Preaching is not merely the proclamation of biblical truth; it is also a pastoral act that shapes the emotional and spiritual life of a congregation. Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) has been widely applied to leadership and church dynamics emphasizing the importance of a well-differentiated leader—one who remains steadfast in conviction while resisting the pull of congregational anxiety. As R. Robert Creech observes, “The well-defined family leader Bowen describes possesses qualities that, if used to describe a pastor, would powerfully shape the task of preaching” (Family Systems and Congregational Life, Baker, 2019, p. 70). Given the preacher’s central role in congregational life, his ability to maintain a non-anxious presence is crucial for leading with wisdom and stability.
This paper argues that Abraham Kuruvilla’s expository preaching paradigm, as articulated in A Manual for Preaching and Privilege the Text, provides a biblically grounded methodology that fosters pastoral self-differentiation. Kuruvilla writes, “Week by week, pericope by pericope, sermon by sermon, the community of God is progressively and increasingly (re)oriented to the will of God, gradually implementing covenant renewal” (Privilege the Text, p. 113). His concept of Christiconic preaching—wherein the theology of each pericope is carefully discerned and proclaimed—enables preachers to systematically present a vision of God’s character and redemptive work, grounding both preacher and congregation in biblical truth rather than reactive emotions.
By integrating Kuruvilla’s expository preaching approach with BFST principles, this paper demonstrates how preachers can cultivate resilience, lead with clarity, and shepherd their congregations without being destabilized by the anxieties of the system. This model offers a compelling vision for evangelical pastors who desire to preach faithfully while fostering spiritual and emotional maturity within their churches.