We bury ourselves in passages that overtly relate to daily living, and ignore those that don't. Early in my ministry, I made a conscious commitment to biblical preaching. After I've explained as clearly and accurately as possible the meaning of God's Word, then I exhort people to obey and apply it to their own lives. I am grateful to the Lord for the way He has used this exposi- tory approach in our church and in the lives of our radio listeners. But now and then someone tells me frankly that my preaching needs to be less doctrinal and more practical.
Practical application is vital.
I don't want to minimize its importance. In fact, nothing is more practical than sound doctrine. Too many Christians view doctrine as heady and theoretical. They have dismissed doctrinal passages as unimportant, divisive, threatening, or simply impractical. A best-selling Christian book I just read warns readers to be on guard against preachers whose emphasis is on interpreting Scripture rather than applying it.