Preaching Should Be Increased (or, Kill the Church - Downplay Preaching) part 5
3-30-08
Michael Gilbert (part 5 in a series)
Over the last few weeks, we have been talking about preaching.
Our comments have been centered around Paul’s charge to Timothy, “Preach the word…” (2 Tim. 4:2). All of second Timothy chapter 3, and the first six verses of chapter 4, hinge on this solemn charge (MacArthur). Timothy, “preach the word” because of the perilous times in which we live (3:1)…because of the godly examples of preachers that have gone before you (3:10-14)…and because of your knowledge of the Scriptures and their saving power (3:15).
Let’s notice, from 2 Tim. 4:1-2, a fourth reason Timothy was charged with preaching the gospel. It deals with the solemn command of God, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ…preach the word”. Brethren, that’s heavy language…and a heavy burden to bear for any preacher or teacher! The rest of the verse says that Jesus, “…will judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom” (4:1). To put it in language we can all understand…”Preach the Word, Timothy, because God the Father and Jesus the Son are watching - and Jesus will judge you one day”. Good preachers will shudder at this thought, being plagued with their own sense of humanity, frailty and worthlessness. However, faithful preachers will still preach, laboring under the command of God, and not the praises, complaints, and/or whims of his audience, lest he fall out of God’s favor, for Paul also wrote, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10).
God instructs His preacher’s to do three things, the first being “kerusson ton logon” - “preach the word”. Kerusson (the Greek word for “preach” in this passage) means to herald God’s message “with a suggestion of formality, gravity, and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed” (Thayer’s Greek/English Lexicon of the NT, p. 346). Ever wonder why preachers (and/or Bible class teachers) are often called ‘hard-headed’ and why it’s sometimes said of them that “he thinks it is his way or no way”? It could be because they are seeking to obey this command of God! Before we judge our preachers and teachers too harshly, let’s make sure we understand where they are coming from - they are God’s heralds, proclaiming a message for the King, not themselves. Contrary to popular belief, preachers don’t “get a kick” out of preaching hard, confrontational sermons. In fact, most preachers probably spend days and sometimes weeks agonizing over the hard sermons they will eventually have to preach - but, when that day arrives they are compelled by God to stand up and boldly declare God’s message in no uncertain terms. This is the nature of preachers and kerusson (preaching).
The second part of God’s solemn command deals with reproving and rebuking sin . Preaching and teaching God’s word, therefore, is confrontational and corrective in nature. Isn’t this the side of preaching that got John the baptizer beheaded? Weust has written concerning this side of preaching, “The preacher is to deal with sin, both in the lives of his unsaved hearers and in those of the saints to whom he ministers, and he is to do it in no uncertain tones. The word “sin” is not enough in the vocabulary of our preaching today.” (Weust, Vol. 2, p. 155). God told Habakkuk, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” (Hab. 2:2). Such is the task of a “man of God” today - make the preaching plain so people will understand and prepare for the coming judgment day (Acts 17:30-31). Don’t just mention the generic word “sin” and expect people to “get it”. The nature of reproving and rebuking demands that preachers and teachers remove platitudes from their messages. It should also be noted that this command to “reprove and rebuke” in no way grants any preacher the right to be rude, mean-spirited, or uncaring toward his audience. There is a great difference between the straightforward, blunt, plain preaching that God requires of His men, and the rudeness that is so characteristic of our society. The preaching that pleases God and saves men must, of necessity, be patterned after the preaching of Jesus, the apostles, and the prophets. Jesus once preached to the religious leaders of His day, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Mt. 23:33). But, the same Man who preached such a “hell fire and brimstone sermon” also preached, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…” (Mt. 11:28).
Jesus, the perfect preacher, demonstrated that there is a softer, more tender side of preaching the gospel…and it is described by the word “exhort”. We see, then that God demands of His men a mixture “…of severity and gentleness” (Wuest, 155). In the work of exhorting, the preacher does more than just “ask” his audience to conform their lives to Jesus’ teaching. He lovingly begs them, pleads with them, urges them. Paul “exhorted” both Euodias and Syntyche to “…be of the same mind in the Lord” (Phil. 4:2 - the Greek word for ‘beseech’ in this passage, is the same Greek word translated ‘exhort’ in 2 Tim. 4:2). Paul also ‘exhorted’ the brethren at Thessalonica to “…increase more and more” in their love for one another (1 Thes. 4:10). The meaning of the word ‘exhort’ can be seen in how it has been translated in different verses - “comfort” (1 Thes. 4:18; Eph. 6:22), “intreat” (1 Tim. 5:1), and “desired” (2 Cor. 8:6). John the Immerser’s preaching was described by Luke as “exhortation” to the people (Lk. 3:1 
and “reproof” toward Herod for his adulterous marriage (Lk. 3:19). One gets the impression, then, that the type of preaching that is used (reprooving, rebuking, or exhorting) is dictated by the circumstances at hand.
Indeed, gospel preachers and teachers have a heavy burden to bear because of God’s solemn charge to “preach the word”. James succinctly wrote, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (Jam. 3:1, ESV). Preachers, teachers - remember that, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31), so give special attention to your ministry. God has declared you worthy to preach/teach the word, but never take that responsibility lightly!
Next week, we will notice the final compelling reason that preaching should be held in high esteem among God’s people today (even drastically increased!) - because of the tendency to drift from the Truth (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
