Why Preach the Word?
January 21st, 2008
(By John MacArthur)
For many reasons, faithful and full proclamation of the Word is the only right way to preach. First of all, such preaching lets God speak rather than man, because it declares God’s own Word. And it is an incredibly thrilling privilege to give voice to God!
Second, preaching the Word is the only right way to preach because it brings the preacher into direct contact with the mind of the Holy Spirit, the author of Scripture. It is for that reason that the preacher of the Word finds the process of study and discovery to be even more rewarding than the preaching that results from it, gratifying as that can be.
It is tragic and puzzling that so many preachers who recognize Scripture to be God’s own Word spend more time investigating and interacting with the limited and imperfect minds of other men than delving into the infinite and holy mind of God. Part of the reason, of course, is that many hearers do not really want to delve into the depths of God’s righteousness and truth, because it exposes their own shallowness and sin. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul warned his son in the faith about the danger of those who hold “to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power” (2 Tim. 3:5). Later in that same epistle he would warn again that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;. . . and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths” (2 Tim. 4:3–4; cf. Acts 20:29–30).
Third, preaching the Word is the only right way to preach because it forces the preacher to proclaim all of God’s revelation, including those truths that even many believers find hard to learn or accept.
Fourth, preaching the Word is the only right way to preach because it promotes biblical literacy in a congregation, not only through what is learned from the sermon itself but also through the increased desire to study Scripture more carefully and consistently on their own. The faithful pastor, and all other faithful believers, love to learn God’s Word because they love the God of the Word.
Fifth, preaching the Word is the only right way to preach because it carries ultimate authority. It is the complete and perfect self-revelation of God Himself and of His divine will for mankind, which He has created in His own image.
Sixth, preaching the Word is the only right way to preach because only that kind of preaching can transform both the preacher and the congregation.
Seventh, the final and most compelling reason that preaching the Word is the only right way to preach is simply that it is His own Word, and only His own Word, that the Lord calls and commissions His preachers to proclaim.
Today’s post adapted from John’s commentary on 2 Timothy (Moody Press).
Thank God for those who faithfully preach-teach God’s Word.
Preaching the Word of God brings true worship of God in spirit and in truth, to the praise of His glory! It brings conviction of sin and repentance toward God, and it brings each believer to maturity in the faith (Lk 8:14; Heb 6:1).
Preaching the Word of God gives instruction, correction, and encouragement to believers (2Tim 3:16); and it gives warning of sin, righteousness and judgment to come to unbelievers (John 16:8; “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;).
I am grateful beyond expression for having found a Pastor-Teacher who humbly preaches and teaches God’s word each week. It has changed my perspective on faith and religion, from ethereal hope, to focused obedient hope and faith in the Living God, not in my own deeds.
There is also a marked change in how I read and study the Bible. This kind of preaching encourages and teaches personal responsibility/involvement in Bible study and spiritual growth; a love for God’s Word (Acts 17:11). Though it is God who works in the believer, each one of us will actively participate, being in agreement with God. (Phil 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for {His} good pleasure.) (I Cor 9:27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.)
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Yes! Yes! Yes! or to be biblical AMEN! Pastor John thank-you so much, although I live north of your border YOU have been in books,cds,radio,internet etc, MY PASTOR.
Now by the grace of God I find myself by the desire of the saints and answered prayer, more and more in a Bible teaching and preaching role. You are bang on - there is absolutely NOTHING that replaces preaching the WORD from the WORD for the sake of the WORD. Your example,boldness,zeal,love and determination has kindled the gift in me! In a sense you, by your example speak to those speak to, thank-you for being a blessing to myself, those I love and minister to.
Ive seen it time and again, by preaching the deep riches of the WORD and “unleashing” it God’s people learn and are enthralled with the glories of Christ and the truth of God’s Word. I like you love the WORD wether written or incarnate. There is no other way to preach for a preacher or a “kerux” is nothing but a herald and a herald by definition is a messenger sent by a monarch to make proclamtion. Meaning: the words belong to the Sovereign not the messenger! There is no sound Biblical preaching if it is not from and in the WORD ALONE!
