The Vital Role of Preaching in the Church

 

Summary

In our time together, we explored the profound and essential role of preaching within the church. Preaching is not merely a tradition or a formality; it is the primary task of the church and its ministers. This conviction is rooted in scripture, church history, and theological necessity. Preaching is the means by which the message of God is declared to the world, a message that cannot be replaced by modern alternatives such as group discussions, television debates, or casual dialogues. These methods, while popular, often reduce the sacred to mere entertainment and fail to convey the gravity and urgency of the Gospel.

I shared a personal experience from 1942 when I was invited to debate religion with a well-known atheist. I declined, believing that God is not a subject for debate. God is holy, and our approach to Him must be one of reverence and godly fear. The matters of faith are too serious to be treated lightly or as entertainment. The natural man, in his spiritual ignorance, cannot truly engage in a discussion about God, as spiritual truths are discerned spiritually. Therefore, the role of preaching is to declare the truth of God, to humble the proud, and to bring people to a place of repentance and faith.

Preaching is a transaction that involves the whole person. It is not just about imparting knowledge or stirring emotions; it is about transforming lives. The preacher stands as an ambassador for Christ, delivering a message that is not his own but one that he has received from God. This message is twofold: the message of salvation for the unbeliever and the teaching for the edification of the saints. The preacher must be aware of these distinctions and tailor his message accordingly, ensuring that it speaks to the needs of the congregation and addresses the issues of the soul with the seriousness they deserve.

Key Takeaways:

- Preaching is the primary task of the church, rooted in scripture and theology. It is not to be replaced by modern methods like group discussions or debates, which often trivialize the sacred message of the Gospel. Preaching is about declaring God's truth with reverence and urgency. [01:06]

- God is not a subject for debate. Our approach to Him must be one of reverence and godly fear. The matters of faith are too serious to be treated lightly or as entertainment. The natural man, in his spiritual ignorance, cannot truly engage in a discussion about God. [06:21]

- Preaching is a transaction that involves the whole person. It is not just about imparting knowledge or stirring emotions; it is about transforming lives. The preacher stands as an ambassador for Christ, delivering a message that is not his own but one that he has received from God. [26:32]

- The message of preaching is twofold: the message of salvation for the unbeliever and the teaching for the edification of the saints. The preacher must be aware of these distinctions and tailor his message accordingly, ensuring that it speaks to the needs of the congregation. [51:24]

- The role of the preacher is to declare the truth of God, to humble the proud, and to bring people to a place of repentance and faith. This requires a deep understanding of the Gospel and a commitment to delivering it with clarity and conviction. [16:34]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Opening Prayer
- [00:49] - The Primacy of Preaching
- [01:39] - Objections to Preaching
- [03:06] - Personal Experience with Debate
- [06:03] - God is Not for Debate
- [09:08] - The Seriousness of the Gospel
- [13:37] - The Ignorance of the Natural Man
- [15:50] - Humbling the Proud
- [18:11] - The Necessity of Declaration
- [21:32] - What is Preaching?
- [24:31] - The Role of the Preacher
- [29:51] - Preaching as a Transaction
- [35:12] - The Content and Delivery of the Sermon
- [42:04] - The Message of the Sermon

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 2:14 - "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
2. Hebrews 12:28-29 - "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."
3. Acts 17:23 - "For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, why is preaching considered the primary task of the church? ([01:06])
2. What personal experience did the pastor share to illustrate the importance of reverence in discussing God? ([03:26])
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the preacher in relation to the message they deliver? ([25:03])
4. What are the two main sections of the message of preaching as outlined in the sermon? ([51:08])

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does 1 Corinthians 2:14 relate to the sermon's assertion that spiritual truths are discerned spiritually and not through debate? ([14:29])
2. In what ways does Hebrews 12:28-29 support the sermon's emphasis on approaching God with reverence and godly fear? ([07:54])
3. How does the example of Acts 17:23 illustrate the sermon's point about the necessity of declaring God's truth rather than engaging in debates? ([18:28])
4. What does the sermon suggest about the impact of preaching on the whole person, and how does this align with the biblical passages discussed? ([26:32])

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you treated matters of faith lightly. How can you cultivate a more reverent approach to God in your daily life? ([06:21])
2. The sermon emphasizes the transformation of lives through preaching. How has a sermon or message impacted your life in a significant way? ([26:32])
3. Consider the distinction between the message of salvation and the edification of the saints. How can you discern which message is needed in your current spiritual journey? ([51:24])
4. How can you ensure that your discussions about faith with others maintain the seriousness and urgency that the sermon describes? ([09:08])
5. Identify a situation where you might have been tempted to debate rather than declare your faith. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future? ([18:28])
6. The sermon suggests that preaching should involve the whole person. What steps can you take to engage more fully with sermons and apply their teachings to your life? ([26:32])
7. How can you support your church's preaching ministry to ensure it remains focused on declaring God's truth with clarity and conviction? ([16:34])

Devotional

Day 1: The Primacy of Preaching in the Church
Preaching is the cornerstone of the church's mission, deeply rooted in scripture and theological tradition. It is not a mere formality or tradition but the primary task of the church and its ministers. Modern methods like group discussions or debates often trivialize the sacred message of the Gospel, reducing it to entertainment rather than conveying its gravity and urgency. Preaching is about declaring God's truth with reverence and urgency, ensuring that the message of God is delivered with the seriousness it deserves. [01:06]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you prioritize listening to and reflecting on sermons in your spiritual life this week, ensuring that you approach them with the reverence and urgency they deserve?


