Expositors Collective

In this episode, Clay and Mike reminisce about their Bible College days with their former Dean of Men, Pastor Sean Houseman. What begins with shared memories quickly develops into an encouraging and challenging conversation about teaching and preaching sacred Scripture with wisdom, patience, and humility.
Drawing on years of pastoral experience, Sean reflects on how the Bible actually works as a book, cautioning against flattening all passages into proverb-like statements. Together, they explore how Scripture often unfolds like a treasure map, building its points carefully and leading readers toward conclusions over time, rather than offering instant answers.
The conversation also touches on the subtle temptations faced by Bible teachers, including the pressure to appear especially spiritual, and the importance of being who God has actually made us to be rather than performing for others.
This episode was originally released in October 2018 and remains a helpful listen for anyone involved in teaching, preaching, or simply wanting to handle God’s word more faithfully.

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In this episode of the Expositors Collective, Mike Neglia sits down with Pastor Bob Hiller to explore the essential distinction between preaching the Law and preaching the Gospel. Drawing from his experience at Community Lutheran Church, Bob discusses the preacher's primary task: to "hand over the goods" by actively proclaiming the forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus
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A Note on this Recording
This episode was originally recorded and released in December 2020 As you listen, you will notice references to the unique challenges of that time, including discussions regarding social distancing and masks. While the cultural context reflects the peak of the pandemic, the theological insights regarding homiletics and the proclamation of Christ remain as relevant today as ever.
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Episode Highlights
• Handing Over the Goods: Bob Hiller defines the core of the Gospel as the literal delivery of God's forgiveness to the listener.
• The Law and the Gospel: Understanding the functional difference between God’s requirements (the Law) and His gift of grace (the Gospel).
• Pastoral Perspective: Insights from Bob’s ministry at Community Lutheran Church in Escondido, California.
• Face-to-Face Proclamation: A friendly, deep-dive conversation on how to ensure Jesus is the centre of every message.
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Key Takeaways for Preachers
• Focus on Forgiveness: Preaching is not merely sharing information; it is the act of proclaiming the forgiveness of sins.
• Clarity in Mission: The goal of the expositor is to ensure the "goods" of the Gospel are clearly handed over to the congregation.
• Timeless Truths: Despite the time-bound nature of the original 2020 recording, the necessity of distinguishing between Law and Gospel is a foundational pillar of biblical preaching.

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Dr Don Sunukjian has devoted his life to the craft of preaching, both in the pulpit and in the classroom. With doctoral training in theology and communication, along with 21 years of experience as a senior pastor, he brings together rigorous scholarship and real pastoral wisdom. He now serves as Professor Emeritus of Christian Ministry and Leadership at Biola University.
In this conversation, Don joins Mike Neglia to talk about oral clarity in preaching and why vivid, real-life examples are essential for establishing relevance. Together, they explore how preachers can communicate biblical truth with accuracy, interest, and persuasive force, helping listeners not only understand the message but feel its weight.
Dr Sunukjian has made significant contributions to the field of homiletics and biblical studies, writing for resources such as The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Biblical Preaching, Bibliotheca Sacra, Walvoord: A Tribute, and The Big Idea of Biblical Preaching. He has led pastors’ conferences across the United States and continues to maintain an active preaching ministry.
This re-released conversation remains a timely reminder that faithful preaching requires both careful preparation and thoughtful communication.

Recommended Resources
An Invitation to Biblical Preaching : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/442010.Invitation_to_Biblical_Preaching
How Don Sunukjian Preaches (Homiletix) : https://homiletix.com/don-sunukjian-how-i-preach/ 
Biblical Sermons (Baker Academic) : https://bakeracademic.com/products/9781540967916_biblical-preaching

