Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation

The life of the preacher matters, and in this searching message Dr Alan Stoddard calls Bible teachers back to integrity, honesty, holiness, and the fear of God.
Originally delivered at an Expositors Collective training event in St Petersburg, Florida in 2025, this episode addresses one of the most urgent questions facing pastors and ministry leaders today: what kind of person should stand before God’s people and handle God’s Word?
Alan speaks candidly about a church culture that has been painfully shaken by moral failure, abuse scandals, celebrity pastor collapses, plagiarism, hidden compromise, and failures of accountability. But this is not a message of cynicism or despair. It is a call to recover the fear of God, to live above reproach, and to remember that effective expository teaching flows from a life, not merely a process.
Drawing from 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and the values of the Expositors Collective, Alan argues that preaching happens through the personality of the preacher, and that personality must be shaped by a real relationship with God. The preacher must not only explain Scripture accurately, but be formed by Scripture deeply.
In this message, Alan highlights eight traits that should mark those who handle the Word of God: grace-filled, honest, secure, hard-working, bold, zealous, teachable, and sympathetic. He speaks directly about sermon plagiarism, the temptation to rely on artificial shortcuts, the need to write our own sermons, the courage to preach difficult texts, and the importance of proclaiming the gospel boldly without chasing celebrity, eloquence, or applause.
For pastors, Bible teachers, small group leaders, and anyone entrusted with the ministry of the Word, this episode is a timely reminder: preach grace, but live as someone changed by grace; teach holiness, but do not become harsh or judgmental; proclaim the Word, but stand under it first.

For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com 

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Preach Small: Faithfulness, Creation, and Church Planting
In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Mike speaks with Seth Lewis, pastor of Carrigtwohill Baptist Church in County Cork, Ireland, about the quiet and often hidden work of faithful ministry.
Seth reflects on preaching during the first year of a church plant, the temptation to measure ministry by visible size or immediate results, and the importance of aiming our ambitions towards the things that matter to God. Drawing from his book Dream Small: The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life, Seth encourages preachers and church leaders to pay attention to the small acts of faithfulness that often go unseen, but are deeply significant in the kingdom of God.
The conversation also explores Seth’s second book, The Language of Rivers and Stars: How Nature Speaks of the Glories of God, and how the created world can help preachers read Scripture with fresh attention. Seth discusses the way Jesus used ordinary things - seeds, birds, fields, bread, water, and weather - to reveal profound truths about God, and how modern preachers can learn to see the world as a rich source of theological reflection and sermon illustration.
Whether you are preaching in a new church plant, serving in an ordinary and unnoticed place, or seeking to grow in your personal study and public proclamation of God’s Word, this conversation is an invitation to embrace the small, attend to creation, and preach with patient faithfulness.
Seth Lewis is pastor of Carrigtwohill Baptist Church in County Cork, Ireland. He and his wife Jessica have three children, a turtle, and a small garden. Seth is the author of Dream Small: The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life and The Language of Rivers and Stars: How Nature Speaks of the Glories of God. He also writes weekly at sethlewis.ie.

Upcoming Training Weekend

May 15th-16th, 2026 at Reliance Church in Temecula, California
Take advantage of early bird pricing until April 26th – only $140 per person!
Register Today!

The Expositors Collective is a network of pastors, leaders, and laypeople which exists to equip, encourage, and mentor the next generation of Christ-centered preachers. 
What to expect:
In this interactive training weekend, attendees will hear insightful lectures, participate in Q&A panels, meet in small groups with a seasoned mentor, build ongoing relationships, and participate in a studying/teaching practicum.

Who should attend:
Christ-following men and women of all ages, ministry experience, and church backgrounds who are students of Scripture and desire to grow as teachers of the Word. Whether you’re a regular Bible teacher or have never taught the Bible in a public setting before, this training weekend offers invaluable tools to equip you in your journey.

Connect

Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective

In this episode, Jonny Pollock joins Mike Neglia to reflect on preaching and pastoral ministry in small and rural church contexts. Jonny is the pastor of Calvary Church Loughrea, a church plant in a small town in County Galway, Ireland, which began in 2017 when he and his family relocated there to begin the work.
After an initial season of prayer and Bible study, the church began gathering for Sunday worship in 2018. Since then, the focus has remained simple and intentional: sharing the Gospel through the Word of God, while also sharing life together as a community shaped by God’s grace.

Drawing from that context, Jonny shares lessons from early preaching, the challenges of communicating with people who have little or no church background, and the importance of staying grounded in the care of souls rather than platform or visibility.

The conversation explores how to make biblical teaching accessible without diluting its depth, why new believers often ask the most insightful questions, and how intentional convictions shape the culture of a church. Throughout, Jonny and Mike return to a central conviction: we are not here to impress people, but to faithfully care for souls.

Jonny is also the author of How to Pray and How to Read the Bible, short and practical resources designed to help new believers engage with the foundations of the Christian life. He writes regularly on church planting, leadership, and mission in post-Christian contexts.

