Elements of Worship: Preaching

Romans 1:16-17

Introduction.

  1. Abraham Lincoln told a preacher in the church of Christ, Walter Boles, that if he could preach like him, he’d rather be a preacher than president.

  2. There are many great preachers out there, many of whom work in obscurity.

  3. Some receive fame, but the greater glory is serving our Lord.

  4. There are some disappointments.

    1. One talented preacher, F. D. Srygley, stopped getting responses in the invitation during gospel meetings.

    2. He was so discouraged, he stated: “When I started out preaching a few years ago, I did so because I wanted to save souls. That was my predominate passion, but I have long given that up. The reason I preach now is not to save other souls, but simply to save my own.”

  5. Paul stated his need to preach (1 Cor. 9:16).

    1. He had this despite his trials: scourged, shipwrecked, stoned, etc.

    2. He still spoke and taught in many venues to anyone who would listen.

  6. This lesson covers the Message, the Man, and the Motivation.

Body.

  1. The Message – the Gospel.

    1. Paul’s message when he preached was the gospel which He received from Christ (Gal. 1:11-12).

    2. When someone asks when we preach, we could just say, “The gospel.”

    3. If we preach anything else, we will be accursed (Gal. 1:8-9).

    4. We must not be ashamed of the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17).

    5. Greek word translated as “gospel” is εὐαγγέλιον, or “good message.”

    6. The English word “gospel” morphed from the words “god spell.”

      1. This was a pagan concept used by the Druids, pagan priests in ancient England.

      2. These Druids saw that through their work, people were changed into their way of life because of what they considered to be the effect of the gods casting a spell on them—they heard a god-spell.

      3. Later missionaries kept the word “god-spell” because they thought it aptly described what happened when one became a Christian.

      4. God hasn’t really cast a spell, but upon contact with Christ, our lives ought to change for good.

    7. The gospel changes lives and ought to be preached everywhere!

  2. The Man – Jesus Christ.

    1. The central figure is not the man preaching, but the Man who ought to be the subject of preaching—Jesus.

    2. Some will accept Him, but most will not (Acts 4:11).

    3. He is the chief cornerstone of the faith. Without Him there is nothing; with Him there is everything (Acts 4:12).

    4. Paul determined to preach nothing but Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:1-5).

      1. He could have wowed his hearers in Corinth, that immoral city.

      2. Ancient Greek was such a beautiful language, and Paul was a master of it.

      3. Instead, he chose to preach only Christ and Him crucified.

      4. He did not appeal to Greek philosophy or use eloquent speech (1 Cor 1:20).

      5. Preaching Jesus is important!

    5. Let us never tire of hearing (and preaching) lessons on the simplicity and grandeur of our Lord.

  3. The Motivation – the Power of God.

    1. Paul states that the message of the cross is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18).

    2. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ and it contains the power of God!

    3. The gospel contains something we ought to believe (John 8:24).

      1. It is that He is the Son of God.

      2. The Ethiopian eunuch stopped his chariot because he believed so he could be baptized (Acts 8:36-38).

      3. He confessed his faith in Jesus to Philip.

    4. The gospel contains something to be obeyed.

      1. The Jews on the Day of Pentecost desperately desired to know what they must do after having learned they crucified the Lord and Christ.

      2. They were told to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:36-38).

      3. Saul of Tarsus was told to arise and be baptized when he believed (Acts 22:16).

    5. The gospel contains something to be enjoyed.

      1. We enjoy the promises contained within: remissions of sins, providential guidance of God, a home in heaven if we are faithful.

      2. We have a strong desire to live, and we can be joyful in the knowledge that we will not die but live forever.

    6. It is the power of God in which to believe and obey, and once we have obeyed, to enjoy.

Conclusion.

  1. Preaching is an important part of worship—it turned the world of the first century upside down (Acts 17:6).

  2. It transforms lives and has the potential to transform empires.

  3. Do you want to enjoy in the promises of the gospel today? Believe the gospel and obey it.