What is an «expository» sermon?

An expository sermon is a sermon that takes the main idea from a passage of Scripture, makes it the main theme of the sermon, and applies it to modern life.

In other words, an expository sermon reveals the meaning of a passage of Scripture and shows its relevance to the lives of modern listeners. That's it.

This means that an expository sermon should NOT:

1. Focus on just one or two verses.
2. Present complex exegetical arguments or endless historical context.
3. To be dry, lifeless, or detached from people's real lives.
4. Confusing the main idea of a passage with any legitimate application of that passage (i.e., using the verse to say what you want).

Instead, an expository sermon should take a small, medium, or large passage of Scripture and show how important the original meaning of that passage is to the world today.