Learn more from Jonny:
Substack: jonnypollockwrites.substack.com
X: @jonnypollock 

Upcoming Training Weekend

May 15th-16th, 2026 at Reliance Church in Temecula, California
Take advantage of early bird pricing until April 26th – only $140 per person!
Register Today!

The Expositors Collective is a network of pastors, leaders, and laypeople which exists to equip, encourage, and mentor the next generation of Christ-centered preachers. 
What to expect:
In this interactive training weekend, attendees will hear insightful lectures, participate in Q&A panels, meet in small groups with a seasoned mentor, build ongoing relationships, and participate in a studying/teaching practicum.
Who should attend:
Christ-following men and women of all ages, ministry experience, and church backgrounds who are students of Scripture and desire to grow as teachers of the Word. Whether you’re a regular Bible teacher or have never taught the Bible in a public setting before, this training weekend offers invaluable tools to equip you in your journey.

Connect
Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective

What does success in church planting actually look like?
In this special crossover episode between the Expositors Collective and Cultivate podcasts, Mike Neglia speaks with Brian Kelly about the realities of planting and pastoring a church. Brian brings over twenty years of experience in church planting and mission work across East Africa, New Zealand, and the United States, along with firsthand involvement in multiple church plants and sending many others into ministry.
Together they discuss the weight that comes with planting a church, why the language of “planting” is a better metaphor than a startup model, and how pastors should think more like gardeners than entrepreneurs. Drawing on insights from The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision for Ministry by Matthew Erickson, the conversation explores the slow, patient work of cultivating spiritual growth in a church community.
They also talk about the importance of planting teams, the role of families in ministry, the perseverance required to stay the course, and how initiatives like Cultivate seek to train, mentor, and support new church planters.
Whether you are planting a church, pastoring an existing congregation, or preparing for future ministry, this conversation offers wisdom, realism, and encouragement about what faithful ministry really looks like.
Find out more about Cultivate here: https://cultivatechurchplanting.com/

Upcoming Training Weekend

May 15th-16th, 2026 at Reliance Church in Temecula, California
Take advantage of early bird pricing until April 26th – only $140 per person!
Register Today!

The Expositors Collective is a network of pastors, leaders, and laypeople which exists to equip, encourage, and mentor the next generation of Christ-centered preachers. 
What to expect:
In this interactive training weekend, attendees will hear insightful lectures, participate in Q&A panels, meet in small groups with a seasoned mentor, build ongoing relationships, and participate in a studying/teaching practicum.
Who should attend:
Christ-following men and women of all ages, ministry experience, and church backgrounds who are students of Scripture and desire to grow as teachers of the Word. Whether you’re a regular Bible teacher or have never taught the Bible in a public setting before, this training weekend offers invaluable tools to equip you in your journey.

ConnectJoin our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective

Dr Jeffrey Arthurs joins Mike Neglia for a rich and encouraging conversation about preaching, courage, and the freedom that comes from fearing God rather than fearing people.
The discussionincludes a striking quotation from Puritan preacher William Gurnall:
"We fear men so much because we fear God so little. One fear cures the other."
That idea opens the door to a wide ranging conversation about the fear of man in ministry and how a deeper awareness of God reshapes the way we preach, lead, and serve.
Jeffrey Arthurs shares insights from decades of preaching, teaching, and mentoring preachers. Along the way he offers practical wisdom on understanding the people we preach to, communicating with clarity and specificity, and learning how different biblical genres should shape the way we proclaim Scripture.
In this conversation you will hear about:
The difference between fear of man and fear of the Lord in ministry
Why specificity makes preaching more powerful
The importance of understanding both the biblical context and the congregational context
Haddon Robinson’s Subject/Complement approach to sermon structure
The difference between feedback and feedforward when helping preachers grow
The hidden hope inside biblical lament
Why different literary genres in Scripture should influence our preaching style
Whether you are a seasoned preacher, a young Bible teacher, or someone who simply wants to communicate Scripture more clearly, this conversation is full of thoughtful encouragement and practical insight.

About Jeffrey Arthurs
Jeffrey D. Arthurs is Professor of Preaching and Communication at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. His passion is helping people proclaim the Word of God with clarity, faithfulness, and creativity.
His books include Preaching with Variety, Devote Yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture, and Preaching as Reminding. Before entering the classroom he served in a wide range of communication roles including pastor, missionary, announcer, and ministry consultant.

Upcoming Training Weekend

May 15th-16th, 2026 at Reliance Church in Temecula, California
Take advantage of early bird pricing until April 26th – only $120 per person!
Register Today!

The Expositors Collective is a network of pastors, leaders, and laypeople which exists to equip, encourage, and mentor the next generation of Christ-centered preachers. 
What to expect:
In this interactive training weekend, attendees will hear insightful lectures, participate in Q&A panels, meet in small groups with a seasoned mentor, build ongoing relationships, and participate in a studying/teaching practicum.

Who should attend:
Christ-following men and women of all ages, ministry experience, and church backgrounds who are students of Scripture and desire to grow as teachers of the Word. Whether you’re a regular Bible teacher or have never taught the Bible in a public setting before, this training weekend offers invaluable tools to equip you in your journey.

Connect
Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective