Is it showcasing one's talent as a public speaker? It is showmanship? Is it toying with the emotions of an audience? Gospel preachers in New Testament times spoke the "Truth" (1 Thess 2:13; 2 Thess 2:10, 12, 13). They were required to "speak as the oracles of God" (1 Pet 4:11), or to "preach the word" of God (2 Tim 4:2). That is because the government of God's kingdom is an autocracy where Jesus Christ has all authority (Matt 28:18, Eph 1:22-23). And He has revealed His will through the apostles and prophets of the first century (Matt 28:18-20; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 2:20; 3:5; 4:11).

The apostle Paul might have impressed audiences with "smooth words and fair speeches" (Rom 16:18), but he said, "my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Cor 2:4-5).

When Paul went to a Jewish synagogue, "for three Sabbaths [he] reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ'" (Acts 17:1-3; cf. 9:22; 18:28). Paul's preaching was authoritative, practical and soul stirring because it was based in Scripture (e.g., 1 Cor 1:18-19; Isa 29:14). Paul and the other apostles and first century prophets like James, Jude, Mark and Luke were writing Scripture in addition to quoting the Hebrew Scripture (2 Cor 4: 7, 1 Cor 2:13-16). Gospel preachers today may quote Scripture, but they cannot create new Scripture (2 Pet 1:3; Jude 3). True gospel preaching has always taken that spotlight off of self and shined on the word of God, which has the power to save the soul (Rom 1:16).

- bjbiblelessons.com