The Purpose of Preaching

A brief survey of the Bible reveals the primacy God has always attached to preaching (2 Corinthians 4:13). Noah not only prepared an ark, but he also was a preacher of righteousness (Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5). All of the Old Testament prophets were preachers who were charged with faithfully speaking forth the word of the Lord (Isaiah 58:1; Ezekiel 33:7).  John the Baptist “came preaching in the wilderness of Judea” (Matthew 3:1-2). Following His baptism and temptation, Jesus began to preach (Matthew 4:17). All of the apostles were preachers of the gospel, and the pages of the New Testament are filled with a record of their work (Acts 3:12-26; 17:22-31), as well as that of many other preachers and teachers (Acts 11:19-21; cf. Romans 10:13-17).

Why Do We Preach?

   A. To convict people of sin.

          mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:37; Romans 3:10-11, 23

   B. To convert people to Christ.

         John 14:6; Matthew 18:3; Acts 3:19; Colossians 1:13;

         Acts 2:38; 8:5-12, 35-38

   C. To confirm disciples in the faith.

          Matthew 28:20; Acts 14:22; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 4:6;

          2 John 9; Colossians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Colossians 1:23;

          Galatians 5:22-26; Titus 2:11-12

    D. To conform souls to the image of Christ.

              Romans 8:29; 12:2; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 4:19;

          2 Corinthians 3:18