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Recorded at the Expositors Collective gathering in Longmont, Colorado, this panel discussion helps pastors and Bible teachers think carefully about how Scripture has been understood, preserved, and proclaimed throughout church history, and why those distinctions still matter for ministry today.
The conversation begins with practical clarity around the Apocrypha. The panel explains what the Apocryphal books are, how they relate to the biblical canon, and why pastors should understand their historical role without confusion or alarmism. Rather than treating the topic as merely academic, the speakers show how these questions directly affect pastoral confidence and congregational trust.
From there, the discussion broadens to the role of church councils in defining and guarding Christian doctrine. Listeners are reminded that the core beliefs of the faith were not invented late, but carefully articulated in response to real theological challenges. Even historical heresies, the panel argues, served the church by forcing clarity about what Christians believe and why.
A major emphasis throughout the session is the importance of distinguishing teaching from preaching. The panel explores why Bible studies should prioritise understanding rather than monologue, and why sermons must move beyond explanation to proclamation. Pastors are encouraged to be clear about their aim in each context, recognising that clarity serves both faithfulness and fruitfulness.
The conversation also calls pastors to humility, urging them to learn from faithful voices of the past rather than assuming novelty equals faithfulness. Church history is presented not as a museum of dead ideas, but as a living resource that strengthens discernment and safeguards the gospel.
The session concludes with a pastoral appeal for brokenhearted preachers who do more than convey information. The church does not merely need accurate teachers, but faithful proclaimers who handle the truth carefully and speak it with conviction, compassion, and love.

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In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Jeff Figgs offers a sober and deeply pastoral charge drawn from Paul’s final words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:10-11. Speaking from decades of ministry experience, Jeff reminds listeners that Christian leadership is ultimately measured not by recognition or platform, but by faithfulness, character, and endurance.
Jeff serves as Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Greeley, where he has faithfully taught verse-by-verse through all 66 books of the Bible over the past 28 years. Ordained in 1992, he began the church in 1996 with a small Bible study that grew into a thriving congregation. He also hosts the radio programme Under the Fig Tree, co-hosts Calvary Live on GraceFM Colorado, and serves as a chaplain for the Weld County Sheriff’s Office. That long obedience in ministry gives particular weight to this exhortation.
The session is set in the context of Paul’s final imprisonment in Rome. Knowing that his life is drawing to a close, Paul writes to Timothy, his “son in the faith,” warning that the last days will be perilous times. Paul describes a culture marked by misdirected love, counterfeit spirituality, and people who are always learning but never arriving at the truth. Against that backdrop, Paul draws a sharp contrast: “But you have carefully followed…”
From there, Jeff walks through the qualities Timothy had observed firsthand in Paul.
First, doctrine. Timothy had carefully followed Paul’s teaching from the time he joined him in Lystra on the second missionary journey. Sound doctrine is shown to be essential, not optional. Drawing from Acts 20 and 2 Timothy 2:15, Jeff emphasises diligent study, faithful preparation, and rightly dividing the Word of truth. Congregations, he notes, can tell when the hard work has been done, and the goal is not to impress with humour or stories, but to leave people saying, “We heard from God.”
Second, manner of life. Paul does not only point to what he taught, but how he lived. This unique phrase highlights the inseparable connection between message and messenger. Referencing passages such as 1 Corinthians 11:1 and Acts 20:18, Jeff stresses that a godly message must come from a godly life. The call is searching and personal: to be the same person outside the pulpit as inside it, so that those closest to us would never say, “Not you, pastor.”
Third, purpose. Ministry is framed as stewardship rather than self-promotion. Faithfulness, not fame, is the true measure of success. Jeff reflects on the seasons of ministry that shape character over time, including suffering, grief, discouragement, and perseverance. He urges leaders to maintain a genuine devotional life, not merely study for sermons, reminding listeners that we cannot lead others where we ourselves are not walking.
Throughout the session, one theme remains clear: godly character matters because we carry a godly message. In a world of perilous times and noisy voices, light does not argue, it is seen. Faithful ministry flows from lives shaped by the Word of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, and marked by humility, love, endurance, and integrity.
This episode is a timely reminder that the church does not primarily need famous leaders, but faithful ones, men and women who will handle the Scriptures carefully and live them visibly, for the sake of the next generation.

Jeff Figgs in 2019 on speech impediments, introversion and the call of God:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/3lirX6nlgYk1XDRHlIZsWM?si=515c1d9e1c7c4831

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