What is Christian preaching and what is it meant to do?

Preaching. Prepare for Service, Bristol Baptist College Assignment, 2008-02-28


Before answering the question “what is preaching?” we must appreciate and attempt to respond to the question “why preach”? As a starting point I believe that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,  thoroughly equipped for every good work [1]. I believe scripture here to be defined as the Old and New Testament canon. Thus, I will not discuss in this short essay any of the more fanciful, philosophical or psychological notations concerning preaching.

So, firstly, we preach because it is commanded by our Lord Jesus. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.[2] It is an integral part of the great commission of the Church. Preaching is God’s planned means of communicating the good news of salvation.  Doesn’t the apostle Paul remind us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God [3] and in another place he states In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;[4] and to reinforce this further our Lord has stated succinctly He who is of God hears God’s words[5]. Thus, hearing the word of God is a necessary part of the process of being saved; and in its most plain sense hearing requires someone to speak. I do, of course, recognise that hearing with spiritual ears is also an integral part of being saved. That is to say being born of the Spirit is fundamentally a spiritual matter, requiring hearing in ones heart. Nevertheless, it seems to me that the normative process of salvation in scripture involved preaching with the spoken word and someone hearing the preaching of the spoken word.

Now, can we fathom God’s plans and purposes a little more by asking the impertinent question why has God chosen this means? Why is it necessary to employ spoken words? Why is there not some other means? Why not just the written word or perhaps even without any words at all? Let us consider the following text;

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was  without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good. [6]

The creation of light and all subsequent parts of creation was by the spoken word. God chose to use the spoken word, a word of command, to create light. So the spoken word, literally from the mouth of God, was used to create light and separate it from the darkness. Consequently, what do we discern from this? God Himself uses the spoken word to divide between light and dark, to divide between good and evil. Is not the spoken word then part of His nature? It seems to me that God uses the spoken word to get things done! Later in Genesis, Adam was created in God’s image, a spiritual being, and communication between God and Adam is through spoken words. This is repeated age after age throughout scripture, God speaking to His people, God speaking to His Prophets and God speaking to His disciples.

The scriptures are recorded for us as written words but the texts often state that they where given as the spoken word of God. It is not just that God uses audible communication for our benefit; scripture suggests that audible words from God have power to shape the fabric of this universe. The power of God in action was accompanied with words from God, such as “let there be Light”, and our Lord rebuked the wind and sea with “Peace, be still!” and He raised the dead with “Lazarus, come forth!” God’s words have power to help a soul step from spiritual darkness to light, they have power to transform lives, to heal hurts, and they have power to reconcile us to our loving Father God.

So why should we preach? We preach because we are commanded, because we have been sent to preach As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. [7]  We preach because the word is part of God’s nature, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.[8] We preach because the word of God is true and it is the power of God for salvation.

This brings us to what is specifically biblical Christian preaching? For it is one thing to argue that the spoken words from God have power, it is completely another to argue that all preaching has this power.

Preaching is not an opportunity for good public speaking or too often poor public speaking. It is not entertainment; it is not selling a product or advertising. Neither is it an opportunity to expound man’s wisdom in the form of psychology, philosophy, or literature. It is not an opportunity to discourse the nature of modern culture. Preaching is not a chance to subvert the Gospel with faithless theological reasoning. All of these I have heard.

God does not change, his Word does not change, the state of mankind has not changed and the need for faithful Christian preaching will not change. It is clear to me that Christian Preaching is declaring the revealed words of God, presenting the plans and purposes of God, explaining and illuminating the will of God. The preacher has a solemn charge; neither adding to nor taking from the words of God. This solemn charge is to be faithful to their true meaning, to unceasingly let our Lord take all glory and honour and praise for He must increase, but I must decrease [9].

Preaching is to remaining faithful to this charge; so that people are brought to the place where faith can take hold in the soul. Subsequently, preaching to the faithful is for the equipping of the church for Love and good works. It should stir up the soul, set our spirit ablaze and encourages us to draw closer and closer to God. This is achieved not because of the preacher’s charisma, oratory skills or smooth words but because the power of God lies in the message, in the words of God.

Finally I should add a few words about the style or form. I think the guiding principle is given in the following text.

For though I am  free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all,  that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law  (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. [10]

The apostle Paul adapted his behaviour or his style to suit the persons he was addressing. Paul’s message never changed, he remained faithful to the word of God he had received. Nevertheless, the form or style as far as it was possible was not to become a stumbling block for the listener. He tailored his style so that by all means he may save some. Paul did not let the formalities or traditions of his background and training limit his behaviour. If he could see that changing his style would be of benefit to the hearer, if changing the form enabled a hearing for the message of God he changed.

In conclusion, Christian preaching is a vital part of the life of the church. It is as necessary today as it has ever been. It is God’s planned means of communicating the Gospel. The form is less important than the message. However, using words is necessary if we are to remain faithful to God’s nature and purposes.



References (Biblical passages from NKJV)

[1] 2 Ti 3:16-17 [2] Mk 16:15, [3] Ro 10:17, [4] Eph 1:13, [5] Jn 8:47 [6] Ge 1:1-4, [7] Jn 20:21-22, [8] Jn 1:1. [9] Jn 3:31 [10] 1 Co 9:19-23