Why Preaching Matters

On a cold December Night, James and Adam were getting ready to head out on the lake for some night fishing. James knew this lake well. He grew up fishing this lake. He knew all the key areas they needed to target for their trip to be successful. Adam did not know the lake very well yet, but he owned the boat so he would be driving that night. As they approached the area where they planned to fish, James knew they would need to slow down and navigate the back part of the lake carefully. The back of the lake was littered with sunken timber. They could go down only a few channels to avoid getting stuck. They entered the back of the lake with his boat's engine wide open. It didn't take long for the boat to hit several logs and get stuck. If only James had relayed the information about the lake or had Adam read the navigational charts himself, they likely would not have found themselves in this situation yet; here they were. Arguing with one another while attempting to dislodge the boat from the submerged trees. James knew the navigational charts yet failed to share that information with Adam. How was Adam supposed to know where to go?

            Navigational charts matter when preparing for any fishing trip, especially on an unfamiliar body of water. Talking with other fishermen who know the area well matters. So, what does all of this have to do with preaching? Think of it this way: the Bible is a navigational chart, and the preacher is the local guide who knows the waters. Preachers are essential to the life of a church. Congregations on every continent need faithful men who properly study the Scripture and preach sermons that lead to a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Church at Rome, Paul says, “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Romans 10:13-15). Preaching matters. It is how God’s Word gets passed down from generation to generation. Charles Spurgeon asks the question, “what is meant by the word ‘preach?’ I take its meaning in this place to be very extensive. Some can literally preach – that is, act as heralds proclaiming the gospel as the town crier proclaims in the street the message he is bidden to cry aloud. The town crier is, in fact, the world’s preacher, and the preacher of the gospel is to be a crier, crying aloud and sparing not the truth of Christ.”[1]

             Pastors, preachers, and theologians agree that their world vastly differs from when the Bible was written. However, the issues that mankind faces today are no different than they were in ancient times. The problem that plagues mankind is sin. But how can mankind be aware of sin and the realities they face should they refuse to repent and believe? This is why preaching matters. Men who are called by God to preach his word must do so under the conviction that they are preaching to see lives changed eternally. God has instilled in every preacher's heart, mind, and soul the passion to deliver his word to the masses. As preachers help navigate their congregations through the depths of the gospel, they must remember that what they say matters. The world is listening: Preach boldly and with integrity. “We also ask God to help us. We need his help to apply his truth to our lives, and we need his help to challenge other people to apply his truth.”[2] The gospel is good news and needs to be preached faithfully. If it is life-changing for the preacher, it will be life-changing for those with ears to hear.

[1] Jason K. Allen, Charles Spurgeon: Preaching (Brentwood, TN: B&H Publishing, 2024), 13.

[2] Allan Moseley, From the Study to the Pulpit: An 8-Step Method for Preaching and Teaching the Old Testament (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017), 258.