Once again JMac nails it. And this time he does it in a simple and concise way–Truth matters! Too many churches today have fallen victim to mixing a little bit of God’s truth with a lot of bit af worldly philosophy. The combination is like oil[God’s Truth] and water [world’s philosophy]. They don’t mix and the oil is the one that rises to the top.
With seeker-centered and seeker-sensitivism and now the emerging church, pastors [real ones–called ones] need to be aware that false teaching is so prevalent today. It’s always been around but it seems like it’s more deceptive and even more accepted in Christendom today. They need to be aware even if they are committed to the truth in their pulpits because one place false teaching has invaded is the local Christian bookstore. With many churchgoers going to these bookstores, the ‘called’ pastor’s job is all the more important–PREACH THE WORD! Churchgoers need to be taught the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If for any reason–so they can recognize false teaching.
It only takes a little bit of a watered-down message to decieve even a seasoned churchgoer. Look at what happened to Eve in the garden. One simple question led her down the wrong path and away from God’s comfort and security– Did God really say…? Man’s philosophy asks that same question–Did God really say…? We, as pastors, need to boldly stand up and stand behind God’s Word and say it loudly–Thus saith the Lord! God’s word does say and it says it clearly. Perhaps then what we proclaim will be like the oil Samuel used to anoint the head of David. It will set apart those who are truly called to know the Truth and to allow that Truth to set them free.
All of those reasons to preach the Word listed above are well and good, in and of themselves. But, unfortunately they fail to convey the primary purpose for the Christian minister in preaching God’s Word. The main reason, dear reader, we preach the Word is that God tells us too!
We take our imperatives from the Lord. Being inspired by the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul, in writing to the Christians at Rome, states that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (see Rom. 10). Additionally, in exhorting young Timothy, Paul commands him, “Preach the Word, in season and out of season”.
So, while the practical reasons for preaching, such as the ones given here, are valid in the sense they fill a pragmatic purpose, they still fall short of explaining our responsiblity to obey God in all things. And one of the most critical areas of ministry where we can fail to fufill the Lord’s calling and purpose for His church, is in our neglect of His command to preach the Word!
David thanks for your point, I think however that point is to be assumed in this conversation. Even those who would disagree with the comments here would hold to the fact that they preach because they’ve been COMMANDED to and listeners are COMMANDED to repent. What’s at the heart here is not whether we preach or not but HOW we do it. Pastor John is getting at STYLE, do we preach from isolated texts, our own thoughts and running commentary, only thematic sermons… or do we EXPOSIT the WORD. Again it’s not so much DO we obey the command to preach because even the false teachers would say that, but HOW do we obey the command. Valid point though.
Pat, thanks as well, for your response. It has been my experience never to assume too much about my readers. I don’t believe many modern evangelical ministers understand their responsiblity in preaching the Word comes as a command from God to do so. If, they did, they’d be much more faithful in fulfilling their duty in this regard. Pastor John touches on this point in #7, though it could use further development.
Rather, because the church as a whole has succumbed to pragmatism, the Bible and it’s message has been relegated to a back seat in many assemblies. The very authority of the Word is compromised. This is why it is essential to know and understand the principle of preaching the pure Word of God. Modern Christians don’t want demands upon their lives. When we speak in terms of what God commands us to do, often we flinch.
Yet, I firmly believe if we are faithful in meeting our obligation in preaching the Word of God, then many of the other more practical reasons listed above for preaching will fall into place.
Blessings,
David R. McCrory
Just preach the word! and trust the Lord for the results. It doesn’t matter if you have a congregation of 5 or 50 million, souls are saved by God’s wisdom, not man’s!
David McCrory,
Your first comment: “All of those reasons to preach the Word listed above are well and good, in and of themselves. But, unfortunately they fail to convey the primary purpose for the Christian minister in preaching God’s Word. The main reason, dear reader, we preach the Word is that God tells us too!”
