Preaching Should Be Increased (or, Kill the Church - Downplay Preaching) pt. 6
4-6-08
by Michael Gilbert (part 6 of 6)
Preaching the Bible is essential to our soul’s salvation. However, it is evident that so many don’t want to hear the Bible. In reality, it has always been this way - and it will continue to be this way, for, “…strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Mat. 7:14). It is my prayer that our congregation will never tire of hearing the Bible preached on a weekly basis. You should be commended for supporting the preaching of the Bible, for the gospel “…is the power of God unto salvation…” (Rom. 1:16).
Sadly, there is a tendency among God’s children to drift from the truth of the Bible, and this is the fifth, and final, reason Timothy was told to preach the Bible in our text of study. This tendency to drift is expressed in this way by the aged man of God, “Preach the word…for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…” (2 Tim. 4:2-3). (It should be noted here that Timothy was told to “preach the word” - all of the Bible - not just the New Testament of Christ. Some might question the preaching of the Jewish Old Testament to Christians who are obligated to obey the Messiah’s New Testament, but we must believe that God commanded His men to preach from both testaments, and that He did so for a reason. We will not discuss this topic in this article, but I have written about it in past issues of our bulletin, and we refer you our church website archives for that article - click here)
Well, brethren, we have come “full circle” in our study. We began by looking at the phrase “perilous times” (2 Tim. 3:1), and we also conclude by noting a similar phrase, “for the time will come” (2 Tim. 4:3). The word “time” in both phrases is the same - kairos - and it refers to “seasons” or “periods” of time. Prolonged times of hardship will plague the saints because of ungodly people from within our own ranks (see 2 Tim. 3:5)…notice that brethren would not, even while the word of God was being preached, “…endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
Brethren have a tendency to drift. God’s answer for this departure is to “preach the word”. In a previous article, we noted several of the perilous seasons that have hurt God’s people. We need not mention them again, but we will note the “perilous time” in which we now live. The saints of God are in the midst of an age when Bible preaching is being downplayed. In this author’s estimation, the church of our Lord is hurting with division, immorality, lukewarmness, and a lack of Bible knowledge and brotherly love. Our solution? Well…it some cases, it hasn’t been to increase Bible teaching and preaching, but to decrease it - for, you see, “people just won’t listen to a dry sermon anymore”. Some brethren are reducing the Sunday sermon to a “discussion period” where the preacher “has dialog” with the people, rather than “preaching to them”. It is no longer “politically correct” to “preach” to an audience. Charles Hodge, Jr. got it right when he said of many in our brotherhood, “we want preachers, but not preaching”. Gospel meetings used to be “in vogue”, but not anymore. Everyone wants a relationship with God, but few people want to hear Him speak! Because of this, we are drifting, brethren.
The Father was right when, on the mount of transfiguration, He thundered, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Mat. 17:5). Again, the Bible says, “God…hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son…” (Heb. 1:1-2). Preaching should be increased because it is the only means of obtaining a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and halting the subtle drift from the Truth! The Bible warns us, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Heb. 2:1).
Worship cannot save anyone, but worship according to the Bible can. Sincerity of heart cannot save anyone, but sincerity of heart brought about by the Bible’s message can. Obedience to some form of Christianity can’t save souls, but obedience to the rightly divided Bible can. Good works stemming from man’s heart can’t take us to heaven, but good works according to the pattern found in the Bible pleases God.
Satan is crafty. In the parable of the sower, Satan is pictured as the “wicked one” that takes away the word of the kingdom from the hearts of men (Mat. 13:19). Sometimes he takes the word away through preachers who want to please men - and so they don’t preach the whole counsel of God. Sometimes it is through children of God who have drifted, and their constant complaining dampens the spirit of God’s man in the pulpit. Other times, a congregation may tell the preacher to “tone it down” lest he is asked to move on. Whatever the reason that preaching is decreased, it always results in the spiritual maladies of strife, divisions, denominationalism, false teaching, immorality, etc., and it is never good.
So, to all who teach and preach in whatever capacity in our congregation - keep up your good work, and never depart from the the Bible! Always “preach the word”, and never waiver from it because of our tendency to drift (2 Tim. 4:3-4), because of the command of God (2 Tim. 4:1-2), because of your knowledge of the Bible and its saving power (2 Tim. 3:15-17), because of the godly examples of preachers who have gone before you (2 Tim. 3:10-14), and because of the perilous times in which we live (2 Tim. 3:1).
The work of a preacher/teacher of the Bible is so important to the health of any congregation. If you are involved in preaching and/or teaching here at DeKalb - we praise you for your efforts, and we encourage you to always grow in your knowledge of the Bible and in your ability to impart God’s saving word to us and to a lost world.
Brethren, if the goal of our congregation is to preach and teach the Bible, then wonderful things will happen here! Souls will ultimately be saved…God will be glorified…our faith in God will increase…our congregation will grow…and, when it is all “said and done”, we can spend eternity with a Father that loves us, and sent His Son to die for us. What a great day that will be!
