Narcigesis or Exegesis?

Recovering Christ-Centered, Word-Driven

Preaching in a Self-Centered Age

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” - 2 Corinthians 4:5

Has The Bible Become a Mirror Instead of a Window?

There is a subtle drift happening in many pulpits today. It rarely announces itself loudly. It doesn’t deny inspiration or reject authority outright. It often still uses the Bible, sometimes extensively. But instead of drawing truth out of the text, the preacher quietly reads himself and the hearers into the text.

The technical term for faithful preaching is exegesis, which means drawing out what God has put in. The growing counterfeit is narcigesis, to read oneself into the text. Exegesis asks, “What does this text say about God, Christ, sin, salvation, and obedience?” Narcigesis asks, “How does this text talk about me, my story, my struggle, my feelings, my platform?”

One produces Christ-exalting preaching. The other produces self-affirming talks with Bible verses attached.

This lesson is a call to pastors, teachers, and ministry leaders to recover preaching in which Christ is the hero, Scripture is the authority, and the preacher and the listener are stewards, not stars.

Defining the Terms

Exegesis

• Drawing meaning out of the text

• Rooted in authorial intent

• Governed by grammar, context, and theology

• Leads to Christ, not self

• Submits the preacher to the Word

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15

Narcigesis

• Reading meaning into the text

• Centers personal experience over divine revelation

• Uses Scripture as illustration rather than authority

• Makes the preacher or listener the hero

• Subordinates Scripture to felt needs

Narcigesis doesn’t usually deny Christ, but it certainly demotes Him.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

We are preaching in:

• a therapeutic culture that values feelings over truth

• a celebrity culture that rewards personality over faithfulness

• a consumer church culture that asks, “Did I like it?” rather than “Was God honored?”

If pastors are not careful, we will raise a generation that knows how to feel inspired but does not know how to think biblically, repent deeply, or worship reverently.

Seven Differences Between Christ-Centered, Word-Driven

Preaching and Narcigesis

I. Christ-Centered Preaching Exalts a Savior; Man-Centered Preaching Elevates Self.

Christ-centered preaching answers the question: “Who is Jesus, and what has He done?”

Man-centered preaching answers: “How can this sermon help me succeed, cope, or feel better?”

The Bible does not exist to make us feel important; it exists to make Christ glorious. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” - John 12:32

When Christ is lifted up:

• sinners are humbled

• saints are strengthened

• God is glorified

When self is lifted up:

• sermons become motivational

• conviction is minimized

• the cross is softened

If Christ is not the hero of the sermon, He has been replaced by someone who cannot save.

II. Exegesis Submits the Preacher to the Text; Narcigesis Subjugates the Text to the Preacher.

Faithful preaching begins with submission: “What does the text say, regardless of how I feel about it?”

Narcigesis begins with preference: “What do I want to say and how can this verse support it?”

“Thus saith the LORD”, this statement appears over 400 times in Scripture!

The authority of preaching does not come from:

• passion

• charisma

• storytelling ability

• relatability

It comes from submission to God’s revealed Word.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” -  2 Timothy 3:16

When the preacher bows to the text, the congregation learns to do the same.

III. Christ-Centered Preaching Interprets Scripture Through Redemption; Man-Centered Preaching Filters It Through Experience.

The Bible is not a collection of self-help stories; it is one unified story of redemption.

From Genesis to Revelation:

• Christ is promised

• Christ is pictured

• Christ is proclaimed

• Christ is preeminent

“Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”- Luke 24:27

Narcigesis treats biblical characters as:

• moral examples only

• mirrors of modern struggle

• therapeutic case studies

Exegesis asks:

• How does this text reveal Christ?

• How does it point to the cross?

• How does it shape obedience flowing from redemption?

If Christ is not central, application becomes moralism instead of worship-driven obedience.

IV. Word-Driven Preaching Produces Conviction and Conversion; Man-Driven Preaching Produces Affirmation and Applause.

The Word of God is not designed merely to encourage; it is designed to expose, confront, and transform.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…” - Hebrews 4:12

Christ-centered preaching:

• wounds before it heals

• humbles before it lifts

• kills pride before it builds faith

Man-centered preaching:

• avoids offense

• minimizes sin

• prioritizes response over repentance

A sermon that never confronts sin cannot fully comfort the sinner.

V. Christ-Centered Preaching Forms Disciples; Narcegetical Preaching Forms Dependents

When pastors preach the Word faithfully:

• believers learn how to read Scripture

• families grow spiritually at home

• churches mature doctrinally

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro…”- Ephesians 4:14

Narcigesis creates:

• sermon-dependent Christians

• emotion-driven faith

• shallow biblical literacy

Christ-centered preaching teaches people how to think, not just how to feel.

Our goal is not to create fans of preaching, but followers of Christ.

VI. Christ-Centered Preaching Produces Worship; Man-Centered Preaching Produces Consumption.

True preaching does not ask: “Did they like it?” It asks: “Did they see God more clearly?”

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” - Psalm 95:6

When preaching becomes about:

• relevance alone

• engagement alone

• humor alone

It subtly trains the church to consume religious content rather than worship a holy God.

Worship is the proper response when Christ is clearly revealed.

VII. Faithful Exegesis Prepares the Church for Eternity; Narcigesis Prepares Them Only for the Moment.

The pulpit is not an entertainment platform; it is an eternal trust.

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ… Preach the word.” - 2 Timothy 4:1–2

Christ-centered preaching:

• prepares believers to suffer

• strengthens faith for trials

• anchors hope beyond this life

Man-centered preaching:

• struggles when culture shifts

• collapses under persecution

• leaves people unprepared for hardship

A church fed on Christ can endure anything. A church fed on self will crumble when self fails.

A Final Pastoral Charge

Pastor, the pressure to perform is real. The pull to be relatable is strong. The temptation to preach what works instead of what is true is constant.

But hear this clearly:

The church does not need more personality; it needs more presence.

It does not need more creativity; it needs more clarity.

It does not need more self-help; it needs more Jesus!

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” - John 3:30

Choose exegesis over narcigesis. Choose Christ over self. Choose faithfulness over fame.

Because when Christ is rightly preached, souls are saved, saints are strengthened, and God is glorified. And that, now and eternally, is enough!