Someone once said that “the sum is greater than its parts.” That is true of many things, casseroles being one example. You could eat each ingredient of your favorite casserole separately, but you don’t experience the full effect until they’re combined together. The same is true of the church. While each church may highlight certain values or ministries, the church is meant to function as the sum of many working parts. One of those essential parts is preaching.
Regardless of what church you attend, its people and pastor should value preaching. A Bible-believing church holds the public proclamation of God’s Word in the highest regard. So, what does that really mean? Here are four questions that help us understand preaching in the life of the church.
Why Do We Preach? (2 Timothy 4:1)
The first question is simple, but foundational: why preaching? Why should a church commit itself to regularly proclaiming God’s Word? Because God has charged us to.
In life, there are many moments where we are charged with responsibility: weddings, graduations, even military service. Paul gave Timothy such a charge in the presence of the triune God: preach the Word.
Just as Timothy was charged, so are we. Preaching isn’t optional, it is God’s design for His people to proclaim His Word publicly.
What Do We Preach? (2 Timothy 4:2)
If God has charged us to preach, then the next question naturally follows: what do we preach? The answer is clear…God’s Word.
In Scripture, God reveals who He is, what He has done, and what He desires to do. The Holy Spirit inspired men to write it down so that you and I could have access to His truth. God’s Word tells us about the living Word, Jesus Christ. It tells us of His life, death, resurrection, and promised return. Through the Spirit, we are given understanding of how the Word applies to our lives and transforms us to be like Christ. This is the Word that must be preached.
When and How Do We Preach? (2 Timothy 4:2)
If preaching is God’s charge, then when do we preach? The short answer: always. No matter what season of life we’re in, God calls us to proclaim His Word.
And how do we preach? With patience. No one’s life is transformed by hearing God’s Word once. Transformation takes time in individuals and in the church as a whole. Faithful, patient preaching over time is how God brings lasting change.
While We Preach… (2 Timothy 4:3-5)
God’s charge to preach is clear, but that doesn’t mean it will always be well received. Many in our world chase after whatever is “trendy” or “relevant,” even under the banner of Christianity. But no matter the shifting tides, the church must remain steady.
We are responsible to continue proclaiming the good news of the gospel as recorded in God’s Word. It is that message, and that message alone, that transforms lives.
Just as a casserole is only complete when its ingredients are combined, the church is only complete when all of its parts work together, including the faithful preaching of God’s Word. Preaching is not just one piece of the puzzle; it is one of the essential ingredients God has given His people for life, growth, and transformation.
