If you took a poll among church members as to what is the greatest need in the church today, you would receive a number of answers. Many of the answers would revolve around facilities, equipment, programs and personalities. However, I believe that the greatest need in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ today is BIBLICAL PREACHING. I’m talking about Christ centered, Spirit empowered exegesis of the Holy Scriptures – Old and New Testament exhortation today of God’s Word as it is, to people as they are!
The day the church was born (as recorded in Acts 2) was characterized by Spirit anointed Biblical preaching. There were five notable characteristics about Peter’s sermon at Pentecost that should be found as results in Biblical preaching today.
The message at Pentecost was PERSONAL (Acts 2:22-23). It brought the truth down to the folks where they lived and applied it to their personal lives. So much of our preaching today is "general" by nature. Some preachers seem to have a "buffet" type mentality about the message. You know - put it all out there and let folks pick and choose whatever they like. Biblical preaching is personal by its very nature. The Holy Spirit pricks our hearts - personally - when the Word of God is expounded. It show's us the message of God, as He is, to us, as we are!
Not only was the message personal, but it was also POWERFUL. Verse 37a says “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart…” God’s Word has a powerful effect on the hearts of those who hear it (Hebrews 4: 12). Biblical preaching is not watered down or politically correct. It is delivered in the poser of the Holy Spirit and it powerfully effects the lives of the hearers. We see the effects of Biblical preaching in the following verses of Acts chapter 2.
There was CONVICTION! (vs 37) The hearers knew they were guilty before God. They were convicted of their sins. They realized there must be some reaction on their part and asked the question, “What shall we do?” The Word of God will expose sin! It will elicit a response to the message - positive or negative. Remaining neutral is not an option.
Biblical preaching brought CONVERSION (vs 41). Thy were told to repent and be baptized. The scripture account tells us that they gladly received the Word of God (they believed the Gospel) they were baptized in a public act of obedience to the Lord, and the results in a nutshell were that many were saved. The power of the Gospel is life changing! Christ followers have a new life
Finally we see that the Biblical preaching brought a CONTINUING. This personal, powerful message brought results in the hearts of the hearers on that day. It will do so today as a result of the Convicting power of the Holy Spirit and the Life Changing message of the Word. Verse 42 shows that the results are not a one time “blessed experience” but that the believers CONTINUED steadfastly in the Apostles Doctrine, in Fellowship, in observing the Lord’s Supper, and in Prayer.
Biblical preaching was powerful in the early days of the Church. It has stood the test of time, and it is sorely needed in our pulpits today!
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