What is the Importance of Faithful Gospel Preaching?
Spiritual Questions with Scriptural Answers.
God only had One Son and He was a Preacher (Mark 1:38).
It is without question that preaching is an essential part of God’s divine will for mankind (Titus 1:3).
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). How will people hear and have faith if no one is proclaiming the truth (Romans 10:8, 15)? How will faithful men help to produce other faithful men if the truth is not being preached (2 Timothy 2:2)?
Preachers have a very important role in the Kingdom of God!
Considering the Word “Preach.”
The word “preach” is found 134x in the Bible.
The two words most commonly used in the New Testament are the words “kerysso,” and “euangelizo.” Both words carry the idea of proclaiming good news; to herald publicly and loudly.
Within the word “preach” one can see the word “reach.” Furthermore, one can see the word “each.” Each soul needs to be reached through the preaching of the Gospel (Mark 16:15).
This writer was privileged to attend two wonderful institutions: Freed-Hardeman University (Henderson, TN) and the Memphis School of Preaching (Memphis, TN).
The training this writer received at both have proven to be extremely important in the work of Gospel preaching. Spending time in the Word of God and drawing closer to the God of the Word was an incredible blessing.
While attending, many statements were made to promote faithful preaching of the Gospel. Seeing faithful men of God faithfully proclaim the Word was very encouraging and motivating to this writer and it is an honor to preach the Word.
The Importance of Preaching.
As Paul wrote to Timothy, he emphasized the extreme honor and importance of preaching (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
This was a charge from Heaven (“before God and the Lord Jesus Christ”), a challenge to preach the Word regardless of the circumstances (“be ready in season and out of season”), and a caution as to how a Gospel preacher must remain faithful in the face of opposition (“but you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry”).
Preach the truth even if no one wants to listen.
The message may not be popular or even well received, but faithful Gospel preachers will preach the truth in love to the glory of God (Ephesians 4:15). There were many occasions in Scripture when the crowd did not properly heed the message, but it still had to be proclaimed.
Noah’s preaching is a great example of that in that he warned the people of the impending flood but no one outside of his own family heeded the truth.
Moses’ preaching to Pharoah was met with a blasphemous response, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice” (Exodus 5:2)? (He would find out)!
The prophets were met with great opposition as well. Such faithful men like Amos who was told to “flee to the land of Judah” because he did not tell the people what they wanted to hear. Amos, to his credit, said this powerful statement:
“Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ Now therefore, hear the word of the Lord: You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.” “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city; Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by survey line; You shall die in a defiled land; And Israel shall surely be led away captive From his own land” (Amos 7:12-17).
Another example is that of Micaiah. The king of Israel literally said, “I hate him (Micaiah) because he does not prophesy good concerning me but evil” (1 Kings 22:8). Micaiah’s response was bold, impactful, and serves as a great reminder for Gospel preachers today: “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak” (2 Kings 22:14).
Faithful men who fill the pulpit today need to have the same resolve and willingness to speak only that which God has revealed through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2)!
Preach the truth no matter the cost.
In the New Testament, persecution arose against those who preached the truth.
John was beheaded for preaching the truth on “marriage, divorce, and remarriage” (Mathew 14:3-4; cf. 19:9).
Jesus came to “bear witness of the truth” (John 18:37), “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10), and offer the “abundant life” (John 10:10), yet He was hated and put to death.
Peter and John were beaten and arrested (Acts 4:1-4). They were bold in their proclamation of the Gospel and God was glorified through their actions (Acts 4:13, 21).
Stephen became the first Christian martyr because he faithfully proclaimed the Gospel (Acts 7:54-60).
As Saul of Tarsus made life miserable for Christians, “they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word” (Acts 8:4).
The apostle Paul preached in synagogues, before rulers and kings, and even in a prison cell!
The church grew because of the faithful Gospel preachers and that kind of fire needs to be rekindled in pulpits today!
May all who strive to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ do so with great purpose, intention, and a desire to glorify God, honor Christ, relate truth, and help others!
Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.
Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.
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Amen
each, reach, preach. =) I like it!