“The Preaching of the Word”

By Jay Lockhart

     In the forward for R. Albert Mohler, Jr’s book He Is Not Silent, John MacArthur observed that “Every significant phase of authentic revival, reformation, missionary expansion, or robust church growth has also been an era of biblical preaching.” Mohler quoted John A. Broadus as saying, “Preaching is characteristic of Christianity. No other religion has made the regular and frequent assembly of groups of people, to hear religious instruction and exhortation, an integral part of divine worship.”
     The major thrust of Mohler’s book is that people, including preachers, have lost their confidence in the importance of preaching and the need for restoring biblical preaching to the place God has always intended for it to occupy. God’s charge to Timothy through Paul was “Preach the Word!” (2 Tim. 4:2). There are a number of things that will help us with this.
     First, we must believe that biblical preaching is the proclamation of the very word of God to men. Biblical preaching is not primarily about “getting it over with” or PowerPoint or entertainment or handouts. It is about hearing a word from God.
     Second, we must understand that biblical preaching is to confront people with God’s will for their lives including salvation, worship, service, and godly living. It is designed to confront, encourage, exhort, teach, comfort, challenge, and give hope. In short preaching is to lead to transformation.
     Third, we must understand that biblical preaching is “proclamation through personality,” but proclamation is more important than personality because it allows one to hear what God says.
     Fourth, we must recognize that biblical preaching is a part of divinely authorized worship and it is that part of worship in which we “hear His voice” (Heb 4:7).      Fifth, we must acknowledge that biblical preaching makes a demand: we must teach, hear, believe, love and obey God’s word.
     Sixth, we must know that a congregation of God’s people will never rise above its respect for and acceptance of the proclamation of the word of the Lord. May we all be involved in restoring the preached word to the rightful place God intended. Then, and only then, can we expect restoration, renewal, and revival.

- Jay Lockhart; via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City church of Christ, Calvert City, KY.  Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com