What is Preaching?

TEXT:  1 Cor. 1:20-25

INTRODUCTION:

A.    IT IS THROUGH PREACHING THE GOSPEL GOD PLANS TO

        SAVE US.

        1.     Jews preferred signs - lost.

        2.     Gentiles sought human wisdom - lost.

B.    BECAUSE PREACHING IS SO CENTRAL IN SAVING SOULS,

        WE ALL NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I.     WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN?

A.    WEBSTER: "to expound or proclaim... to advocate... urge strongly or

        persistently; to deliver a sermon."

B.    SEWELL:  "The activity of a redeemed man, standing in Christ's stead,

        by his authority and in obedience to his command, proclaiming,

        explaining, illustrating, strongly urging the word of God, the Gospel

               of Christ, in such a manner as to make it possible for responsible people

               to understand it and accept it unto life or reject it unto death."

II.    WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT PREACHING?

A.    THE PURPOSE IS TO URGE THE SINNER TO BE RECONCILED

        ( 2 Cor. 5:18-20 ).

B.    WE CAN'T COME TO JESUS WITHOUT HEARING

        ( John 6:44-45 ).

C.    ON THE BASIS OF THIS TRUTH CHRIST COMMANDED

        ( Mark 16:15 ).

D.    PREACHING IS NEEDED BY CHRISTIANS, TOO( 2 Tim. 4:1-4 ).

III.   OF WHAT DOES PREACHING CONSIST?

A.    THE AUTHORITATIVE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL,

        MOVING MEN TO CHRIST, SALVATION, & ETERNAL LIFE.

        1.     Life is in the message( John 20:30-31 ).

        2.     Needs a spokesman( Rom. 10:13-15 ).

B.    THE POWER RESTS NOT IN THE MAN BUT IN GOD & HIS

        WORD( 1 Cor. 2:1-5 ).

        1.     Preaching, a divine function accomplished thru men as his earthen

               agents( 2 Cor. 4:5-7; Phil. 2:12-13 ).

        2.     A speech may exhibit every rule of composition and delivery and

               yet be of the world entirely.  It may violate every standard of

               literary purity and yet be a voice vibrant with the love and power of

               God.

C.    GOSPEL PREACHING, IF IT IS INDEED FROM GOD, MUST BE

        AUTHORITATIVE( Titus 2:15 ).

        1.     It must strongly urge serious consideration & obedience to the gospel.

        2.     Observe the authority of these speaker( Acts 2:36-38;  17:30-31 ).

D.    IF IT IS NOT THE DECLARATION OF THE AUTHORITATIVE

        WORD OF GOD, IT IS NO GOOD!( Gal. 1:6-10 ).

        1.     The preacher does not create the message.

               a.     The apostles didn't( 1 Cor. 2:13-13 ).

               b.     We must not( 2 Tim. 2:2;  1 Pet. 4:11 ).

        2.     A curse on those who would alter it( 2 John 9-11 ).

        3.     The responsibility is grave( James 3:1 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.    THERE IS ONLY ONE HOPE FOR MAN( Rom. 1:16 ).

B.    HAVE YOU OBEYED THE GOSPEL?