Preaching With Purpose: Proclaiming The Word

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42

Not only was prayer and praise essential in the first century church, but preaching and teaching were as well. Prayer and praise is of no benefit if there is no foundation of sound doctrine. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Jesus said that true worship is done in “Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) Praise and prayer must be built on the firm foundation of the word of God.

Every church should have sound preaching and teaching. In fact, God has given the church a Five-fold ministry for the:

· Perfecting of the saints

· Work of the ministry

· Edifying of the body of Christ

All of these were to be used for the purpose of bringing believers into the “Unity of the faith and the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)

This five-fold ministry consisted of:

· Apostles (Missionaries in the modern sense)

· Prophets

· Evangelist

· Pastors

· Teachers

Each has a unique role in the proclamation of the word. The Greek word for proclamation is Kerygma and it means to cry or proclaim as a herald, to announce. It should be a church’s desire to have and/or support each of these offices.

Preaching and teaching were never meant to be entertaining or even eloquent. Paul said that his preaching was “Not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in the demonstration and power of the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:4) A lot of popular preaching today is more like motivational speaking and pep talks, with church services becoming like psychology clinics or pep rallies, instead of institutions of learning about Jesus and discipleship. Preaching and teaching is meant to “Conform us to the image of Christ.” (Romans 8:29)

Last of all preaching and teaching should be a means of sanctifying us, separating us from the world and preparing us for eternity. Jesus, as he prayed for his disciples, said “Sanctify them through truth, thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) The proclamation of the word brought a separation between the church and the world. These two should never ever resemble one another because the Bible teaches us that there is a great difference between the two.

Psalms 107:20 says “He sent forth his word and he healed them and delivered them of all of their destructions.” The sending forth of God’s word is vitally important in our culture today if people are going to be saved. Whether this is being done in a Sanctuary behind a pulpit, Sunday School class behind a stand, Small group meeting around a dinner table, or out in a sidewalk sharing ones faith, proclaiming God’s word is essential to the salvation of souls, the success of the church and the sustaining of a our community and country.

What confidence we can have in knowing that when God’s word is sent forth in the demonstration and power of the Spirit, “It will not return void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper where unto it is sent.” (Isaiah 56:11)

Pastor Robby