The Church’s Response
Expositional leadership is really important from a congregational level because there are going to be constant changes—not just in individual’s lives, but also in the life of the church. Some of those things are internally oriented, but some of them are external and we can’t foresee or help them. They just happen.
For instance, leading the church through a community tragedy like a tornado or a hurricane. Now you’re in a community that’s ravaged. What’s your church supposed to do? How are they supposed to respond not only in its own care and membership but to the community around it as it tries to minister through the gospel in times of hardship? Then beyond that, there are community tragedies that can happen through a high school shooting or other kinds of things that we see happening in our culture.
Expositional Leadership
R. Scott Pace, Jim Shaddix
This guide shows pastors how to simplify and strengthen their ministry work by integrating the three core aspects of their roles—leadership, preaching, and pastoring—through expository preaching ministries.
Expositional leadership is essential. In those moments, people are coming to church looking for answers to questions like, What does God want me to do in light of this? How should I respond?
And our responsibility is to give them the truth of God’s word by unfolding a passage, knowing that this is the timeless truth that will make a difference in your life, and collectively as a whole, give us guidance in what to do.
There can also be things like changes in congregational leadership or the loss of a pastor or pastor leaving. In walking through those seasons, there’s a variety of emotions and contexts where people are just struggling on a number of different levels. But the steady, consistent truth of God’s word through expositional leadership will guide them through those seasons too.
R. Scott Pace is coauthor with Jim Shaddix of Expositional Leadership: Shepherding God’s People from the Pulpit.
R. Scott Pace (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as provost and associate professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Preaching by the Book; Pastoral Theology; Exalting Jesus in Colossians & Philemon in the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series; and Calling Out the Called.
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