What about Preaching?

by Rex Henderson

  Worship they say is the main thing apart from preaching. They follow the liturgical approach, formal order of service by reciting the Apostle’s Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, advanced music which sounds beautiful and gives a feeling that all is well when we are so disturb, this is what we need.

 Who wants to hear about sin and troubles when we have it all week long? We really need to relax etc.

 Preaching some say is only a man talking about and ethical way of living. So ten minutes is long enough.  Get it out of the way. Let us worship!

 What can be said about preaching?

God ordained it. “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” 1 Corinthians 1:21. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season ; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:2.

 Examples of preaching is shown by John the Baptist, Peter, Stephen, Philip, James, John Paul and Jesus.

PREACHING THEN IS ESSENTIAL

 British preachers were once accused by a leading preacher. “Your preaching is too scanty and does not strike deep enough. The inner most truths of Christianity were needed. Topical addresses and little scripture is not good preaching. Following news paper articles like today’s clean air, pollution of water, land and human rights are without much Bible basis.

 WHAT DID THE PREACHER PREACH?

 They preached the Kergyma, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ in relationship of men to God and God to men and men to men.  Paul writes, “For I delivered unto you first of all which I also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture; and that he was buried, that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve” 1 Corinthians 15:3.

 Preaching is not just being kind to grandmother and the cat. New Testament preachers preached with Biblical authority and with Holy Spirit power not powerful yelling. Some preaching may be like mud. It’s so thin you have to throw it hard to make it stick.

 Ten minute sermons does not picture a preacher as a herald from God, no concept of a man who has wrestled long in prayer for his message, no deep digging in the Book of books.

 The hungry sheep look up and are not fed. It is more like foam not the real drink.