The Academy for Expository Preaching

Preaching the
Word of God

The Academy for Expository Preaching is intended to equip and train
preachers in their pulpit ministry.

Watch Video

Preaching the
Word of God

The Academy for Expository Preaching is intended to equip and train
preachers in their pulpit ministry.

Watch Video
The Academy for Expository Preaching overview

The Divine Call

Equipping. Refining. Igniting.

Module 1: The History of Preaching
Module 2: What is Expository Preaching?
Module 3: What is an Expository Sermon?
The Call

Fulfilling the High Calling of Expository Preaching

The Academy for Expository Preaching overview

Fulfilling the High Calling of Expository Preaching

  • Module 01
  • Module 02
  • Module 03

Tab 1

Module 01

The History of Preaching

Lecture 1: The Preaching of the First Preachers

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson explores the history of preaching, emphasizing its vital importance in Christianity and tracing its roots from God to notable preachers in the Old Testament like Enoch and Moses. Dr. Lawson argues that preaching is deeply intertwined with the history of redemption and highlights expository preaching, a method that seeks to read, explain, and exhort from a scriptural passage.

Lecture 2: The Preaching of the Major Prophets I

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson teaches the history of preaching, focusing on the roles of biblical prophets such as Elijah, Elisha, and Ezra, and their significance in God’s plan. The session emphasizes the importance of standing strong in faith and preaching God’s Word in a world filled with diverse beliefs and challenges.

Lecture 3: The Preaching of the Major Prophets II

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson focuses on the history of preaching through the Major Prophets in the Old Testament, emphasizing their dual role in foretelling and forth telling. Using Isaiah as an example, the lecture highlights the importance of understanding God’s holiness, personal repentance, and preaching both condemnation and salvation, all while recognizing the enduring and eternal nature of God’s Word.

Lecture 4: The Preaching of The Minor Prophets

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses the importance of learning from the preaching of the Minor Prophets in the Bible and highlights three common threads found in their messages: the sovereignty of God, the holiness of God, and the love of God. These elements are essential for preachers to incorporate into their sermons to create a well-rounded message.

Lecture 5: The Preaching of Jesus Christ

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses the importance of preaching in the New Testament, focusing on the teachings of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. John the Baptist is described as a fiery preacher who emphasized repentance, urging people to turn away from sin and embrace Christ. He warned of the consequences of not repenting, such as God’s wrath and eternal judgment.

Lecture 6: The Preaching of Jesus Christ

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses Jesus Christ as the greatest preacher who ever lived, emphasizing his teachings on repentance, heart religion, and perfect righteousness. The speaker also highlights Jesus’ focus on the moral law and the importance of preaching to the heart in order to bring about true transformation.

Lecture 7: The Preaching of Peter

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses the history of preaching, focusing on the Apostle Peter’s preaching style in the book of Acts. The lecture highlights how Peter preached boldly, biblically, pointedly, commandingly, and prophetically, emphasizing the importance of delivering sermons with authority, conviction, and a foundation in Scripture.

Lecture 8: The Preaching of Stephen, Phillip & James

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses the powerful and biblical preaching of Stephen in the book of Acts. It highlights the importance of having the power of the Holy Spirit and, a deep knowledge of the Bible in preaching and emphasizes the need to preach convictingly to the heart of the listener.

Lecture 9: The Preaching of Paul I

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson focuses on the preaching of Apostle Paul as a significant figure in the history of preaching, emphasizing that it was God who sovereignly appointed Paul to preach the gospel. Paul’s preaching, characterized by its immediate, courageous, didactic, and bold nature, serves as a model for preachers, reminding them that only God can make a true preacher and that they must be courageous and persistent in the face of opposition.

Lecture 10: The Preaching of Paul II

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson focuses on the history of preaching, specifically examining the Apostle Paul’s teachings in the New Testament. Key passages in the epistles highlight the importance of preaching Jesus Christ with fervency, authority, and passion while admonishing and teaching every person with wisdom to achieve spiritual maturity. The lecture also emphasizes the labor and striving involved in preaching, which can only be accomplished through God’s power working within the preacher.

Lecture 11: The Preaching of Paul III

In this lecture on the history of preaching focuses on the Apostle Paul and his message to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-5, highlighting the importance of expository preaching. Paul’s last words emphasize the urgency and responsibility of preaching the Word of God, and the lecture outlines eight imperative verbs that detail how to effectively preach the Word.

Lecture 12: The Preaching of Hebrews

This lecture on the history of preaching focuses on the book of Hebrews, highlighting the importance of expository preaching that emphasizes the superiority of Christ, the necessity of faith, and the urgency to respond immediately to the Gospel. The speaker encourages preachers to convey the immediacy of belief in Christ and to stress the entirety of faith, engaging the mind, emotions, and will in a decisive commitment to Christ.

