OceanSide church of Christ

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PREACHING ABOUT PREACHING

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     A study of New Testament worship will reveal that there are five components of worship:  praying, singing, teaching, the Lord’s Supper, and giving.  Paul mentions all five of these elements in 1 Corinthians.

1.       The Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20-34)

2.       Teaching (Paul uses the word “prophesying) (1 Cor. 14:3)

3.       Prayer and singing (1 Cor. 14:15)

4.       Giving (I Cor. 16:1-2)

 

B.      From time to time, we need to study each one of these aspects of worship individually.

1.       We do not need to forget.

2.       We need to appreciate.

3.       We need to ensure we are doing God’s will.

4.       We need to teach the upcoming generations

 

C.     In this lesson, we want to look at the teaching component of worship.   The title of our lesson is:  “Preaching about Preaching.”

 

I.                    WHAT IS PREACHING?

 

A.     The word “preach” is predominately a New Testament word. 

1.       It is only found 4 times in the Old Testament.

2.       It is found 134 times in the New Testament.

 

B.      In the New Testament, there are four different Greek words that are translated “preach,” “preached,” or “preaching.”

1.       (2784) kerusso:  to herald (as a public crier).

2.       (2097) euanggelizo:  to announce good news

3.       (1229) diannelo:  to herald thoroughly

4.       (2980) laleo:  to talk, to utter words

5.       (2605) kataaggelo:  to proclaim, promulgate

 

C.     Preaching involves the utterance of words.  These words are proclaimed publicly.  The message that is promulgated involves good news. 

 

II.                 WHO AUTHORIZED PREACHING?

 

A.     The one who authorized preaching was God Himself.

 

B.      Several passages:

1.       Mark 16:15

 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

2.       Acts 10:42

 

And he commanded us to preach unto the people…

 

3.       1 Corinthians 1:17

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel…

 

4.       1 Corinthians 1:21b

 

…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

 

5.       Titus 1:3

 

But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.

 

III.              WHAT IS TO BE PREACHED?

 

A.     The definition of preach is to herald good news.  So, good news is to be preached.  As we look at preaching in the New Testament that good news involves many things.

 

B.      The most familiar verse, especially to preachers, that reveals what is to be preached is 2 Timothy 4:2.

 

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

1.       The word is the inspired word about which Paul had just spoken in 2 Timothy 3:16.

2.       This word, and this word alone, reveals the mind of God, the truth of God, and the plans of God for humanity.

3.       Paul tells us that if a man preaches any other gospel (good news), he is to be accursed (Gal. 1:9).

 

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 

C.     We could go into a lengthy study of things that are involved in preaching the Word.

1.       It involves preaching repentance and remission of sins (Luke 24:47).

2.       It involves preaching the resurrection from the dead (Acts 4:2).

3.       It involves preaching Jesus Christ (Acts 5:42; 8:5, 35; 9:20)

4.       It involves preaching things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12; 20:25; 28:31).

5.       It involves preaching peace by Jesus Christ (Acts 10:36; Eph. 2:17).

6.       It involves preaching that Jesus was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead (Acts 10:42).

7.       It involves preaching the forgiveness of sins (Acts 13:38).

8.       It involves preaching that men are to turn from vanities unto the living God (Acts 14:15).

9.       It involves the preaching of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18).

10.   It involves preaching Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:23).

11.   It involves preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8).

12.   It involves warnings (Col. 1:28).

 

IV.              WHO SHOULD PREACH?

 

A.     Since preaching involves the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, repentance and remission of sin, and the kingdom of God, it is evident that only a Christian can and would preach those things.

 

B.      Not just any Christian, however, should preach.  Paul told Timothy to commit his teachings to “faithful men” who would be able to teach others (2 Tim. 2:2).

 

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

 

C.     Some teach today, that those who preach are individuals who are “called by God” to preach.

1.       This call is said to involve some type of miraculous message, or miraculous visit, or miraculous sign that was given to the individual.

2.       There are two major problems with this type of calling:

a.   The age of miracles has passed.

b.   These callings are always very subjective in nature:  clouds, dreams, supernatural visits by angels, bargains made with God, etc.

