methods such as spiritualizing and allegorizing the text are avoided. The preacher’s goal is to allow the text to stand forth in all its uniqueness and power. Text-driven preaching is driven by the text, not by theology. Theology serves the text, not the other way around. It is first the text, then theology. Biblical theology therefore precedes systematic theology. Text-driven preachers also believe that creativity ultimately resides in the text itself. The first place to look for creativity to use