The Gospel Exposition - 1 Thessalonians 2:13

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” - 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    With the recent surge in social media outlets and ‘blogs’ I often encounter Christians who throw out a bible verse or two followed by a “Whoot-whoot!” And just as often I’m forced, by Christian reason and logic to question the motivation for such ‘Turrets-like utterances.” Does the speaker think, believe, or hope that spurting out such ostensibly ‘holy expressions’ will act like an effectual call to faith, repentance, and salvation upon unbelievers?
    Our Christian faith is not some trending pop-culture anomaly. True Christian faith is founded on rational exegesis of holy scripture and a fundamental understanding of Christian theology and doctrine. To obtain such an understanding requires that a person receive the holy word of God in a sound expository manner. Expository preaching has always been a vital part of our faith’s growth for over two milennia. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Romans 10:17.
    The great preachers throughout history from Luther and Calvin to Edwards and Whitfield to Spurgeon have always relied on expository preaching rather than charismatic outbursts. Our Lord, Jesus Christ taught the crowds using parables and speech designed to reach the ears and penetrate the hearts of those who would respond to the effectual call of the Holy Spirit.
    So the waving of arms, stutter-stepping to charismatic outbursts, and losing one’s self in the fervor of some mystical spiritual moment neither spreads the gospel nor converts unbelievers. It is merely the crowing of a rooster who believes he has the only view of the sunrise.
    Charles Spurgeon once wrote (and I paraphrase) that the Thessalonians received the gospel as God’s revealed word and as a result received it “with reverence of its divine character. With assurance of its infallibility. With obedience to its authority. With experience of its sacred power. They received it so it effectually worked in them. It was practical, efficient, and manifestly operative upon their lives and characters.” All this the Thessalonians received from the Holy Spirit inspired expository preaching of Paul.
    Hearing the word of God delivered in a reverent, well articulated, life-applicable and thoughtful manner not only brings new believers into the fold but also edifies those who are already children of God. The sudden rant of a bible passage, without explanation or reason does nothing to edify believers and serves only to push unbelievers even further from God. It is not enough to tell them; we must tell them why. May God always open your heart to His word.