The centrality of preaching has been on my mind lately. Mainly because of some conviction God has been giving, and also because of some excellent books I’m reading. For example, I read this statement by Dr. Mohler in his contribution to the book Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea For Preaching.
“This is not to say that there are not other responsibilities or that there are not even other priorities for a pastor. However, there is one central, non-negotiable, immovable, essential priority, and that is the preaching of the Word of God.”
Does it follow that maintaining the preaching of the Word should be the #1 priority of the local church?
Charles Spurgeon seems to think that prayer the number one priority not only to the church, but in the worship gathering! I will find a couple of quotes out of ‘Lectures to me Students’ to show you what I mean!
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@Tony Kummer: Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea For Preaching is a terrific book (I reviewed it recently). I totally concur that preaching the Word should be the #1 focus of the local church. It is the means the Lord uses to save His elect, and the means by which He edifies His elect. The Reformers knew that the Word was the first mark of a true church.
Lastly, that’s a great little snippet from Dr. Mohler.
I would say the right preaching of the Word and the proper administration/celebration of the ordinances/sacraments are the top priorities of the Church. I would also say that I have a hard time separating these two things: I believe both must be upheld for either to be performed properly. At the end of the day, however, if I was forced to choose I would lean towards preaching because without it, there is no one to receive baptism or the Supper.
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Tony,
IMHO as long as faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, then preaching is a major priority of the church.
Les
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@Joseph Garner: You’re correct. They cannot be separated. The Sacraments always functioned ‘under’ the proclamation of the Word, therefore to separate the two is to venture down a mystic view of the Sacraments.
Matt and Spurgeon are exactly right about prayer being the number 1 priority of pastor and people–but so is Nathan when he says that preaching is. Without prayer, there is no true preaching. That’s why the apostles inseperably linked the two together as their chief responsibility (singular) in Acts 6:4. Notice that in Acts 6:2 they presented the problem as “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.” Then in verse 6, they said, “we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The two are inseparable.… Read more »
I agree with the above comments. The priority of any church should be the Word and Sacrements. So preaching, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper are the top priorities. We need to meet and hear from God during worship, not be entertained.
I’ve not yet read Dr. Mohler’s book, but it would seem that making disciples is the first calling of the church. While I certainly agree that the proclamation and teaching of the Word are first priorities within that commission, they are not the sole priorities.
I’m thinking that one’s answer to this question also depends on one’s definition of “preaching.” If, by “preaching,” one means the bold and open proclamation of the gospel, that is one thing. If one defines preaching by format or geography (in the pulpit, before a group, etc.), then we have problems.
I would also ask a question regarding the title of your post. Does Dr. Mohler argue that preaching is the top priority of the local church, or does he argue that preaching should be the top priority of a pastor? I find significant differences in those two questions.
I absolutely agree with Jim’s pointing to Acts 6. I think by looking there we see that the central responsibility of the elders, and by such the central responsibility of the church they lead, is to focus on teaching and prayer and the whole ministry of the word. However, I would caution that we don’t lose some of the other stuff in this idea of “the ministry of the word.” Remember, these men were called ‘overseers’ and from the looks of it they handed off the financial affairs, but not the workings of the healing ministry of personal counsel and… Read more »
Someone a whole lot smarter than I once said something about the right road having ditches on either side. You have seen some falling in the ditch of ONLY concerning themselves with pulpit ministry. In my circles, I see far more pastors in the other ditch. They spend nearly all of their time bottle feeding big, fat ewes in personal visitation and counseling and have no time or energy left for the exposition of God’s Word.
By God’s grace, may He keep us out of BOTH ditches.
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@Jeff: They are different questions, Mohler’s comments are talking about preaching. My post is asking if this same conclusion can be extended to the church’s priorities.
Preaching must be the centerpiece and #1 priority of the Church. Other things (prayer, discipleship, evangelism, etc…) are actually the fruit of preaching and teaching because the saints are then equipped for the work of ministry. “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that… Read more »
Jeff,
Just a question: Couldn’t one say that preaching, discipleship, evangelism are actually jus tthe fruit of prayer? What is preaching without prayer?
I would have to argue prayer as the centerpiece. Preaching is somewhat dependent on prayer, but I don’t think one could argue that prayer is ‘dependent’ on preaching.
Matt
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@Todd Burus Burus: Can you clarify, are you saying there is an office of ‘biblical counselor’?
The question is of the priority of the local church. Does that mean that all members of the local church are supposed to preach? Of course not. Al Mohler in the quote provided talked about preaching as a top priority of the pastor. For the church, we are each gifted in different ways for different reasons. As such, the church has a broad range of biblical functions and purposes, no one of them important to the exclusion of the others. The Biblical passages cited so far in the comments generally regard individuals particularly called to preach, which would fall in… Read more »
Should the church do whatever it takes to maintain the regular preaching of God’s Word?
Most churches do this by calling a pastor, or arranging for pulpit supply when they do not have a regular pastor. All this is not just something to fill the time between the singing and dismissal. It is because believe the church is built up by preaching. Some might argue that a church does not exist if God’s Word is not preached.
