstone we celebrate the fact that our congregation includes people from a variety of church backgrounds. On the basis of prior church experience, some of our congregants may have particular views, expectations or questions when it comes to the ministry of preaching. This piece has been prepared to explain Cornerstone’s approach to preaching for those who may be curious about it.
How We Plan Our Preaching
Each year, our leadership teams prayerfully choose an annual ministry theme and related objectives for our church. At the same time, we always keep in mind Cornerstone’s stated purposes (Vision, Mission, etc.), which are biblically rooted and Jesus-centred. We strategically plan our sermon series around the annual theme and objectives, trusting that God will speak to us as a church family through His Word in the areas He’s leading us to focus on for the sake of His mission.
Rooted in Scripture
Based on the conviction that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16), we believe that all authentic preaching is biblical preaching. That is to say, all sermons should be rooted in the divinely authoritative text of Scripture. This is often referred to as expository preaching– to let the point or points of a sermon be drawn from a passage or passages in the Bible as interpreted in their historical-grammatical and literary context, and also in light of their place in the overall narrative of the canon of scripture. Texts are then applied accordingly in today’s context. Because such preaching “exposes” the meaning and life implications of a biblical text or texts to hearers, it is called “expository.” Below are a few definitions of expository preaching from some of its best-regarded practitioners: Exposition refers to the content of the sermon (biblical truth) rather than its style (a running commentary). To expound Scripture is to bring out of the text what is there and expose it to view. The expositor opens what appears to be closed, makes plain what is obscure, unravels what is knotted, and unfolds what is tightly packed.1
The communication of a biblical concept derived from and transmitted through a historical-grammatical and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher then through him to hearers.2
Expository preaching grounds the message in the text so that all the sermon’s points are the points in the text, and it majors in the texts’s major ideas. It aligns the interpretation of the text with the doctrinal truths of the rest of the Bible (being sensitive to systematic theology). And it always situates the passage within the Bible’s narrative, showing how Christ is the final fulfillment of the text’s theme (being sensitive to biblical theology).3
1John R.W. Stott, Between Two Worlds
2Haddon Robinson, Biblical Preaching
3Timothy Keller, Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism
Does Expository Preaching Always Mean Verse-by-Verse?
Some Christians equate expository preaching with sequential preaching, which is to preach verse-by-verse through a biblical book in its entirety. Note, however, that none of the definitions above have to do with how a sermon is structured, nor do they emphasize that all expository preaching must be done sequentially, verse-by-verse through a biblical book. Rather, the definitions stress that all sermons should be rooted in scripture. While sequential exposition certainly has its benefits, it is not the only form of expository preaching that there is. For example:
- Biblical theology sermons trace key themes within a particular book or books of the Bible. This approach can help people see the Bible’s unity in a way sequential exposition may not.
- Topical preaching allows pastors to focus intentionally on what the Bible has to say about practical, pastoral, ethical or doctrinal issues of immediate relevance to a congregation that a sequential series might miss or delay.
- Seasonal preaching walks people through biblical texts as they pertain to important seasons of the church calendar, such as Advent or Lent, which may be overlooked when a strictly sequential approach to preaching is taken.
A “Blended Expository” Approach
Cornerstone’s preaching ministry employs a mix of the above approaches, along with occasional sequential series where we work verse-by-verse through a biblical book. In all cases, we seek to root our sermons in the authority of a biblical text or texts. It is this sense that Cornerstone can be said to take a “blended expository” approach to preaching.
One important reason we believe in the validity of this approach is that scripture itself uses various literary forms and approaches: narrative, poetry, law, epistle, proverb, apocalyptic, and more. A blended or mixed approach to preaching is an echo of this variety and models it in sermons.
Furthermore, when we look at examples of sermons and addresses found in the Bible itself, they are usually topical, thematic, or narrative in form. For example:
Stephen’s address (Acts 7) is a sweeping narrative of Israel’s history, from Abraham to Solomon, to demonstrate Israel’s consistent rejection of God’s messengers. He references scripture, but not in a verse-by-verse manner.
Peter’s sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-26) is a Jesus-centered evangelistic message. Peter quotes several Old Testament passages (Joel 2, Psalm 16, Psalm 110) to show how Jesus fulfills them. Instead of unpacking one longer passage verse-by-verse, he refers to multiple biblical texts to support his central argument that Jesus is Lord and Messiah.
Paul’s evangelistic speech at the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-31), while not a sermon per se, shows that this apostle who himself wrote much of the New Testament felt at liberty to communicate an apologetic and evangelistic message to an audience without directly quoting scripture. In this case Paul quoted Greek poets to build a case for the one true God to a pagan audience, culminating in the proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection.
Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) addresses a wide range of topics—blessings, law, anger, lust, prayer, anxiety, etc. In the sermon, Jesus often references scripture but focuses on the central theme of the kingdom of God rather than the sequential exposition of one particular text.