 

D.     Those who preach today are men who feel the burden of taking the gospel to those who are lost.  They feel much like Paul felt in the first century (1 Cor. 9:16).

 

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of:  for necessity if laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.

 

V.                 WHY PREACH?

 

A.     Preaching is supposed to proclaim something to the world.

1.       Romans 10:15

 

And how shall they preach except they be sent?  As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

 

2.       Man has a Savior.

Man can be forgiven of sins.

There is a purpose to be found in life.

The world can be united in Christ Jesus.

Man can be victorious over death.

Man has a hope that is beyond this world.

 

B.      Preaching is to instruct.

1.       In Acts 8, Philip joins himself to an Ethiopian eunuch who is reading from the prophet Isaiah (Acts 8:28).

2.       This man admitted that he did not understand that which he was reading (Acts 8:31).

3.       Philip began at the very passage in Isaiah 53 and instructed the man (Acts 8:35).

 

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

 

     a.     Some believe that instructing a person about Jesus involves convincing them that

             Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for their sins.

     b.     That is only part of the instruction that is to be given.  In the account in Acts 8,

            we find the eunuch requesting to be baptized in verse 36.  “See, here is water;

            what doth hinder me to be baptized?”

1)      NOTE:  Philip preached Christ, but the eunuch requested baptism.

2)      To preach Christ also involves the instructions of our Lord regarding the essential nature of baptism in the salvation process (Mark 16:16).

 

C.     Preaching is to warn (Col. 1:28).

 

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ.

 

1.       We cannot save ourselves (Jer. 10:23)

2.       False teachers exist in the world (1 John 4:1).

3.       The wrath of God is as real as the love of God (Rom. 1:18)

4.       Death is coming (Heb. 10:27).

5.       The Lord is coming again (Acts 1:11).

6.       There will be a day of Judgment (Acts 17:30-31).

7.       There is an eternal hell that exists (Matt. 10:28).

 

VI.              HOW IS ONE TO PREACH?

 

A.     One is to preach with love for those to whom he preaches (Eph. 4:15).

 

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

 

1.       This means that one preaches always having the other individual’s best interest in mind.

2.       Preaching the truth in love does not mean:

a.    Compromising

b.   Refusing to teach on certain topics

c.   Refusing to reprove and rebuke

d.   Trying to be non-offensive in every lesson

e.    Making sure every lesson mentions grace, love, or mercy.

 

B.      One is to preach with authority (Tit. 2:15).

 

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.  Let no man despise thee.

 

1.       The authority does not reside in the man preaching,

2.       The authority resides in the authoritative Word of God. 

3.       Thus, the preacher must speak “as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11).

a.    Book, chapter, and verse preaching

b.   Giving a “thus saith the Lord” for all that is taught.

 

C.     One is to preach with courage (Peter and John, Acts 3:13).

 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John…

 

1.       Lies hate the truth.

Darkness hates the light.

The flesh hates the Spirit.

Evil hates righteousness.

2.       Thus, when the truth is preached, the man of God will be confronted, opposed, told to shut-up, threatened, persecuted, imprisoned, and possibly even killed. 

3.       Courage, heart, and faith over fear will be needed by the preacher of the gospel (See
Eph. 6:19).

 

And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.

 

VII.           WILL THOSE WHO PREACH BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE?

 

A.     The answer to this question is a simple:  “Yes.”

 

B.      Two passages:

1.       Paul speaking to the elders of Ephesus (Acts 20:26-27).

 

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

 

2.       I Corinthians 9:27

 

But I 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.

 

C.     Preachers, like all men, will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10).  They will be judged by a man who was the Prince of all Preachers, Jesus Christ (Luke 4:44; Luke 4:22; John 7:46; Matt. 7:28-29).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Preaching is a vital part of God’s plan to save men (1 Cor. 1:21).

 

B.      As a part of our worship, it is the time when God should be speaking to us. 

 

C.     It is imperative that we give heed to the things that we hear (Heb. 2:1).

 

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

 

D.     The preacher will give an account for the message and how it is proclaimed.  The brethren will give an account for the manner in which the message is received and what is done with it.