So, is the engagement of a God-called preacher to come and preach to our people/town the #1 task of any particular church?
Matt, Preaching is the reason the church exists. Paul says “he makes it his ambition to preach the gospel” (Romans 15:20a, ESV) and that we might be strengthened “…according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ” (Romans 16:25a, ESV). Also, God has chosen the preaching of His Word to bring to salvation those who belong to Christ. “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21, ESV) Without Bible truth no one becomes a… Read more »
Tony,
I think the Church must do whatever it takes to “maintain the regular preaching of God’s Word.” Preaching the Word is the only thing that separates us from para-church organizations and government agencies.
Ordained preachers who preach Bible doctrine are most needed and the ones who are in shortest supply.
I just finished Dr. Mohler’s book “He is not Silent” and it was encouraging to me as one who is in the pulpit week after week declaring the Truth from Genesis to Revelation.
Love in Christ
Jeff
Matt, Preaching is the reason the Church exists. Paul says “I make it my ambition to preach the gospel”(Romans 15:20a, ESV) and we are stregthened by “according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ” (Romans 16:25a, ESV) Also, God has chosen the preaching of His Word to bring to salvation those who belong to Christ. “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21, ESV) So there would not be a Church apart from… Read more »
Jeff, I’m not going to argue that preaching isn’t important, or that it’s not the primary purpose of the local church. Preaching is perhaps a key method for accomplishing the purpose of the each church which I believe is to glorify God in the proclamation of the gospel and the edification of its members. There are countless more methods, but sound preaching unifies listeners and elucidates truth like no other method. That’s an experiential observation and subject to any scripture that may prove otherwise. I haven’t however found one yet. What concerns me is the exegesis you may be applying… Read more »
Jim, I am no scholar and do not claim to be, but correct exegesis I believe conforms 4 points – morphology, syntax, definition and context. Any one of these four can be used in a casual and/or evaluation argument which is what I see this simple question as being. Thank’s for giving me a new word in my vocabulary “non-sequitor” [Latin for “it does not follow.” The term usually means that a conclusion does not logically follow from the facts or law – http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Non+sequitor%5D. I will try and bring this logically from the facts as much as I can with… Read more »
I would say the top priority of a pastor is to actually love his people. Preaching the word is one among many other ways he does this, but not the most important one. Mohler’s claim is exaggerated, reactionary, and dangerous in my opinion. Building relationships with the people in the congregation, being there for people who are going through a tough time, praying over those who are sick and suffering, reaching out to the community for the sake of the gospel, doing evangelism, etc. are all just as important as preaching the word. A pastor’s preaching, if not complimented by… Read more »
@Nathan W. Bingham:
When I mentioned an office of biblical counselor I was referring to the pastoring/shepherding role of the elders which I elaborated on later with the thoughts on ‘poimen.’ There is a sense in which the pastor should be shepherding the members of his flock through personal care and attention and not just through general gospel and/or biblical preaching. The problem I see rising among many younger preachers is that they neglect this role or delegate it to deacons and lay people, which I do not believe was the original design.
I agree with Todd. Church is meant to be lived in community, and part of community is to bear one another’s burdens. As the shepherd of the flock, personal involvement is required. While maybe not as intellectually fulfilling as preaching the gospel, it is a big part of attending to God’s people. And it works both ways: sometimes the pastor needs attending from the flock.
GOD HAS ORDAINED THAT BY THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE.
If you’re going to make a case for preaching as the #1 priority of the church, quote the authority, that is, the primary source, and not all the secondary sources. Jesus said, ” I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent. And he kept on preaching in the sysnagogues of Judea” (Luke 4:43-44 NIV). Evidently, preaching was significant to our Lord. Should it be less so for his called spokesmen?
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I still have trouble following the logic. Jesus said he was sent to preach, but we know that he came to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross. Which was more important? If therefore Christ was sent to preach and we can conclude from this that the primary purpose of the church is to preach, then if it was more important for Christ to pay the penalty for our sins then should we not conclude that it is more important for the church to die for sins? Obviously not. Therefore, the logic is flawed. We cannot conclude if… Read more »
You’re right, it’s not very logical is it? Sometimes, God just doesn’t make sense.
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On the contrary. Having created logic, God is quite rational. It’s His fallen creatures (one of which I most certainly am) who have trouble thinking clearly. 🙂
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For the best summary of what we have been asked by Jesus to do, go to the Great Commission text, not Jesus summaries of his own personal mission. Jesus’ summary statements are often different, and his summary statements of his own mission are not necessarily ours.
I think the issue should be seperated as to whether we are talking about #1 priority of pastor or #1 priority of local church. Not everyone has the spiritual gift of preaching and teaching. But, those who have accepted Christ as their LORD and Savior are part of the church and have the ability to follow the great commission in their own ways of support, etc..
What exactly is the question we are trying to have answered? The answer will be different depending on WHO you are really asking about…
God bless!
