Preaching/Teaching
This morning we are continuing in our series on worship. Today we will look at the topic of preaching or teaching as it relates to the worship service. Now I will say this that every single Christian is a preacher or teacher of God words. We preach a sermon every single day of our lives by the way we live our lives and show people that Gods love is in us and that a lesson within itself. But, today I want to focus in specifically on preaching or teaching in the worship assembly. Now this lesson doesn’t just apply to the preacher but to anyone who is proclaiming Gods Word. We can see that preaching is a part of public worship to God in several places in the Bible. Lets look at 2 examples.
Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the
week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart
the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until
Here we see Paul preaching the Word of God to these people at Troas and might add he didn’t have a time limit because we see him preaching until midnight and poor Eutychus fell asleep and fell to his death. This might tells us that we should be careful about falling asleep during a sermon. As you read on we learn that Paul continues preaching until day break. Apparently Paul had a lot to say. We can also see that preaching or teaching is a part of worship in 1 Cor. 14 where we see Paul explaining how worship to God should be done in orderly manner. Besides these 2 examples, common sense would tells us that proclaiming Gods should be a part of our worship service. Keeping this in mind I know what to examine the following question.
What should be
preached in public worship?
The apostle Paul gives great insight to this question in many places.
ESV
2 Corinthians 4:5 For what
we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your
servants for Jesus' sake.
Here Paul is teaching us what we shouldn’t preach.
We should not preach ourselves trying to make out like we are something
special, No we are to preach Jesus and those things associated with his authority.
That is why Paul says,
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know
anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Paul already had enough problems with people
trying to put him on a pedal stool and make him out to be more than he was, so
he wanted to make sure that people understood that Jesus was the message and
not Paul. This will include talking about Jesus deity, his work upon this earth
and his resurrection from the dead. It
would also include preparing people for his return so that they go to heaven
instead of hell. I would recommend that you read Paul’s letters to Timothy and
Titus again, because these books are rich with what should be taught in the worship
service. I want to look a few of these passages.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that
in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving
spirits and doctrines of demons, 2
speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot
iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and
commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with
thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good,
and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word
of God and prayer. 6 If you
instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus
Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have
carefully followed. 7 But
reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward
godliness. 8 For bodily
exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having
promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying
and worthy of all acceptance. 10
For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in
the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who
believe. 11 These things
command and teach.
Paul warns
Timothy of those who would stray away from God’s word and he stresses the
importance that Timothy teach the people the word of God. Notice how stress
this again in,
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you therefore
before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at
His appearing and His kingdom: 2
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke,
exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching
ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears
away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all
things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your
ministry.
Paul states with clarity that the word God is to
be preached and not something else. It should become very clear to us as
Christians why it is important that the word of God be preached and not
something else. The word of God is,
1. Power of God to salvation.
2. It is how we have faith in God Rom.
3. It gives us all things pertaining to life 2
Pet.1:3
4. It makes us complete and ready for every good work
2Tim. 3:16-17
Now this is just a partial list because whatever
we need to know to be good and faithful servants to God or to treat our fellow
man can found in the Word of God. I really wish that all those who teach or
preach would use God’s Word as the primary source. But unfortunately many
preachers today are moving away from the word of God and are just preaching
fell good messages that are full fuzzy little stories and very little
scripture. The reason why some preacher are staying away from Gods word is
because they cant draw as big of a crowd if they continue to preach about sin
and warn about the reality of hell. This is sad my friends because when the
word of God is neglected and is not preached it will only end in destructions
because Gods people will get to the point where they feel comfortable even
though they are living in sin.
When Paul
was talking to the Ephesian elders and warning them to watch out for false
teaches who would even come from among
themselves he says this in,
Acts
Brethren this is what
needs to be taught in the worship service the complete and perfect will of God.
There is message for every single person in the Bible. Sometimes there are
topics that we don’t want to hear about because it steps on our toes. But these
are necessary for us so that we can be reminded to better than what we are or to
remind us not to be involved in that sin any longer. How can we ever expect to
grow in God’s grace and knowledge if all Gods truth is not being taught? When I
say all of God’s word I mean both the NT and the OT. Even though we are not
under the old covenant we can learn a great deal from that we can apply to our
own lives as Paul states in.
Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written
before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort
of the Scriptures might have hope.
We can also see great examples of how Peter and
Paul preached the word of God in Acts 2 and 13. They would start out in the OT
showing how Christ had fulfilled the prophecy of the OT and then they would
preach to them Christ crucified and all things necessary for salvation.
Preacher and teachers would do well to copy their example and not be ashamed of
Gods word but instead proclaim without fear of men knowing that they are
glorifying their God in heaven. So, preach the word and leave the fluff behind.
Who
should proclaim Gods Word in worship?
James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become
teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Now I believe this is
talking about those who teach publicly and not on individual basis because each us walking sermon for God. Now
last week I already established that women are not have authority over the man
in the worship service so it should be man that that is proclaiming Gods Word
in a mixed assembly. But as James states it shouldn’t just be anybody. Whoever
proclaims God’s word need to understand that you will receive a stricter
judgment because you are responsible for molding and shaping people lives with
the will of God. If you are teaching
false concepts that will lead people away from
God than you are going to be judged for this. When you understand this
it makes you take a very serious look at the Word of God and it will cause you
study very hard so that you don’t misrepresent God’s word. Now I am not saying
that you have master degree in Bible but it important that you have the ability
to rightly divide the word of God. Once you have grown to this level you cant
help but to want to teach or preach the word of God. Jeremiah is great example
of this. He was a man that proclaimed Gods message over and over again and no
one would listen to him.
