Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
(Proverbs 18:21)
In writing the Churches of Corinth the Apostle Paul begins by emphasizing the necessity of preaching in the Christian experience and journey. Consider the fact that Paul feels inspired to highlight preaching’s preeminence to even water baptism, preaching’s power and wisdom and how it is at the crux of the Christian experience (1 Cor. 1:17-22). To the Christian experience there are few, if any, things at the same level of impact as preaching.
Consider this Biblical truth, no one can come to God absent of hearing the preached word (1 Cor. 1:17; Rom 10:17). As Jesus traveled among them as Emmanuel, God with us (Mt 1:23), he operated as a Rabbi (master teacher). The Church began with an experience AND a sermon (Act 2). The power of preaching and preachers themselves cannot be overstated.
Preaching because before life can come into a body,
someone must breathe into it!
Preachers because it is our minds, mouth, heart and spirit through
which God flows to speak unto people.
If ever the world needs a preacher it is now!
As a preacher it is of premiere importance that I make sure my heart, mind and spirit are pure before God least I corrupt the communication of His voice to the people. As a preacher it is essential that I regard the words I speak into people. When evaluating the shape of your local body, or the results that you are seeing in your ministry you should ask yourself these questions:
Am I speaking “life” unto the body?
Are my sermons and words lifting men up, or the Lord Jesus Christ?
Do people feel inspired with faith and love for God by my sermons?
Preachers are like people, we have a choice. We can speak death or life. I choose the later.
Brian Norman has been in the ministry for 23 years, serving as a Pastor, Church Planter and now traveling full-time. Phone: 636-544-0627 Website: GlobalEvangelism.org