Here you criticise John for failing to convey the primary purpose pastors should preach the Word. Then in your second comment you admit that John did exactly that in point 7, though you say he didn’t do an adequate job of it.
John’s statment in point 7 is certainly concise, but still emphatically states what you first said he failed to do.
Seems to me you’re nitpicking.
In this excerpt John starts off with the term faithful and full preaching of the Word with the next 6 bullet points starting off with the phrase “preaching the word is the only right way.” It’s obvious that by faithful and full he means sequential exposition since that is his mode of preaching, and the bullet points support that. So this meant to address the reasons why verse by verse seguential exposition is the best way, the main way, to preach the Word giving both reasons and benefits.
Morris
Steven,
Thank you for the comment. Your use of the word “criticise”, to me, is a bit strong. My contention would be, if I were writing the piece, is that the motivating emphasis for preaching the Word is first and foremost simply because it is commanded by God to do so. We need no other reason.
In other words, what Pastor John merely touches on in point #7, should, IMO, be the central tenet of the argument. And by putting the command of God as the primary and sufficent reason for preaching the Word, I would have illustrated how the other 6 points flow from this.
For example, if we submit to God’s command to preach the Word, then the preacher is brought “into direct contact with the mind of the Holy Spirit” (point #2)
Or, when we remember God demands the pure preaching of the Word we are clearly taught, “only that kind of preaching can transform both the preacher and the congregation” (point #6).
And so on. So the only “criticism”, to use your word, I would have, is a matter of emphasis, not content. And, as this website will teach you, in matters of faith and doctrine, sometimes precision is a very critical thing.
Let no corrupt words proceed from your mouth, but only that which is good for necessary edification, that it might impart grace to the hearers. Eph. 4:29
For a preacher…that leaves only the Word, because every other word comes from the mind of man.
It’s either the Word or it isn’t.
It either builds or destoys.
It either heals or it hurts.
It’s either Christ or it isn’t.
I must admit, I often get lost in these postings. I am un-educated and un-studied in many of the deep theologies that come up, but this I get. Thank you, Pastor. The power is in His Word.
The Word should edify the body of believers. When pastors start out telling tons of jokes with the idea of being funny and popular, and they follow it up with a bunch of personal stories, then what you get is a bunch of emotional hijacking. People might walk the aisle and say the prayer because of emotionally being tugged, but unless the Word is properly preached, sin and repentance, faith and obedience, then false converts will be created!
“For many reasons, faithful and full proclamation of the Word is the only right way to preach.”
I totally agree with Pastor John MacArthur.
Yet there is some wonderment, in terms of a thought experiment, by the Internet Monk as to whether and how the faithful and full proclamation of the Word by a preacher will be “successful” in a particular context. Please see this excerpt:
“Their models are Macarthur, Piper, Mahaney, Dever and Keller. They understand the church planting ideas of Mark Driscoll and ACTS 29. They are sympathetic to the missional approach of Ed Stetzer. They believe in doctrinal Christianity as the basis for experience and church life. They love the Puritans and believe in books as a way to disciple their people. They have a strong commitment to complementarianism. They are the new breed of SBC pastors and this is their chance.
What’s going to happen?”
From: http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/12-churches-12-calvinists
Yes. This is a good post & some very helpful comments & scriptures too. A friend recently wondered out loud if our ministry outside the abortion clinic was effective. We try to witness, share & preach primarily through the Word of God. She said: “After all, if you are mostly using scriptures then where does that leave the people who are not Christians & don’t believe the Bible?” I explained that the Bible teaches us that ‘faith comes by hearing & hearing comes by the Word’. The Word IS the way people BECOME believers. We begin with God’s moral law, the commandments, which brings the knowlege of sin. We pray that the Holy Spirit would use the Law to bring conviction of sin & fear of the Lord. We are & will remain unapologetically bible/gospel-driven through & through in order that what we say would have the most authority & the greatest amount of truth to glorify Christ as He deserves.
Thanks, Pastor MacArthur, for this article.