Preach the Word! In Season and Out of Season?

Should a pastor, . . . 
. . . who typically preaches verse by verse through a particular book of the Bible
(sequential exposition), . . .
. . . stop preaching through that book of the Bible, . . .
. . . for one Sunday or even for a season, . . .
. . . and preach topically, . .
. . . in order to address the cultural issues and current events from a biblical perspective?

That was one of the questions we discussed at a recent pastors' fellowship I'm a part of that is committed to sequential expository preaching. More specifically, should a pastor address the current issues, i.e. COVID, BLM, social justice, riots, etc., in a different format, such as a Sunday school class or a small group Bible study during the week, so as to not stray from his exposition of a book of the Bible? What about just addressing these issues on your radio program? But then again, what if you do not have the platform of a radio program? And what if you pastor a church in a rural, vacation spot location where your congregation is not as directly affected?

Before I answer the question, let me start with 5 reasons the Bible should be taught verse by verse through books of the Bible. First of all, simply because it is the Word of God. Jesus said it Himself and that alone should settle it for all Christians.
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Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."
-Jesus(John 17:17, emphasis added)

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. "
-the apostle Paul(2 Thessalonians 2:13, emphasis added)

Also, I believe in sequential exposition because the Word does a sanctifying work in the lives of believers. 
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Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."
-Jesus(John 17:17, emphasis added)

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. "
-the apostle Paul(2 Thessalonians 2:13, emphasis added)

Furthermore, the Word of God does a saving work in the lives of unbelievers.
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since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for
“All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
-the apostle Peter(1 Peter 1:23-25)

A fourth reason for verse by verse preaching through books of the Bible is for pastors to give their flock the whole counsel of God. Far too many in churches today rely on piece meals for their spiritual food intake. They read a devotional verse of the day on their app without any clue as to the flow or connection within the Bible. Pastors who exposit the Word can put on full display the unity of the Bible as they show how that particular text of Scripture they are preaching on that Sunday fits, not only, into the scope of the book of the Bible they are preaching through, but also with the rest of Scripture. What we need today is more pastors with the same commitment of the apostle Paul. And what churches need today is not nibbling and snacking, but sitting down for a full feast. 
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for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God."
-the apostle Paul to the Ephesian elders(Acts 20:27)

And last, but certainly not least, sequential exposition is necessary because the clear command from the Shepherd of His Sheep, Jesus Christ, to His under-shepherds, the pastors, is to preach the Word. Near the end of his life(2 Timothy 4:6), when most had abandoned him(2 Timothy 4:9-16) and thus he was feeling the loneliness of a long distance minister, what final charge would the apostle Paul pen in his swan song letter to his son in the faith, Timothy? His final exhortation was nothing other than to preach the Word. 
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I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
​(2 Timothy 4:1-2)

Note that pastors are to preach the Word, in season and out of season. That is, when it's convenient and when it's not convenient; when there is opportune time and where there isn't; when things are going well and when things are not going so well.

Which gets me back to my question that I began this blog with. My succinct answer is "no". A pastor should not deviate from his sequential exposition to do a...topical sermon that relates to what is happening in the world. But I do think it's ok to do an expository sermon of a different text, outside of your normal sequential exposition of a book, in order to help people know how to interpret the times in light of the Scripture. And it should not be for an extended period, but for one Sunday, because you want to get back to the continuation of the Bible book you are preaching through.

I'v been preaching through the Gospel of Luke. But early on, when COVID hit and there was gloom and doom in the air, even, it seemed, in the evangelical air, I decided just for one Sunday to preach from Lamentations 3:21. Giving the historical background of the difficulty God's people were going through(Jeremiah 3:1-20) and then showing Jeremiah's display of God's character(Jeremiah 3:22-38), it not only encouraged us to trust God no matter what, but also helped us to see that even from the pen of the weeping prophet, Lamentations is actually an encouraging book.

The following Sunday I was back in Luke. 

Another thing a pastor can do while preaching a book of the Bible, if it's obviously conducive to the text at hand, is to set it in contrast with what is going on in the evangelical church. So for instance, when  I was in Luke 10, I highlighted the message Jesus sent the 72 out with(Luke 10:9). Then I explained the message we today are sent out with, namely the saving power of the Gospel(Romans 1:16), to make disciples of all nations(Matthew 28:18-20), as ambassadors of Christ proclaiming the message of reconciliation(2 Corinthians 5:19-20). And I set that in stark contrast to the BLM message that many evangelical churches are falling prey to, and that, not just from the secular world or liberal pastors, but from Bible believing pastors.  In doing so, pastors can fulfill their God-ordained role to expose and make their flocks aware of false teachers and remind them of the church's singular mission and message!
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He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."
​(Titus 1:9)