1. What to do: Preach the Word

Lets start by reading 2 Timothy 4:1-2 and answering some questions: 1. Why do you think Paul charged Timothy "before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge?" (To make Him see the importance of this charge) 2. What was Timothy charged to do? 3. What does it mean to be "instant?" 4. What do you think it means to be "in season and out of season?" 5. What are the five ways we are to "preach the word?"

The key idea here is for us to prepare.

The call to preach is the call to prepare.

If you become a pastor, you will never not be preparing sermons. Preaching will become the constant in your life. As soon as you finish one sermon, you'll be working on another. Week in, week out, for years and years you will preach.

People will see you preach for thirty or forty minutes on Sunday and assume that's it - but what they won't know is that for every half hour you spend preaching you will spend five hours in preparation.

You are going to be like a human bucket with a hole in it. There will always be water coming out of the hole and so you are going to have to continually put study into it.

Let's look at some examples of preaching the word in scripture:

A. Preaching in the Old Testament

Read the story of Ezekiel preaching in Ezekiel 37:1-10 and answer the following questions:

  • Who was Ezekiel told to prophecy to? (1)
  • What was Ezekiel to preach to them? (4)
  • What was the result of Ezekiel preaching the word to these dead bones? (10)

We can draw a clear parallel between Ezekiel's job and our own. We are called to preach the word to men who are dead in their trespasses in sins, so that the Spirit can breath life into them and they can be put back together and live for Him.

Another Old Testament story that teaches us a lot about preaching is found in Nehemiah 8, which records the rediscovery and reading of the word in Jerusalem after the exile. Read verses 1-8 and answer the following questions:

  • What was Ezra reading? (1)
  • Who was Ezra preaching to? (2)
  • Did the people listen? (3)
  • What was the result of reading the word? (6)
  • Verse 8, is a great summary of biblical preaching, what three parts does it lay out?

B. The preaching of Jesus

Read Matthew 4:17 and Mark 1:38, what was Jesus ministry characterized by? (preaching)

What was the basis of most of Jesus teaching and preaching? (see Matthew 12:3; 12:5; 19:4; 22:31, many others)

In Mark 16:15, what did Jesus command us to do?

C. The preaching of the early church.

Look at Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-39) and consider:

  • What did Peter use as the basis of his sermon? (16)
  • What was the subject of Peter's sermon? (22-24, 36)
  • What happened after Peter preached his sermon? (37)
  • What did Peter invite them to do? (38-39)

Preaching the gospel became a hallmark of the early church. How does Acts 5:42 summarize the work of the church at Jerusalem?

The preaching in Jerusalem turned to sending out missionaries to preach in other countries. Almost every chapter of Acts includes a sermon or a record of someone preaching.

D. The preaching commended in the epistles.

Read Romans 10:14-15 and consider these questions: - Can the gospel go forward without preachers? (14) - What does God think of faithful preachers? (15) - What should we be faithfully preaching? (15)

Let's consider 1 Timothy 4:13-16: - What is the pastor to give attention to? (13) - What do you think is meant by reading? (13) - What do you think that is meant by exhortation? (13) - What do you think is meant by doctrine? (13) - What do you think Timothy's spiritual gift was? (14) - What could be the significance of "laying on of hands"? (14) - Why is it important that other brothers recognize your spiritual gifting? (14) - How could he neglect it? How could you be in danger of neglecting your spiritual gift? (14) - What things do you think Timothy was supposed to meditate on? (15) - Verse 15 says he was to "give himself wholly to them", what are some ways a pastor could not give himself wholly to their spiritual calling? - What two things must the preacher take heed to? (16)

2. How to do it

Preach the whole Bible

Acts 20:27, 1 Timothy 3:16-17

We have a duty to preach the whole Bible and the best way to preach the whole Bible is to preach expository sermons.

What are expository sermons?

Expository preaching is that mode of Christian preaching that takes as its central purpose the presentation and application of the text of the Bible . . . all other issues and concerns are subordinated to the central task of presenting the biblical text. (Albert Mohler)

The difference between expository sermons and non-expository sermons is a matter of goals. If your goal is to say your thing - you are not preaching an expository message. If your goal is to present the meaning of the scripture - you are preaching an expository message.

The best course of action for pastoral preaching is to regularly preach through books of the Bible. This doesn't mean there is no place for topical sermons or special sermons.

Why expository sermons?

  1. Expository sermons affirm the authority, power, and sufficiency of scripture.
  2. Expository sermons teach our people how to read and understand their Bibles.
  3. Expository sermons help keep a pastor focused on preaching God's words and not human ideas.
  4. Expository sermons remove the struggle of "finding a sermon" every week.

Preach your own material

It's never been easier to steal other preacher's material: - You can listen to great sermons on any text on Sermonaudio.com - You can copy a sermon from a commentary. - You can copy a sermon from YouTube. - You can buy premade sermon outlines. - You can even have AI write you a sermon (and it's pretty good.)

You shouldn't do this!

  1. When we preach other people's material we are lying. We are deceiving people that someone else's material as your own. How can we be preachers of the truth and engage in a lie? (John 8:44)
  2. When we preach other people's material we are presenting the Lord a sacrifice that cost us nothing. (2 Samuel 24:24)
  3. When we preach other people's material we are robbing ourself. (1 Timothy 4:15)
  4. When we preach other people's material we are robbing our congregation. Remember, they aren't listening to a sermon, they are listening to a preacher.

Preach to your people

  1. You have to apply the text to the people in your care.
  2. You have to keep in mind your people's ability to understand and absorb what you are teaching.

The mind cannot absorb what the seat cannot endure.

Know how many "minutes good" you are, and don't preach one minute longer. (Josh Howerton)

Preach to yourself

Remember that the preacher must "take heed unto thyself" (1 Timothy 4:16)

Before you preach the word to others, make sure you are deeply affected by it yourself.

Additional Reading