Secrets of the Prince of Expositors: Applying the Bible Like Alexander MacLaren

Crowds thronged to hear Alexander Maclaren. Some tried to bribe the doormen for a seat, and extra chairs often had to be placed on stage next to the pulpit. What drew so many to travel to Manchester, England, to hear a preacher? Maclaren knew how to apply the text to real life. His dedication to expository preaching was unique in his day and even surpassed that of his friend Charles Haddon Spurgeon. His ministry remains as a needed model for today because countless congregants still see the Bible as stories with little or no relevance to their daily duties. Every Sunday people go to a Bible study, listen to a sermon, or read Scripture, and they leave without transforming any part of their lives. Despite consistently studying the Bible, some people show little difference between the way they act now and the way they acted years ago. This problem partially comes down to a lack of good biblical application coming from preachers and teachers of Scripture. Maclaren’s sermons as well as his essay “An Old Preacher on Preaching” teach expositors today how to make the Bible’s truths come alive and be applicable.