These examples show that the Bible itself does not portray preaching uniformly, but rather in various ways that address specific audiences with tailored messages that cite scripture accordingly. Therefore, from a church ministry perspective, we would contend that allowing room for a variety of preaching approaches does not dishonour the Bible. On the contrary, it honours the Bible by reflecting the sermonic diversity it describes.
In summary, a healthy blended preaching model will maintain the strengths of exposition, rooting all sermons, whatever their form, in a biblical text or texts. While appreciating and making room for sequential verse-by-verse preaching, it also allows for series or sermons to zoom out (biblical theology) or zoom in (topic-specific). Because it can also be pastorally helpful to align preaching with church needs, certain seasons, significant events, or strategic vision, a “blended expository” approach such as Cornerstone’s allows flexibility in ministry planning while keeping sermons textually rooted and theologically substantive.4
1John R.W. Stott, Between Two Worlds
2Haddon Robinson, Biblical Preaching
3Timothy Keller, Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism
4For a helpful article that relates to this subject, see: https://sermonary.com/preaching-styles/
Preaching Points to Jesus Because Scripture Points to Jesus
At the heart of Cornerstone’s preaching ministry is the conviction that all of Scripture ultimately points to Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible’s grand narrative converges upon the person and work of Christ. This is not merely a theological affirmation but an interpretive lens through which we approach biblical texts.
Scripture itself teaches this Christ-centered reading. On the Emmaus Road, the risen Jesus explained to two disciples how “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). He showed them that the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings are not isolated moral lessons or religious codes, but threads in a larger tapestry that find their culmination in Him. Later, He would say to the disciples, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).
This Jesus-centered lens is further affirmed in places like Colossians 1:16-20, where Christ is described as the one through whom and for whom all things were created, and the one in whom God is reconciling all things to Himself. Hebrews 1:1-3 reveals that while God has spoken in various ways through the prophets, He has spoken definitively through His Son, “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” The Gospel of John opens with the declaration that the eternal Word has become flesh, dwelling among us, embodying grace and truth (John 1:1-14).
Therefore, the ministry of preaching is not complete if it stops short of pointing to Jesus. The purpose of preaching is not merely to impart biblical knowledge, promote ethical living, or offer practical life advice (although it certainly includes these things), but to lead people into a deeper encounter with Christ Himself. Every text of Scripture—whether law, wisdom, prophecy, narrative, epistle, or apocalyptic vision—ultimately finds its meaning and fulfillment in Him. As such, faithful preaching will not only explain what a passage meant to its original audience but will also unveil how it connects to the person and mission of Jesus.
This does not mean every sermon must artificially “insert Jesus” into a text where He is not explicitly mentioned. Rather, it requires a recognition that the entire biblical storyline—creation, fall, promise, redemption and restoration—centers on God’s self-revelation in Christ. Whether preaching from the Psalms, the Minor Prophets, the Gospels, or the Letters, the preacher’s role is to help the congregation see how the text reveals humanity’s need for Christ and God’s provision of Him as Savior, Lord, and King.
Moreover, this Christ-centered approach is essential for cultivating a living relationship with God through His Word. The goal of Scripture is not merely information but transformation—an encounter with the living God who speaks through His Word by His Spirit. Jesus Himself said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; but it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39). The point is clear: Scripture leads us to a Person, not merely principles.
In preaching, this means that sermons should not only explain and apply the Bible but should also “proclaim” Christ, helping hearers discern His voice speaking to them today. As people grow in attentiveness to the Spirit, preaching becomes an avenue through which they learn to recognize the Shepherd’s voice in their everyday lives. This transformative dynamic turns listening to a sermon into an act of worship, where God’s people are continually invited to meet Jesus afresh and be formed into His likeness.
In sum, because all of Scripture points to Jesus, all preaching must, in some way, point to Him as well. Whether through direct proclamation or through tracing the contours of biblical themes that find their resolution in Christ, Cornerstone’s preaching ministry seeks to ensure that Jesus remains at the center—of the text, of the message, and of the lives of those who hear.
Team Preaching
Finally, but importantly, team preaching is a key aspect of Cornerstone’s preaching philosophy. Whereas many churches have one primary pulpit communicator, Cornerstone has a core rotation of several pastors who preach regularly, in addition to a wider preaching roster that includes various church staff as well as lay preachers.
We have found this approach has many benefits. It spreads out the preaching load, allows the congregation to hear the richness of multiple voices, and gives more people the opportunity to exercise and develop their preaching gifts. Team preaching in series also strengthens Cornerstone in its core value of Unity-in-Diversity as our preaching team works together to present a consistent, unified message across different voices.
Taken together, the above points constitute the key considerations behind why Cornerstone approaches preaching as it does.