Lecture 13: The Preaching of John

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson covers the role of preaching in the history of Christianity and the Bible, highlighting the importance of preaching in conveying God’s message. It discusses how the Apostle John, as an eyewitness of Jesus Christ, preached the Son of God, the holiness of God, and the truth of God, and how the book of Revelation emphasizes the importance of preachers and congregations in hearing and heeding God’s word.

Tab 2

Section 02

What is Preaching?

Lecture 14: What is Preaching I

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson introduces the concept of preaching and emphasizes that it must be expository, meaning that it originates in the Bible and is focused on interpreting and applying Scripture. Additionally, preaching should be energetic, engaging listeners with fervency, intensity, and urgency rather than being a bland or boring presentation of the truth.

Lecture 15: What is Preaching II

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson emphasizes the importance of expository preaching that is energetic, exegetic, exaltation, and experiential. Dr. Lawson highlights that preaching should focus on presenting the greatness of God, address the whole person (mind, affections, and will), and connect the ancient world of the Bible with the contemporary world of the listener, making the message relevant for daily life.

Lecture 16: What is Preaching III

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson emphasizes the importance of preaching with deep conviction and empathy, drawing from biblical examples such as Jesus and the Apostle Paul. The preacher must be both emphatic in their belief of the Scripture’s truth and empathetic towards their audience, showing genuine love and compassion for them.

Lecture 17: What is Preaching IV

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses the importance of seventeen distinguishing marks of biblical preaching, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of preaching. Dr. Lawson has covered nine marks so far and introduces three more in this session: edifying, encouraging, and engaging, all of which play vital roles in effective preaching that strengthens and supports listeners in their faith.

Lecture 18: What is Preaching V

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson emphasizes that true preaching should equip and exhort believers, providing them with the tools they need to carry out their ministries and urging them to respond to the truth. The preacher’s role is to train, counsel, and equip believers to effectively serve God and face life’s challenges while also persuading and compelling them to make decisions and commitments based on the teachings.

Lecture 19: What is Preaching VI

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses the importance of evangelistic preaching in Christianity, emphasizing that all true preaching should have a gospel component that calls people to commit their lives to Christ. The lecture cites Jesus’ own preaching style as the ultimate example for preachers, with a focus on repentance, discipleship, and the choice between two gates, two paths, and two destinies.

Tab 3

Module 03

The Mechanics of an Expository Sermon

Lecture 20: The Mechanics of a Sermon I

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson focuses on the process of preparing a biblical sermon, emphasizing the importance of understanding the various components and their relationships within a sermon. It outlines the stages of sermon preparation, including acquiring foundational knowledge, personal preparation, and the evaluation of the audience and context.

Lecture 21: The Mechanics of a Sermon II

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses various approaches to expository preaching, including sequential, sectional, representative, biographical, and topical exposition. Dr. Lawson emphasizes the importance of understanding the context and literary unit of the passage being preached, as well as reading the passage multiple times for better comprehension and connection.

Lecture 22: The Mechanics of a Sermon III

This lecture focuses on the interpretation stage of creating a biblical sermon, emphasizing the importance of understanding the literal approach, literary genre, linguistic meaning, historical background, geographical setting, central theme, literary devices, cross-references, and authorial intent of a passage. Dr. Lawson then recommends consulting study Bibles, commentaries, and systematic theologies for further insight before crafting the sermon.

Lecture 23: The Mechanics of a Sermon IV

This lecture discusses the advantages of writing and using a sermon manuscript, emphasizing that it forces careful study, deliberate thought, and structured organization. Dr. Lawson also highlights the importance of explaining the meaning of the text, considering doctrinal and practical implications, and writing in a conversational style for the listener.

Lecture 24: The Mechanics of a Sermon V

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses the importance of creating a strong introduction and conclusion for a sermon. He outlines five things to keep in mind when creating an introduction, including creating interest and stating the main idea, and three areas to address in the conclusion: the mind, the heart, and the will. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of giving the sermon a strong title for identification purposes.

Lecture 25: The Mechanics of a Sermon VI

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses practical guides for powerful preaching, focusing on three main points: preach with humility, preach with authority, and preach with clarity and simplicity. It emphasizes the importance of preaching from the authority of Scripture and being clear and easy to understand in order to effectively communicate the message.

Lecture 26: The Mechanics of a Sermon VII

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses important keys in delivering a powerful sermon, including preaching with intensity, urgency, variety, and accuracy. He emphasizes the importance of being narrowly focused on the passage and the people, having a deep conviction in what you are preaching, and conveying a sense of urgency to the listeners. Additionally, he suggests varying your voice, vocabulary, and gestures and being mindful of choosing specific and relevant words.

