Topical Preaching

Definition and Meaning

Topical preaching is a method of preaching in which the preacher first selects a topic, such as faith, prayer, the family, or thanksgiving. The preacher then gathers Scripture passages related to that topic from various books of the Bible to build an argument. It is distinguished from expository preaching, which begins with a single biblical text and follows its flow. It also differs from textual preaching, which draws its main points from a short passage. Typically, the topic is divided into several main points, and each point is developed with supporting verses, illustrations, and application.

Biblical and Historical Background

Some homileticians cite Peter's sermon in Acts 2 as a precedent for topic-centered preaching. In this sermon, Peter wove together several passages from Joel and the Psalms to bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus. In the Middle Ages, the scholastic sermon developed, in which a single theme was divided into several branches and argued point by point. During the Reformation, Huldrych Zwingli and John Calvin emphasized continuous exposition (lectio continua), working through books of the Bible in order from beginning to end. Later, topic-centered structures were used in a variety of ways, including the doctrine-and-application sermons of the Puritans and the sermons calling for a decision at modern revival meetings.

Practice in Korean Churches

In Korean churches, the so-called "three-point sermon," which divides a topic into three main points, is reported to have long been in wide use. Even today, topical sermons tailored to the purpose of a particular occasion remain common in some settings, such as the following:

• Revival meetings
• Seasonal sermons following the church calendar
• Special services such as Thanksgiving and dedication services
• Ceremonies such as wedding services and funeral services

Denominations rarely prescribe sermon forms in their constitutions or regulations. As a result, differences tend to reflect seminary traditions and individual preachers more than denominational affiliation. Among some Presbyterians who emphasize the Reformed tradition, there is a strong tendency to prioritize expository preaching. In churches that follow a lectionary (a list that assigns the passages to be read each Sunday according to the church calendar), many sermons begin from the appointed text.

Assessments of topical preaching are divided. Proponents of expository preaching contend that topical preaching risks quoting only those verses that suit the preacher's ideas, detached from their context. Advocates of topical preaching regard it as well suited to teaching doctrine systematically and to addressing the real-life problems that congregants face. They also argue that it can be fully biblical preaching if the context of each verse is respected. Meanwhile, under the influence of the New Homiletic and narrative preaching, there have also been attempts to move away from the point-centered structure itself.