More Reasons to Preach

More Reasons to Preach

In the last post we looked at some of the reasons to preach in light of incredible challenges to preaching that  I delineated in previous posts (starting here).  In this post I want to consider more reasons to preach the word faithfully.

The Nature of the Bible

Another reason we should continue to preach is the nature of the Bible.  It is not just a  self-help book that is profitable for a person to read and know.  The Bible tells us that  the book itself is inspired.  The word literally means, “God-breathed”. The Holy Spirit was at work in and through the authors of the books of the Bible.  I like the way that J. Kent Edwards put it in his book Deep Preaching.  On page 17 he says, “The Bible is more than just inspiring literature.  It is inspired literature.  It is God’s written word.”

Consider this claim by Peter in his second letter.

First of all, you should know this: no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:20-21). 

In other words, when you read or study or preach the Word, you are dealing with the words of God delivered through human beings.

Knowing this, believing this, can change your preaching.

Cornelius Plantinga, Christian philosopher, put it this way:

What the Bible says, God says.  That is why the Bible is an  expert on how we must think and act.  The Bible also has power to influence and help us.  That is why the Bible has the right to give us orders that we must obey.  God speaks through the Bible.  And of course, God is the supreme authority in the universe.  After all, he thought it up in the first place.  (c. Plantinga Jr.  A Sure Thing: What we Believe and Why, p. 67

Preaching With Expectation

We preach because when we approach the Word of God to present it to God’s people we are bringing them a message directly from God.  Imagine.  It is not just our own words that we speak, but we have power because God is speaking through us.

What a thing to believe!  Yet, you likely have evidence through your own preaching ministry that it is happening.  Think about someone reflecting on your preaching who witnessed to this reality, that they heard God through you.

I’m thinking right now about a man who was a member of the first church that  I served for a little over four years.  Years after I left that church I got an invitation.  He had gotten a diagnosis of terminal cancer.  He still had many good days, but knew that the end of life was approaching.  So, he and his wife decided to have an open house to which people who had an impact on his life were invited.  My wife and I attended.  Hugging this man, knowing what was coming was powerful.  Then his words: ‘thank you!  I heard God through you.”  His daughter-in-law also came to my wife and said that she came to know Christ through my preaching of God’s grace.

I didn’t know these responses at the time.  What a humbling experience!

Conclusion

There are many reasons for frustration in preaching today because of all the challenges mentioned in the previous series.  But in eternity you are going to experience something of what God did through you–not because you are such a great preacher, but because God’s word is powerful.  Believe it and preach with confidence that God is doing something.   There are more reasons to preach the Word  than there are frustrations with the challenges to preaching.