Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation

Preachers do not merely need to understand the gospel accurately. They need the gospel to function at the centre of their hearts, their sermons, their pastoral ministry, and their lives.
Mike Bullmore joins Mike Neglia to discuss his new book, The Heart of Preaching: The Functional Centrality of the Gospel in the Life and Work of the Preacher, published by 9Marks with a foreword by D. A. Carson. Drawing on 25 years as the founding and senior pastor of CrossWay Community Church in Bristol, Wisconsin, Bullmore reflects on how the gospel shapes sermon preparation, delivery, application, pastoral ministry, and the inner life of the preacher.
The conversation explores what it means for preaching to be governed by the content and intent of Scripture, why preachers must not separate divine and human authorial intent, and how to give people the full gospel rather than a reduced version of it. Bullmore also speaks about the mentors who shaped him up close, including John Piper, D. A. Carson, C. J. Mahaney, and Greg Waybright.
In the second half, Mike Neglia asks Bullmore for advice on preaching through the challenging book of Revelation. Bullmore offers wise counsel on moving forward with confidence, even when every interpretive question has not been settled.
Mike Bullmore holds a PhD from Northwestern University and now serves in various venues training the next generation of faithful pastors. He lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with his wife, Beverly.

The Heart of Preaching: The Functional Centrality of the Gospel in the Life and Work of the Preacher : https://www.crossway.org/books/the-heart-of-preaching-tpb/

For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com 

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Matt Shantz
Lead Pastor of Central Community Church in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, and host of the Deep Thoughts podcast.

When a preacher quotes someone from the pulpit, what are they actually endorsing? How do churches move beyond wishing for more Bible teachers to intentionally training them? And what kind of feedback has the power to reshape a preacher's ministry for decades? In this thoughtful and practical conversation, Mike Neglia sits down with Matt Shantz, Lead Pastor of Central Community Church in Chilliwack, British Columbia, and host of the Deep Thoughts podcast, to explore the questions that shape a lifetime of faithful preaching. Together they discuss the ethics of quoting voices outside our theological tradition, the sermon critique that pushed Matt toward greater gospel clarity, the surprising benefits of handwritten notes, and why preaching is often far more exhausting than most people realise. Matt also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Central Community Church identifies, trains, coaches, and releases new Bible teachers through initiatives like their Preaching Lab, creating a culture where developing communicators is part of the church's DNA. Whether you're preparing this Sunday's sermon, mentoring emerging preachers, or simply trying to grow in the craft and calling of Bible teaching, this conversation is filled with wisdom, humility, and practical encouragement for the long work of ministry.

Deep Thoughts Podcast: https://thedeepthoughtspodcast.wordpress.com/

For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com 

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A great sermon doesn’t begin with a microphone—it begins with a voice that has been forged in obscurity.  

In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Pastor Ryan Marr of Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg invites listeners behind the scenes of that often hidden process, tracing the slow, sometimes painful work of *finding your own teaching voice*. Far from offering quick tips or performance tricks, Marr insists that true preaching is where life and doctrine collide, producing a message that not only informs but transforms both preacher and hearer.

Drawing from the pastoral epistles and years in the pulpit, Marr describes the journey of discovering how God has uniquely wired you to communicate, then submitting that voice to scrutiny, feedback, and refinement. He urges teachers to ask unsettling questions—“Am I right on this topic? How can I grow?”—while relentlessly sharpening their words so that the **headline is always the story of Jesus**, not the personality of the preacher.

But the heart of his message is not technique; it’s dependence. Marr argues that the most compelling preaching comes when a flawed, still-learning teacher chooses to **listen to God’s voice**, relying on the Holy Spirit more than eloquence. Along the way, he speaks candidly about fear, conflict, and the vulnerability of saying hard things from the pulpit, and he makes a surprising claim: what people remember most is not a perfect outline, but a preacher who **genuinely enjoys God**.

For anyone on the long road of learning to teach the Bible—whether you’re nervously preparing your first sermon or refining your fiftieth—this episode offers a bracing, hopeful reminder: your voice is worth developing, not because it’s impressive, but because, in God’s hands, it can help others see Jesus more clearly.

For information about our upcoming training events visit ⁠ExpositorsCollective.com⁠ 

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

A great sermon doesn’t begin with a microphone—it begins with a voice that has been forged in obscurity.  

In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Pastor Ryan Marr of Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg invites listeners behind the scenes of that often hidden process, tracing the slow, sometimes painful work of *finding your own teaching voice*. Far from offering quick tips or performance tricks, Marr insists that true preaching is where life and doctrine collide, producing a message that not only informs but transforms both preacher and hearer.

Drawing from the pastoral epistles and years in the pulpit, Marr describes the journey of discovering how God has uniquely wired you to communicate, then submitting that voice to scrutiny, feedback, and refinement. He urges teachers to ask unsettling questions—“Am I right on this topic? How can I grow?”—while relentlessly sharpening their words so that the **headline is always the story of Jesus**, not the personality of the preacher.

But the heart of his message is not technique; it’s dependence. Marr argues that the most compelling preaching comes when a flawed, still-learning teacher chooses to **listen to God’s voice**, relying on the Holy Spirit more than eloquence. Along the way, he speaks candidly about fear, conflict, and the vulnerability of saying hard things from the pulpit, and he makes a surprising claim: what people remember most is not a perfect outline, but a preacher who **genuinely enjoys God**.

For anyone on the long road of learning to teach the Bible—whether you’re nervously preparing your first sermon or refining your fiftieth—this episode offers a bracing, hopeful reminder: your voice is worth developing, not because it’s impressive, but because, in God’s hands, it can help others see Jesus more clearly.

For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com 

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

What can Irish Presbyterianism teach the wider church about preaching? In this wide-ranging conversation, Mike Neglia sits down with his friend Rev Richie Cronin to discuss the craft, character, and calling of faithful ministry. Drawing from his experience in Irish Presbyterian circles, Richie reflects on the influences that shaped him, the books and mentors that formed him, and the lessons he has learned from years in the pulpit.
Along the way, the conversation explores everything from sermon preparation and delivery to feedback, vocal habits, reading, pastoral longevity, and the dangers of performing rather than simply preaching. Richie offers practical wisdom on avoiding the “preacher voice,” building better sermon transitions, developing as a communicator, and stewarding the opportunities that come with different seasons of ministry. He also reflects on the influence of Tim Keller, the strengths and weaknesses of experiential Calvinism, the role of law and gospel in preaching, and why many pastors would benefit from preaching shorter sermons.

The discussion touches on broader questions as well, including biblical leadership, complementarian convictions, artificial intelligence, and what people actually need from their pastors in an age of endless distractions and competing voices. Throughout the conversation, Richie consistently returns to a simple conviction: the church needs Christ, His Word, and faithful shepherds who are willing to keep showing up, keep studying, and keep preaching.

Recorded for the Expositors Collective Podcast, this episode offers practical encouragement for preachers, pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone seeking to grow in the lifelong task of communicating God's Word faithfully.

For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com 

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