The Heart of Preaching: Declaring God’s Truth in Jesus
Preaching is a vital aspect of Christian ministry, but what does it truly entail? At its core, preaching is about declaring God’s truth in Jesus, to the praise of His name. It is an explanation and application of the Word in the assembled congregation of Christ.
A Divine Activity
Preaching is not just a human endeavor; it is ultimately a divine activity. As J.I. Packer notes, “It is the event of God himself bringing to an audience a Bible-based, Christ-related, life-impacting message of instruction and direction through the words of a spokesperson.”
The Importance of Preaching
So, just how important is preaching? William Greenhill answers, “Where the word of God is not expounded, preached and applied to the several conditions of the people, there they perish.” In other words, preaching is essential for the spiritual health and well-being of God’s people.
The Goal of Preaching
What is the ultimate goal of preaching? It is to see people’s hearts comforted by the truth of God’s Word, and to call them to give themselves to Jesus with renewed hope. As John Newton wrote, “To view Him by faith, as living, dying, reigning, interceding and governing for us, will furnish us with such views, prospects, motives, and encouragements, as will enable us to endure any cross, to overcome all opposition, to withstand temptation, and to run in the way of His commandments with an enlarged heart.”
Christ-Centered Preaching
But how do we preach in a way that is centered on Christ? We must read Scripture expecting to see Him, His unfolding victory, and His tender grace on all its pages. As Sinclair Ferguson notes, “From Genesis 3:15 to the end, the Bible is the story of God the Warrior coming to the aid of His people in order to deliver them from the kingdom of darkness and to establish His reign among, in and through them.”
Breaking the Bread of Life
As preachers, our task is to break the bread of life in such a way that the church feeds on Christ from every Scripture. We must prepare, pray over, and then declare the truth as it is found in Jesus, in order to call our hearers to give themselves to Him with renewed hope.
A High Calling
Preaching is a high calling, and one that requires great care and attention. As Lewis Allen notes, “No text is ever properly handled if people aren’t led into its truth that Jesus is center-stage in God’s drama.” Let us strive to be faithful preachers of God’s Word, declaring the truth of Jesus to a world in need of hope.
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