Day 2: Reverence in Approaching God
God is not a subject for debate or casual discussion. Our approach to Him must be one of reverence and godly fear. Matters of faith are too serious to be treated lightly or as entertainment. The natural man, in his spiritual ignorance, cannot truly engage in a discussion about God, as spiritual truths are discerned spiritually. This calls for a deep respect and humility when approaching the divine, recognizing the holiness and majesty of God. [06:21]

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and awe in your daily interactions with God, acknowledging His holiness and majesty?


Day 3: Preaching as a Transformative Transaction
Preaching is a transaction that involves the whole person, not just imparting knowledge or stirring emotions but transforming lives. The preacher stands as an ambassador for Christ, delivering a message that is not his own but one that he has received from God. This message is twofold: the message of salvation for the unbeliever and the teaching for the edification of the saints. The preacher must be aware of these distinctions and tailor his message accordingly, ensuring that it speaks to the needs of the congregation and addresses the issues of the soul with the seriousness they deserve. [26:32]

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you open yourself to the transformative power of preaching, allowing it to impact your life beyond the church walls?


Day 4: The Dual Message of Preaching
The message of preaching is twofold: the message of salvation for the unbeliever and the teaching for the edification of the saints. The preacher must be aware of these distinctions and tailor his message accordingly, ensuring that it speaks to the needs of the congregation. This requires a deep understanding of the Gospel and a commitment to delivering it with clarity and conviction, addressing both the call to repentance and the growth in faith for believers. [51:24]

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV)

Reflection: How can you discern and respond to the dual message of preaching in your life, both in terms of personal salvation and spiritual growth?


Day 5: The Role of the Preacher
The role of the preacher is to declare the truth of God, to humble the proud, and to bring people to a place of repentance and faith. This requires a deep understanding of the Gospel and a commitment to delivering it with clarity and conviction. The preacher acts as an ambassador for Christ, entrusted with the sacred task of conveying God's message to the world, challenging individuals to examine their hearts and respond to the call of the Gospel. [16:34]

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:14, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you support and pray for those who preach, recognizing the weight and responsibility of their role in declaring God's truth?

Quotes


Preaching is the primary task of the church and of the minister in the church, and we've produced scriptural proofs of this and further proofs from church history, and then we've tried to develop the theological argument for this, how our very theology insists upon this because of the subject with which we're dealing. [00:52:44]

God is not to be discussed or debated. God is not a subject for debate because he is who he is and what he is. Now, we are told that the unbeliever, of course, doesn't believe that, and that is perfectly true, but that makes no difference. We believe this, and it is a part of our very case to assert this. [06:15]

Preaching is a transaction that involves the whole person. It is not just about imparting knowledge or stirring emotions; it is about transforming lives. The preacher stands as an ambassador for Christ, delivering a message that is not his own but one that he has received from God. [26:32]

The message of preaching is twofold: the message of salvation for the unbeliever and the teaching for the edification of the saints. The preacher must be aware of these distinctions and tailor his message accordingly, ensuring that it speaks to the needs of the congregation. [51:24]

The role of the preacher is to declare the truth of God, to humble the proud, and to bring people to a place of repentance and faith. This requires a deep understanding of the Gospel and a commitment to delivering it with clarity and conviction. [16:34]

Our attitude is more important than anything that we do in detail, and as we are reminded in the epistle to the Hebrews, God is always to be approached with reverence and with godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire. [07:39]

Preaching should be something that makes this difference to a man who's listening, that he is never the same again. Preaching, in other words, is a transaction. It's something for the soul of man, for the whole of the person, the entire man, and it deals with him in this vital and radical manner. [26:32]

The ultimate trouble with the natural man is his pride. Again, you get that worked out in the second half of the first chapter of Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians. The wisdom and the scribe and the disputer of this world, and the apostle's argument is that what God does to this man is not to have a discussion with him but to make him look foolish. [16:04]

The preacher is not there merely to talk to them. He's not there merely to interest them. He's not there to entertain them. He is there, and I want to emphasize this, to do something to those people. He's there to produce results of various kinds. He is there to influence these people. [25:21]

The preacher should be as it were three types or kinds of preacher. There is a preaching which is primarily evangelistic, which I personally always did on a Sunday night invariably. There is a preaching which is instructional teaching, but it's experimental that I generally did on a Sunday morning. [55:44]

The content of this sermon is what is called variously in the New Testament the word preach, the word, or preach the gospel, the whole counsel of God, which being interpreted, of course, means the message of the Bible, the message of the scriptures. [50:02]

The preacher stands as an ambassador for Christ, delivering a message that is not his own but one that he has received from God. This message is twofold: the message of salvation for the unbeliever and the teaching for the edification of the saints. [26:32]

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Transcript
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