25 Truths About Biblical Preaching
25 Truths About Biblical Preaching
Plus one more for good measure
The importance of biblical preaching is hard to overstate. It pleases God to use the foolishness of preaching to save the world (1 Cor. 1:21). Here are some vital truths about biblical preaching.
1. Those who preach should preach as if God Himself were delivering the message (1 Peter 4:11).
2. Biblical preaching should call the world to repentance (Matt. 4:17; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30).
3. The primary focus is the Word of God (Acts 8:4; 2 Tim. 4:2).
4. Preaching depends on a confidence in the Word of God and its ability to change hearts and lives (Heb. 4:12).
5. Those who preach should be ready to do so at any time (2 Tim. 4:2).
6. Biblical preaching balances correction, encouragement, and rebuke (2 Tim. 4:2).
7. Sound doctrine means healthy teaching. Faithful preaching is healthy and leads to spiritual health and maturity for those who hear it and apply it (2 Tim. 1:13; Titus 2:1).
8. Biblical preaching is accompanied by divine authority (Titus 2:15).
9. Preachers don’t preach themselves . Those who hear biblical preaching will learn a lot more about Jesus than they do about the preacher (2 Cor. 4:5).
10. One of the long term goals of preaching is for hearers to be able to stand before God mature (Col. 1:28).
11. Faithful preaching depends more on conviction about Jesus than in human cleverness (1 Cor. 2:1).
12. The focal point of preaching must be on the person and work of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 2:2).
13. One’s preaching may not be impressive by human standards but can still be effective as a demonstration of the Spirit and power of God (1 Cor. 2:4-5).
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14. Those who listen to biblical preaching should listen with a heart and desire to do whatever God commands (Acts 10:33).
15. Preachers don’t have to decide between preaching the truth or love because gospel preaching necessitates preaching the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
16. One of Jesus’ gifts to the church is preachers who prepare the saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11-12).
17. When we hear the Bible faithfully proclaimed we should receive it as the Word of God and not as the preacher’s opinion (1 Thess. 2:13).
18. Preachers should remember that there are matters of personal conviction and be sure not to necessitate their opinions in those matters on their hearers (Rom. 14:1-23).
19. No matter who preaches, God is the one who deserves the credit for giving the increase (1 Cor. 3:6-7).
20. Preachers are simply servants who help others believe (1 Cor. 3:5).
21. Praising and favoring one of God’s messengers above another is carnal and spiritually immature (1 Cor. 3:4).
22. God is pleased by the foolishness of preaching and uses it to save those who believe (1 Cor. 1:21).
23. Though preaching seems simple and unimpressive to the world, it’s God’s instrument of choice in saving the world through Jesus (1 Cor. 1:22-25).
24. Those who preach the gospel can be financially supported for doing so (1 Cor. 9:14; Gal. 6:6).
25. We should carefully examine the preaching we hear to ensure it’s faithful to the Bible without viewing every preacher with skeptical suspicion (1 Thess. 5:20-21; 1 John 4:1).
26. Preachers should adequately prepare for the task of being God’s messenger to God’s people (1 Tim. 4:13-15).