Is that what the text is trying to say?

The goal of expository preaching is to go verse by verse and say what the Bible says and explain it's importance and any possible current application.
A.) Read the text
B.) Why it mattered then (explain context if possible)
c.) Why is it important for us today

Now, I can't speak for anyone else, but when I am preaching I read those types of verses and say something like, "Ok, just so you know the context of the discussion Jesus is having with (insert person's name or identifier here) the person was crossing the street." Now, if there is something in the passage that supports a reason, maybe it is apparent that Fred was out looking for Jesus, I will mention that. If there does not appear to be a reason, I simply use it as setting the stage or context and move on. If God did not feel the need for us to know why Fred crossed the street there is little reason for me to try to explain it.

 

BTW, having the conviction that every verse is God inspired and there for a reason, like I do, can be a challenge for the very reason presented in your OP. It is very tempting to try to explain why some tidbit of information is there. It is good because it can make us dig deeper. It is bad because sometimes we don't want to let it go and we get distracted by a rabbit trail. We have to be able to say, "God put this in for a reason. I believe that with all my heart. However, concerning (insert phrase here) I do not know what that reason is."

It is possible that as we continue to study we may come across something in another passage or maybe someone else will offer an idea that may help us.

We must always be willing to admit we don't know or understand something. We must always be learning.

 

True exegesis would include learning the historical context, as well as literary context, of a given passage.

Who was the audience of the Gospel of Matthew?
Why would the genealogy be important to them?
Why is it important to us?
Why is it different than the one listed in Luke?

That last question leads us to ask the same questions of Luke.

These lists are important.
What prophecies must be fulfilled in Christ concerning the Messiah and His family tree?

Do you understand why names are important? Do you understand the place names have in the Jewish culture? How would this impact their understanding of God when we consider the names(and therefor rolls and attributes) of God?

There is a LOT here! I have barely begun to study these things. Some people devote years of their lives to just these few things. What is important for us this evening, or on an average Sunday morning, is to see them as important and have a brief understanding of why.

 

I have seen text stretching too just to make a sermon sound good. That is pride and filled with ego. If a person has studied when then he will deliver a massage filled with information that lends itself to a clear understanding of the text.

 

Dr.,

I don't know if you use e-sword Bible software or not. It's a free Bible program @ www.e-sword.net and free modules for it are available @ www.biblesupport.net.

Here is an exegeses Bible module, also free. Perhaps it could be one little tool in your arsenal. Here is the Bible @ http://www.biblesupport.com/e-sword-downloads/file/2663-exegeses-ready-research-bible-errbbblxexe/

You have to register at the site to get the free modules.

- Peace

 

I noticed the same thing many many years ago when a pastor of mine preached through 1 Peter.

I heard many motivational sermons about particular words and doctrines but in the end I had no idea what Peter's message to us was.

Verse-by-verse exposition is fine as long as a paragraph-by-paragraph or thought-by-though exposition follows along with it.

Follow the author's intent to the audience he was writing to.

Only after the original intent of the scripture has been made clear can a preacher begin to relate the message and apply it to today's problems.

Rob