Jeremiah 20:7 O LORD, You induced me, and I was
persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily;
Everyone mocks me. 8 For when
I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, "Violence and plunder!" Because the
word of the LORD was made to me A reproach and a derision daily. 9 Then I said, "I will not
make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in
my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it
back, And I could not.
You see this is what
happens to a Christian today. The more you study Gods word and
understand it the more you will desire to proclaim it even if people are
mocking you and they don’t want to listen to you will proclaim it even more.
You see a person must have the right attitude to proclaim and the right
motivation to proclaim God’s Word. Notice what
Paul says about this.
1 Corinthians
You see Paul had the
right mentality he was not preaching Gods word for fame or to get rich he was
doing it because loved God and he wants Gods people to hear Gods message. This
is the attitude and motivation that should behind everyone who proclaims Gods
Word.
Now I can tell you some
people especial preachers get into this job for wrong reasons and I believe
they shouldn’t be in the pulpit. Some men get into preaching just so they can
have a job so they can have money coming in. This is what I like to call career
preachers. Folks I do not think these men should be in the pulpit because they
have the wrong attitude and the wrong motivation. When a person preaches just
for the money they are not going to be a very effective preacher and they
certainly will not be pleasing to God.
Paul taught this concept
to Timothy in,
1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches otherwise and
does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing,
but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy,
strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5
useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who
suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw
yourself. 6 Now godliness
with contentment is great gain. 7
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can
carry nothing out. 8 And
having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich
fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful
lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root
of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in
their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee
these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
gentleness.
You see a person that is
motivated by money or popularity will most like compromise the truth or will
preach the whole will of God because they want to further their career they
want to make more money. But Paul clearly stated withdraw yourself from such
people. As Paul said we should be content with what we have and God should be
our priority and not ourselves.
Another thing for
preachers or teachers to understand is that they need to preach a message that
can be understood by all. Some people like to use words that most people don’t
understand. Its like they want to try to impress people on just how smart they
are. But when you talk over people heads you message will not come through so
the message should be simple so that everyone can understand it. This means
that the teacher is going to have to put some thought it what their going to
say and how they are going to say it. I just recently went to seminar on
preaching and I want to share with a true story that they shared with me. They
said there were some preacher who we constantly sharing their outlines but this
one preacher never wrote any outlines he just relied upon these other preachers
for their outlines. He was very gifted speaker and he could take one of the
outlines without ever looking over it much and stand in the pulpit and deliver
a message. Well these other preacher figured out what he was doing so that they
decided to pull a fast one on him. They created an outline where the scriptures
being used did to match the points whatsoever. So you could imagine what this
preacher sounded like as he tried to preach from this outline from the pulpit
that day. So teachers and preachers alike should put some
thought and effort to what they are going to say and not try to speak
off the cuff at the last min.
I can promise
your there isn’t a better job than to proclaim the life saving message of Gods word but those who proclaim it must have
the right attitude and the right
motivation and they should not compromise Gods truth for a personal gain. Now
the last question I want to look at this morning is.
Why
should we listen careful to what is being taught?
Once again Paul gives us some great insight on
this question in,
Romans
Paul is telling us that when we hear the word of God it give us faith and when we listen to
what being proclaimed it will cause us to grow in our faith and make us
stronger Christians. Now I want you to notice what the book of Proverbs says
about listening.
Proverbs 8:6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent
things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; 7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing
crooked or perverse is in them. 9
They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find
knowledge. 10 Receive my
instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; 11 For wisdom is better than
rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
You see when someone is
proclaiming God’s word you should listen very carefully because they can teach
you something that will make you a better or Christian or they may challenge
you to think about Gods Word in a different way. You see no matter how boring a
sermon may be to you if you listen carefully you should be able to learn
something or get something out the lesson that you can apply to your own life.
So when you come to worship service you should come prepared to listen. The sermon is not the time you
pull out a newspaper to catch up on the latest news and it not the time to be
reading the church Bulliten or caring on a conversation with someone. No we
should be listing carefully as the word of God is being proclaimed.
If we don’t do this than
how are we going to know if the truth is being proclaimed or if false doctrine
is being proclaimed. We would do well to follow the Bereans example,
Acts
Notice the people open
minded but they did not believe everything the heard. So after they listened
very carefully they would then carefully examine the scriptures to see if what
was being taught was true and we need to do this as well. I can tell there is
not a perfect teacher or preacher out their and they can make mistakes. As a
listener you should you pay very close attention and back up what is taught
from the bible. If you see the teacher is in error than you should talk with
them and show them what the scripture say so they don’t repeat that mistake
again. Jesus also taught us about the importance of listening in Mark 4. Jesus
tells his disciples the parable of the 4 soils and after explains this parable
notice what he says in,
Mark
So take heed to what you hear.
Once last reason we should listen carefully is
found in,
Acts 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went out
of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat
down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named
Here Paul proclaiming Gods word and because
I want to finish up this last point by looking at
example found in,
Nehemiah 8:1 Now all the people gathered
together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water
Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses,
which the LORD had commanded Israel. 2
So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all
who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh
month. 3 Then he read from it
in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning
until
So let us never forget the importance of listening
to God word as it is being proclaimed.
I hope from this lesson you have learned that
preaching is part our worship service and those who preach should boldly proclaim
the whole council of God. Those who do this should be motivated by pleasing and
God and not themselves and finally we need to be sure and listen carefully as
the word of God is being proclaimed so our hearts can be opened and so we can
grow in the knowledge and grace of our lord.