There are five million sermons preached in America each year. The unparalleled opportunity of the pulpit to reach the minds of men is remarkable. Yet the world would be better off if most sermons were never heard. This is not said to discredit preaching for "it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21), but to emphasize the danger of false preaching (Galatians 1:9; James 3:1). Jesus warned that there are many false prophets in the world (Matthew 7:15). Thus, many of those five million sermons do not contain God's truth. Many who say they speak for God do not know God (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). One who does not understand what God intends to happen during preaching will be unsuccessful at accomplishing it. That some are confused about why they preach is evident by how they preach. The purpose is not to amuse audiences, discuss political issues, gain a personal following, or manipulate people for monetary reward. What does preaching accomplish?
PREACHING CONVERTS THE LOST (Acts 3:19). This is the great purpose of preaching (1 Corinthians 1:21). Sinners who are lost and plunging headlong toward the fire with no extinguisher need to know of God's love (John 3:16), Christ's sacrifice (Matthew 20:28), and the Spirit's plan of salvation (John 8:24; Acts 2:38). There is an element of persuasion in preaching. It is said that Peter "with many other words did...testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). Good preaching "pounds on closed hearts until they open to change." Salvation is already "bought and paid for" but preaching makes it possible to get it in the hands of those who need it. In 1901 at a Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, an assailant shot President William McKinley. He was taken to emergency surgery but the bullet that had slashed through his stomach and lodged in his back could not be found. He was moved to a private room and died a week later. Had surgeons been able to trace the path, locate, and remove the bullet, he might have lived. It is interesting that on display at the Exposition was a revolutionary new device called an "x-ray" machine. Though the life-saving device was near, he died. Wouldn't you have liked to be able to walk into President McKinley's room and tell him you knew how to save his life? Preachers have the exciting privilege to tell men that there is a life-saving remedy-the Gospel!
PREACHING CONVICTS THE ERRING (2 Timothy 4:2). Those who were once enlightened and have left the Lord need to be rebuked of sin. Since the latter end is worse than the first (2 Peter 2:20-22), and since many stripes await those who fail to repent (Luke 12:47), preachers strongly desire to convince the erring to return before they pass from the scenes of this world unprepared (Luke 15:20; Matthew 25:46). These efforts are not always warmly received. Alcibiades, the brilliant but spoiled darling of Athens, used to say to Socrates, "Socrates, I hate you, because every time I meet you, you make me see what I am." The first essential to get one to repent is to compel a man to see himself as he is. This is what Paul had in mind when he commanded preachers to "reprove" (2 Timothy 4:2; Colossians 1:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12; 5:14). Reprove (elegcho) is a strong word that means "to convict, refute; generally with a suggestion of shame of the persons convicted; to bring to the light, expose; find fault with, call to account, demand an explanation; chasten, punish." Those who fall away need to be shown how serious a crime they are committing against Christ and how perilous is their immediate predicament. This is not easy for tenderhearted preachers to do, but it is vital. Epictetus drew a contrast between the false philosopher, who is out for popularity, and the real philosopher, whose aim is the good of his hearers. The first deals in flattery and panders to self-esteem. The second says: "Come and be told that you are in a bad way." "The philosopher's lecture," he said, "is a surgery; when you go away you ought to have felt not pleasure, but pain." But like successful surgery, one is better off enduring the pain for the benefit. Preachers get to be involved in the healing process.
PREACHING COMFORTS THE FAITHFUL (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Good preaching edifies faithful members. One old preacher saw his job as to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Preachers must "exhort" (parakaleo) which literally means, "to call to one's side, to encourage and strengthen by consolation." It is not easy to walk the strait and narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14). This world's problems can drive a man to despair and take the heart and hope out of him. Preaching helps put it back. Paul wrote "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (Hebrews 10:24). Good preaching can also help those faithful Christians who lack confidence in the hope of their salvation. John wrote, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life...And this is the confidence that we have in him..." (1 John 5:13-14). Preachers enjoy doing what Paul said, "...comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
PREACHING CREATES FAITH IN THE YOUNG. Young people growing up need to learn the Bible. The Psalmist instructed, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word" (Psalm 119:9). By teaching, preachers help strengthen them before they have to face life's hard side on their own. Later they can say of God's commands, "All these have I kept from my youth up" (Matthew 19:20). Some parents make a mistake by insisting that their children do well in public school, but failing to demand (or even encourage) them to do well in Bible School. Some fathers know their son's batting average and points per game, but never take time to learn what they're studying in Bible School. That sends a wrong message that intelligent children rarely miss. The soul's training is the most important part of the early years and preachers have the great privilege of assisting parents in molding young minds.
PREACHING CORRECTS ERROR. Error will not go away on its own. It started in Eden and will remain as long as the world stands. The truth must be taught (John 8:32), and one cannot teach truth without exposing error (Jude 3). We are known as much by what we condemn as what we condone (cf., Matthew 12:30). Preachers get to help lead men from darkness to light.
During the height of the Roman Empire, there were two great orators-Cicero and Demothenes. It is said that when Cicero spoke, the people said, "What a magnificent oration," but when Demothenes spoke, the people said, "Let's go fight." We know Cicero, but where is Demothenes?!-P.O. Box 520, Jacksonville, AL 36265