Sallie
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Since it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe, it follows as day follows night that preaching is first. PERIOD. But in order to preach, really preach, we need people who are divinely called and equipped (anointed) and who are willing to sweat blood and shed tears in study and prayer. The qualification of ministers was the focus of my thesis. Personally, I love preaching more than life itself. I would pay for the privilege to preach, if I could. Like Spurgeon, I consider preaching the greatest calling in the world, after salvation itself. Withouta… Read more »
Preaching to reach the lost, and to exhort and admonish the believer, along
with teaching to equip believers for service is the main thing. Of course all these
ministeries call for intercessory prayer and in some cases, prayer and fasting.
Preaching and teaching also calls for much bible study, and the lost art of meditation.
After reading all the comments, what is sadly absent is the top priorities of the church: Love God and one another.
1. What good is preaching if there is not love?
2. What good is prayer if there is not love?
The following statement mentioned above can not even be Scripturally supported: “Preaching is the reason the Church exists. ”
No Christ is the reason the Church exist. The Church is His body.
Preaching is important but lets not elevate to a status that God Himself does not elevate it to.
Phillip
”By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if you have love one to
another.”
Thanks Phillip. I couldn’t agree more.
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By the way. it is not necessary that a preacher love the people whom he is sent. After all, we have a clear cut case in Jonah. He did not want God to spare that city. that was why he fled the other way. Jonah wanted the Ninevites destroyed. He preached his message as an unconditional prophecy of gloom and doom. Then he sat down to wait for its fulfillment, even though as he says in chapter 4 he knew God was going to spare that city. And God argued with him about the matter. If such be the case… Read more »
“By the way. it is not necessary that a preacher love the people whom he is sent. After all, we have a clear cut case in Jonah. ”
Are we not to love everyone? Was Jonah not in sin because of his hard heart towards the Ninevites?
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God doesnot love everybody. He said ”The workers of iniquity I hate” ”Jacob have I loved, but Esau I have hated.”
God loves the world of His elect Jews and Gentiles [John 3;16].
Since He is particular in who He loves, so should we. We should love Who He loves, and hate Who he hates.
Mathew 5:43″You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?… Read more »
Dr. Foltz,
That is one of the most dangerous things I have ever heard. We are to love all… Love your neighbor as yourself is not a call to love believers only. Also, you say we should love who God loves- Do we have the wisdom to know who that is? Not at all.
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It’s the quality of love that is at stake, not the presence of love. Consider that hatred is not the opposite of love, but apathy. Hatred is hardly apathetic. God hates in that he is concerned for his glory and cannot look on evil. Therefore he forsakes or hates many because he would destroy them otherwise. As his agents, members of the church of Christ, we must understand this quality of love in our relationships. It’s not that we must hate, as in be angry and desire the destruction of, those who reject God. But we must rightly judge their… Read more »
i think evangelism should be the top priority of the church. if you mean “preaching” to include proclamation of the gospel outside the church, then yes. but if you are talking about the preaching that happens in the church, then no. prayer is up there too. but, when you read acts, notice how much they pray about evangelism! they pray for boldness to speak, and for opportunities to speak. but the emphasized activity in acts is evangelism. it’s a continuation of luke, where Jesus prophesied that the disciples would preach to many nations and rulers, would be persecuted, but the… Read more »
Matt,
What do you mean by your claim that we don’t have the “wisdom” to know who God loves?
Bradley
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Bradley,
Dr. Foltz said that God does not love some people and we should not love the people God does not love and say first that isnt true and if it were true we woul dnot have the wisdom to say, ‘oh God doesnt love them so I wont.’
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When I said that it was not necessary for a preacher to love the people to whom he was sent, I was thinking of Jonah and Judas and people like them who obviously care not. God is free to use whomsoever He pleases. I was not referring to the duty to love the people which is obvious and evident. As to loving others, I must dissent with Dr. Foltz on this issue. God hates some, but He treats them wth love. Dr. John Gill stated that “GOD TREATS THE WICKED SO WELL THAT NO ONE IN HIS RIGHT MIND WOULD… Read more »
I would concur heartily with Dr Foltz’ comment #34. and would add what we presently label “preaching” is more what the New Testament likens to teaching God’s Word for edifying the saints for the work of ministry etc. Eph 4. When the Bible talks of “preaching” it usually has to do with “declaring the gospel message”, more like what we presently call evangelism. I find it sad we tend to confuse these things. but be that as it may “preaching” as used on this blog has to be the number one priority of the pastor for starters as it is… Read more »
Church History is a great help. It adds insight to discussions of problems of theology. We ought to really put our heads together(hopefully not heads stuffed with straw leaning together as T. S. Eliot mentioned) and seek to gain some understanding of what God is doing by his diverse and apparently and in some cases clearly contradictory statements. Consider how Ev. George Whitefield spoke of God saving the Devil’s castaways and how some criticized him for so saying and how he received a written message from two wayward women who had found hope in his statement. As to preaching this… Read more »