The Theology of Preaching
Posted on April 2, 2007
Filed Under Matt Clifton, Preaching
by Matt Clifton
Having been brought up from birth through the teen-age years in a denomination, and now being a member of the Lord’s church, the perspective of this writer is that a preacher’s style of preaching always reflects his attitude towards the Word of God. Study habits, dedication to the Word and how the preacher views inspiration will be demonstrated in how he presents the truth of the Bible. What passes for “preaching” in the view of some religious groups is likely not what the Bible describes.
WHAT IS PREACHING?
So the question is asked, “What is preaching?” Specifically, preaching is the communication of the Word of God to a person or a group of people. If one is not presenting the Word of God, one is merely giving a speech. The difference between preaching the Word of God and giving a religious speech filled with humorous stories is drastic. Sometimes a listener will not even be aware of the difference unless they themselves understand that preaching has at its roots the delivery of God’s Word, and not the anecdotes and opinions of men. Listeners expect a sermon to be interesting, exciting, engaging and energetic. Preachers who want to do God’s will, though, know it is crucial that their sermons be Bible-based. If the preacher is doing his job of preaching the living and powerful Word of God properly, all the requirements of the listener will automatically be met as well. There is nothing more exciting and engaging that the Word of God, when communicated effectively.
So in order to edify our listeners, we must preach the Bible. And what better way to understand the goal and method of preaching than to follow biblical examples. With the goal of finding out what God says about communicating His word, let us approach the Bible to help us identify the qualities of Biblical preaching.
AUTHORITATIVE
First and foremost, preaching must be authoritative. Like Philip teaching the eunuch, our teaching and preaching must have its basis in the scriptures. When Philip began to preach, he began in the Word of God (Acts 8:35). He demonstrated for the eunuch that the teaching about Jesus was grounded in the scriptures. It is imperative that we do the same thing today. The apostolic ministers had the Holy Spirit to tell them what to speak. Today, we have the same solid foundation in written form from which to deliver the teachings about Christ. Preaching cannot be about ourselves, it must be about Jesus. As Paul so aptly wrote in 1 Cor. 4:5, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” When we constantly inject ourselves into the message instead of leaving the focus on the gospel, we are not preaching biblically.
CONFRONTATIONAL
Secondly, preaching must be confrontational. This fact makes many a member of the church uncomfortable at times, but it must be this way if our preaching is to be biblical. Jesus preached to people that they should repent (Matt. 4:17). He preached to them a need to change their ways. Biblical preaching must follow His example. In Acts 17:18, Paul was confronting people with extremely divergent beliefs, and yet he preached the resurrection, no matter how numerous and diverse the opposition. He set aside his fear of being harmed, or even of being ridiculed and rejected, and confronted those in error with the truth of God’s Word. This must still be our practice today if we desire to preach in a sound manner.
PURPOSEFUL
Next, we must understand that biblical preaching is purposeful. When Jesus sent the twelve in Matthew chapter 10, He told them, “As ye go, preach, saying The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 10:7). Jesus sent them with a purpose. Now at this time, Jesus was proclaiming that the kingdom was near. But now, the kingdom is upon us. We too are sent with a purpose. Matthew 28:19-20 tells us, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” This command is for us, and it is the purpose of our preaching. If we want to preach biblically, we must fulfill the great commission.
IMPARTIAL
Another point is that our preaching must be impartial. In Matt. 11:5, Jesus instructed the disciples to tell John the Baptizer what they saw happening: “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” No one was being left out, regardless of their physical or financial status. If we want our preaching to be scriptural, we must go to the poor and the ill, as well as the rich and the healthy. Preachers of the gospel must be willing to fight the good fight of faith in the trenches, where it is needed most. After all, it is not the healthy who need a physician.
WITHOUT HYPOCRISY
Next, biblical preaching must be without hypocrisy. In Romans 2:21, Paul told these Christians, “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?” Are we under any lighter condemnation when we teach temperance and love, and fail to be temperate and loving?
One who presumes to teach the Word of God must practice the teachings as well. We must be doers of the Word, not hearers only (James 1:22). And like Paul, we must “”¦keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Cor. 9:27). It is imperative that if we want to preach God’s truths, that we adhere to them ourselves, and keep ourselves from sin as much as possible.
CONTINUOUS
A further point is that biblical preaching must be continuous. Acts 5:42 tells us this about the apostles: “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Our preaching must never cease. We must preach the Word of God under any and all circumstances, and every time we see opportunity. Even our day-to-day lives should display the faith we have, and cause others to know that we are set apart from the world.
UNRESTRAINED
Finally, biblical preaching must be free from the hindrance of societal pressures and convention. In Acts 5:29, we read: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” We must act in the same manner today. We cannot let our preaching be influenced by politics, changing societal values, or man-made systems of law. It is important that we stand on the solid foundation of biblical truth. For example, when the world is telling us that “same-sex” marriage is okay, we must continue to preach that marriage is a man and a woman becoming one flesh (Matt. 19:5). Biblical preaching must stay grounded in the Word, even while the world’s view of what is right and wrong fluctuates.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, preaching should be biblical. When it is biblical, it will be authoritative, confrontational, purposeful, impartial, without hypocrisy, continuous and free from the influence of the world. When all these biblical examples are observed, we can be sure that our preaching is in line with God’s purpose. This type of preaching will ensure that the Lord’s people are being fed proper spiritual food, which is the appropriate fuel for the growth and well-being of the Lord’s church.
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