PREACHING’S IMPORTANCE
WHY IS PREACHING SO IMPORTANT?
A. God commands us to preach when it’s convenient and when it’s not, to reprove, rebuke, encourage with great patience and instruction. (2 Tim. 4:2)
B. Preaching follows the models of Christ, Paul, and the Prophets. We are told to imitate the faith of those who have gone before. (Heb. 13:7)
C. Preaching has great power, potential, and capacity to bring about change in individuals, institutions, and societies. (Mt. 28:19,20)
D. Preaching is one of the most effective ways of winning people to faith in Jesus Christ. (Mk. 16:15)
E. Historically, preaching has become the principle means of leading, teaching, and feeding the flock of God. (Jn. 21:15-17)
F. Despite all the competition, preaching continues to remain the most popular form of expositing the word of God throughout the world. (Rom. 1:16)
G. Preaching offers tremendous variety in presenting the truth of God from the scriptures (Expository, topical, biographical, thematic, textual, devotional, evangelistic, children’s sermons, weddings, etc)
H. Preaching is fit for all types of occasions; funerals, baptism, weddings, launchings, graduations, tithing conferences, revivals, church planting conferences, Sunday morning services, prayer meetings, naming ceremonies, child dedications, film shows, conventions, board meetings, building dedications.
I. Preaching offers great authority which people recognize through the credibility of the word of God.
J. Some preaching can also be used to forward personal interests over the interest of the scriptures. It is for this reason that we must be careful how we use the pulpit lest God be displeased.
K. Poor preaching has a way of detracting from the essential messages of scripture.
L. Incomplete preaching has a way of communicating only partial truths that are out of balance with the full counsel of God.
M. False preaching can dangerously lead people into heretical doctrines.
N. Counterfeit preachers can lead people down paths of destruction.
O. Social preachers can inadvertently fool people into thinking that they are doing the full will of God.
P. Poorly prepared preachers will be accountable to God for their failure to feed, teach, and mature their flock.
R. Incompetent preachers will come under stricter judgment from God for their distorted teaching. (Jm. 3:1)
S. Preaching has universal appeal in its ability to communicate truth simply, clearly, and convincingly.
T. Preaching can reach the highly educated as well as the uneducated.
U. Preaching can cut across all tribal, social, political, age, sexual (Male-Female), cultural, physical, and language lines if done properly, contextually, and effectively.
V. God continues to speak through preachers today in powerful, timely, and relevant ways. Who are we to refuse to listen to God’s message?
W. Preaching can touch many different people in many different ways. The Holy Spirit can take the message of scriptures and use it to convict individuals in personal ways.
X. Biblical preaching can never grow old since the scriptures are living and active with the ability to discern the thoughts of each person’s heart.
Y. Preaching may not appear to be the most rational way to effect change, but the scriptures teach that God’s ways are higher than man’s way. (Isa. 55:8,9)
Z. The Lord promises us that His word will not return to Him without accomplishing His purposes. (Isa. 55:10,11)
AA. Isa. 40:8 promises preachers that their labor is not in vain in the Lord. ``The grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of our God stands forever!’’
THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A PREACHER
A. He must be a born-again Christian who is in intimate fellowship with Christ.
B. He must know the scriptures and the power of God. (Mk. 12:24)
C. He must know his audience; their needs, wants, and problems.
D. He must be a man above reproach, a one woman man, not quarrelsome, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine, or possessing a hot temper, kind, gentle, humble, loving, patient, rejecting those who are in opposition so that God could grant them knowledge of the truth.
E. Commitment to Christ, the church, and to the great commission (Mt. 28:19,20).
F. Leadership qualities that express themselves in service.
G. A call of God to preach the word with confidence, boldness, accuracy, empowerment from the Holy Spirit, uncompromising spirit, truth, forcefulness, and courage!
H. Gifts from the Holy Spirit in the areas of preaching, teaching, or exhortation.
I. Training in hermeneutics (Interpreting the Bible) and homiletics (Preaching the Bible).
J. Knowledge of the science and art of human relations, communications, and the scriptures.
K. A moral, ethical, and upright life that does not distract from one’s preaching.
L. Evangelistic fervor to see many people saved from hell.
M. A desire to continually grow in grace and knowledge of Christ.
N. A love for Jesus Christ and people.
O. A deep trust, evidenced through a strong prayer life.
P. Discipline to continually be a student of the Bible.
Q. Physically, socially, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually fit.
R. Ability to manage his own house.
S. A solid theological foundation.
T. Access to good Biblical tools for sermon preparation. (Bible dictionary, commentaries, concordance, and Preacher’s Manuals).
U. Educationally capable of learning means of improving his preaching.
V. Ability to infuse variety in his preaching through expositional, biographical, topical, thematic, historical, devotional sermons etc.
W. Ability to plan his sermons with prayer and illustration materials.
