Some Preaching MUSTS!
By Glendol McClure

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gave instructions to His apostles. He said: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Cf. Mark 16:15,16)

These accounts of Jesus commanding his apostles to go and teach are commonly called the "Great Commission." This commission, proclaimed by Jesus, is great in several senses.

Truly, Jesus' command to preach the gospel to the world is a "Great Commission!"

With this "Great Commission" comes great responsibility on the part of those who preach the saving gospel. Gospel preachers and teachers must realize this and preach and teach accordingly. Please consider the following:

Preaching MUST be based on "the faith that was once delivered." (Jude 3) There are many "faiths" in the religious world but only the "faith that comes by hearing the word of God" saves man from sin (Romans 10:17; Cf. Galatians 3:22-28). No other system of faith saves. The gospel preached cannot be "another gospel, which is not another." (Galatians 1:6,7) It must be the pure and simple gospel revealed by Jesus Christ and His apostles.

Preaching MUST be bold and fervent. The pulpit is no place for the timid or compromising. The apostle Paul preached boldly (Acts 9:27-29; 14:3; 19:8). Barnabas spoke boldly (Acts 14:3). Most certainly, the apostles preached boldly. They were not men-pleasers. They preached to save souls, while glorying in the sufferings they endured for the cause of Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5-10). The apostle Paul served the Lord, and he served those with whom he came into contact a feast of spiritual food that would save their souls. Paul wrote, "For do I now persuade men, or God; or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10)

Preaching MUST specifically identify, sin, error, and false teachers. Paul's preaching was not clouded with uncertain and obscure words. He did not use "men's wisdom" or fair speech; he proclaimed the gospel in a plain and understandable manner (1 Corinthians 2:1-8; 5:1-8). Many today don't like or desire such preaching.

Paul warned young Timothy, "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:1-4)

Paul marked and identified false teachers, and enemies of, and deserters from the truth (Acts 13:6-12; 2 Timothy 2:18; 4:10,14). Today, if a brother teaches error, those who identify him are often berated and accused of being brotherhood watchdogs, making personal attacks, or lacking brotherly love. Really, those who make such accusations against a gospel preacher who identifies a false teacher and refutes his teaching are, themselves, hypocritical and lacking Godly love. Beware of such critics (1 Kings 18:17,18; Proverbs 17:15).

Preaching MUST be both positive and negative. Many want only positive preaching that makes them feel good. They appeal for a PMA ("positive mental attitude") approach. Don't condemn; don't call names; don't hurt anyone's feelings; don't mention other denominations; don't be negative; be amusing; sprinkle in a little wit; and just preach the gospel and leave everyone alone. Have you heard others say such things? If and when you do, beware. Some gospel preachers have shed the spiritual armor, and laid down the sword of the Spirit. Instead, they've put on the clothing of haughtiness and picked up sugar sticks. Recently, I had a discussion with a brother who was critical of negative preaching. He argued his point by saying, "you can catch more flies with honey." I am amazed and saddened that anyone would compare preaching the gospel of Christ to catching flies. I didn't know we were in the fly-catching business. Did you?

Christ and the apostles did not practice the PMA style of preaching. Jesus was negative when he rebuked the Pharisees (Matthew 23).

Paul was negative when he rebuked Peter to his face and those with him who "walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel." (Galatians 2:11-14)

Paul was negative when he condemned Elymas the sorcerer saying, "...O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." (Acts 13:10)

Yes, Jesus and the apostles were negative. But they were positive as well. In Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, he illustrated the positive and negative nature of his preaching and writing. Paul wrote words of commendation; yet, he preached boldly to them: "For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us." (1 Thessalonians 2:3-8)

Finally, preaching MUST be motivated by love for the truth and men's souls. Unfortunately, some preachers do not love the truth and the souls of those to whom they preach. Instead, they are motivated by the praises of men, good paychecks, popularity, getting along to get along, unity in diversity, etc. This sort of motivation does not result in man's salvation from sin; its only result is lost souls. Paul warned of such when he wrote, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17,18) We need to watch for and oppose such people.

Preaching MUST teach clearly heaven's joys and rewards. But, it must also clearly identify sin, error, and those who are involved; and it must warn the disobedient about the dangers of hell and its torment (Acts 18:1-11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:9). We must teach sinners that unless they repent, they will perish (Luke 13:3,5). The truth of the gospel must be used to smite and prick the hearts of men who are living in sin and error. Sugar-coated preaching does not convict the hearers of their sins, does not identify error, and is void of Godly love (Acts 2:22-38; 6:9 - 7:60). The preaching done by Jesus and the apostles was motivated by their love for lost souls. As they preached about God's love, righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, so MUST we all. "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation." (Psalms 40:8-10)

Maybe we can avoid offending people if we preach to empty buildings!

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