Preachers Must Preach
It and Christians Must Demand It!!!
Preaching is important. It helps make us what we are as Christians. If we feed
upon weak preaching, we will be weak. If we feed upon strong preaching, we have
the opportunity to grow spiritually.
The kind of preaching that a person wants is what he will find (2 Tim. 4:3).
The type preaching that we encourage is the type we want to hear. What we criticize,
is what we do not care to hear.
Sound Preaching
Preachers must be sound in their preaching. Christians must demand that preachers
proclaim sound doctrine.
1. We are commanded to preach sound doctrine. Paul instructed Timothy to “hold
firm the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me” (2 Tim.
1:13). Titus was told to “speak the things which are proper for sound
doctrine” (Titus 2:1; cf. 1:9; 2:8).
2. Paul equates “sound doctrine” with the “gospel” (1
Tim. 1:10-11). Thus, sound preaching is according to the gospel. The book of
Titus which focuses on soundness (1:9, 13; 2:1, 2, 8), begins with the basis
and standard for soundness: the revelation of God (Titus 1:1-4). Thus, sound
doctrine is that which is according to the revelation of God.
3. What does sound doctrine include? It includes any and all that is in the
gospel or revelation of God. From the book of Titus we see that it includes
such subjects as God’s nature (1:2), eternal life (1:2; 2:23; 3:7), the
grace of God (1:3; 2:11-12; 3:4-7), elder’s work and qualifications (1:5-9),
refutation of false teaching (1:10-16), personal godliness (2:1-10), home relationships
and responsibilities (2:4-5), our speech (2:8), our example (2:7), the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ (2:13-14), obedience to civil law (3:1), how to treat others
(3:2-8), baptism (3:5), the work of the Holy Spirit (3:5) and dealing with a
heretic (3:10).
Elements of Bible Preaching
1. Preaches the word of God. The faithful man of God must not preach his opinions
or his own thinking, but “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11).
Paul said his message was the word of God (1 Thess. 2:13).
It is easy for preachers to think that their words of wisdom and their own strong
opinions should be received by their hearers with the same open ears that the
gospel is. However, Bible preaching is just that: preaching the Bible!
2. Points to God. Our preaching should point to God as source of all creation
(Acts 17:24) and the authority of our lives (Acts 17:30-31). We must point to
God as the object of our faith and trust. Paul preached so that his hearer’s
faith would not stand in the “wisdom of men but in the power of God”
(1 Cor. 2:2-3). Gospel preaching is not designed to please men, but God (1 Thess.
2:4-6).
A sound preacher will convert men to God and not to himself. If his preaching
causes men to have more faith in him (the preacher) than in God, it will take
very little to destroy that kind of faith.
3. Refutes error. Timothy was charged to “Preach the word. . . convince,
rebuke, and exhort…” (2 Tim. 4:2). Titus was to instruct elders
to stop the mouths of false teachers and rebuke them sharply (Titus 1:9-13).
Bible preaching defends the gospel (Phil. 1:17), at times militantly (Act:17:6).
A casual reading of the New Testament will reveal that the Lord and his apostles
dealt with the errors of the day (both in and out of the church) and answered
the arguments of the false teachers.
4. Reproves sin. Proclaiming the word leaves no room to tolerate sin. Thus,
the preacher must reprove (2 Tim. 4:2). Worldliness must be clearly denounced
(1 Cor. 6:9-11 ff; Gal. 5:19- 21; 1 Pet. 4:3).
5. Leads men to salvation. Preaching must tell men about God’s grace,
the sacrifice of Christ and redemption available through his blood (Eph. 2:5,
8, 13, 16). Furthermore, it must tell men what to do to obtain salvation by
the blood of Christ (Acts 2:22, 36, 38).
6. Instructs in right living. The inspired word instructs in righteousness (2
Tim. 3:16). Being taught right living is a part of going “on to perfection”
(Heb. 6:1) or maturing in the Lord. God’s people must learn about the
home, marriage, prayer, worship, personal godliness, honesty and attitudes.
7. Distinctive. Bible preaching will distinguish truth from error. Likewise
it must differentiate the Lord’s church and denominationalism.
Preaching (over a period of time, not one sermon) that could be presented in
any denomination without objection isn’t Bible preaching. The sermons
in Acts 2, 3 ,4, 8 were distinctive enough for men to see that they (though
they were religious) needed to change!
8. Demands results. The message that gets results will first demand results.
The preaching of Peter and Paul called for repentance (Acts 2:37, 38 cf; 17:30-31).
A change of heart and life was demanded.
Application must be made to the people. Peter directed his charges of killing
the Son of God to the Jews present on Pentecost. He said “you” have
crucified him (Acts 2:21-22). John did the same with Herod (Mark 6:14).
9. With the right attitude. Paul described his behavior among the Thessalonians
saying, “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes
her own children. So affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to
impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you
had become dear to us” (1 Thess. 2:7-8).
It is possible for a man to preach the truth and yet do so with an attitude
that stinks. His disposition hinders the effect of the gospel. He can take a
firm stand and do so with humility. He can rebuke sharply and yet do so with
kindness. He can inform and instruct without a know-it-all attitude. Even so,
no matter how the truth is preached, those who have no intention of obeying
it will find fault with how it was delivered. This is why the gospel must be
preached whether their audience likes it or not! (2 Tim 4:2-5)
By Edward Pratt
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