Lecture 27: The Mechanics of a Sermon VIII

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson discusses practical ways for preachers to improve their preaching, including sitting under great preaching, listening to great preaching, reading great preaching, transcribing great preaching, learning from several preachers, and preaching as much as possible. He emphasizes the importance of continuously striving to improve and learn and encourages preachers to diversify their influences and to get as much practice as possible.

Lecture 28: The Final Charge

In this lecture, Dr. Lawson charges preachers to follow God’s command to Joshua in Joshua 1:7-8, to be strong and courageous, to carefully follow the law, and to not turn from it. They must preach the Word of God with authority and conviction, meditate on it day and night, and be lifelong students of the Word to fulfill God’s plan for success wherever they go.

your instructor

Dr. Steven J. Lawson

Dr. Steven J. Lawson is President and founder of OnePassion Ministries—and has dedicated his life to help biblical expositors bring about a new reformation in the church.

Meet Your Instructor

Dr. Steven J. Lawson is President and founder of OnePassion Ministries—and has dedicated his life to help biblical expositors bring about a new reformation in the church.

testimonials

What Other Expositors are Saying about Steve Lawson’s Ministry.

RC. Sproul

Founder of Ligonier Ministries

“Like a master builder, Steve Lawson gives us the foundation of Jesus’s own words to erect a frame showing the costs, demands, gains, and losses of following Christ. In doing so, Dr. Lawson gives us a strong and firm edifice that brings glory to Him and His truth. “

Paul Washer

Founder & Missions Director of HeartCry Missionary Society

“Dr. Lawson preaches with a tenacious grip on the Scripture and a pastor’s heart that longs for the salvation of the lost and the edification of the church.”

John MacArthur

Chancellor of Master’s Seminary

“No one surpasses Steve Lawson’s ability to distill rich truths from the text of Scripture and communicate them with eloquent clarity and warm affection. In fact, Steve’s preaching, like Paul’s epistles, is full of contagious passion. His writing is notable for its compelling readability. His insights are profound and eye-opening. You will be edified and encouraged.”

Derek Thomas

Teaching Fellow at Ligonier Ministries

“Steve Lawson is a force of nature. His preaching and writing have touched tens of thousands of lives.”

Adrian Rogers

“Steve Lawson is a gifted communicator who has soaked himself in the Word of God.”

Sinclair Ferguson

Teaching Fellow at Ligonier Ministries

“Steven Lawson’s hallmark is passion for the gospel. It spills over into a contagious enthusiasm for others who share his passion.”

pricing

Enrollment Pricing

If you are not able to afford the academy, we still welcome your application. Tuition assistance may be available.

The Expositors Academy: One Time Payment

$399

If you would like to pay for the entire course up front, this is the option for you.

Apply Now
The Expositors Academy: 3 Monthly Payments

$133

Need to spread out the cost? This plan divides the charge into three separate payments.

Apply Now
The Expositors Academy: Gift One, Get One

$499

Purchase course access for yourself at a discount, and give one to an aspiring expositor who can’t afford it.

Apply Now
FAQS

Common Questions

Who is this course for?

The Academy for Expository Preaching exists to equip and refine the skill of men called by God to fulfill the lofty task of preaching. There is no higher calling than to proclaim the very Word of the living God. The gravity of this task requires that such men strive to improve their preaching of God’s Word so that they may preach more accurately, passionately, and effectively. To that end The Academy for Expository Preaching has been founded to strengthen God’s heralds, for God’s glory.

Am I required to purchase any additional materials?

Yes, you will be required to purchase the following books:
1: Between Two Worlds, John Stott (Eerdmans:2017)
2: Called to Preach, Steve J. Lawson (Baker Books: 2022)
3: Preaching and Preachers, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Zondervan 2012)

Does The Academy for Expository Preaching require me to submit any assignments?

Yes, this program is designed to engage you and require you to complete several assignments that you will be graded on.

Those assignments include:
– Three multiple choice quizzes on the required readings
– 50 Observations of Romans 5:6-11
– A Preaching Manuscript on Romans 5:6-11
– A Recorded Sermon on Romans 5:6-11

Is there an expected time to finish the program?

Yes, it is expected that you complete this program in 12 weeks.
It is important for a preacher to be able to complete tasks by their deadlines. However you will have lifetime access to the content and the program.

What will I receive for completing the course?

All students who complete all of the lectures and assignemnts with an 80% or higher within 12 weeks will receive a signed certificate of completion by Dr. Steven J Lawson mailed to their address.