May 2, 2004

Cawson Street Church of Christ

Mural Worthey

Hopewell, Virginia

Part #1: As Proclamation of Good News

Introduction: 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

Preaching has always been a central part of Christianity. The Bible says a lot about the act and role of preaching. Misconceptions about its role and false views of it are the cause of many disappointments among listeners. These lessons are not intended to be a complete examination of the role of preaching, but rather a few selected aspects of it.

There are so many negative connotations about preaching (i.e. don’t preach to me). We need to see what preaching originally meant. What if someone actually said, Yes, preach to me? This would express a more accurate understanding of God’s will concerning preaching.

One preacher and author made this good observation about preaching:

• Is it not possible that we cling too closely to our own favorite presentation of the gospel, and to a type of preaching which was all very well in its own time and place and for the social set-up for which it was originally intended? Is there not after all an element of truth in the contention that our preaching is too dogmatic, and hopelessly irrelevant to life? Are we not constantly harping on certain ideas at the expense of others, which are just as important?

• Does not our preaching contain too much of our own opinions and convictions, and too little of Jesus Christ? Jesus invites all those that labor and are heavy laden, and nothing could be so contrary to our best intentions, and so fatal to our proclamation, as to drive men away from him by forcing upon them man-made dogmas. If we do so, we should make the love of Jesus Christ a laughing-stock to Christians and pagans alike.

• It is no use taking refuge in abstract discussion, or trying to make excuses, so let us get back to the Scriptures, to the Word and call of Jesus Christ himself. Let us try to get away from the poverty and pettiness of our own little convictions and problems, and seek the wealth and splendor which are vouchsafed to us in Jesus Christ.

I want to begin with one of the most positive and encouraging aspects and reasons for preaching. It is the one that should cause us to say, Yes, preach to me!

The angel at the empty tomb of our Lord told the women that first day of the week, "He is not here. Come; see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goes before you into Galilee. There shall you see him; lo, I have told you. They departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples word." (Matt. 28:6-8.)

At Jesus’ birth, the Bible records similar words of joy. "The angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." (Luke 2:10-14.)

At his birth and resurrection as well as at every deed in-between, there is the biblical record of good tidings associated with Jesus’ life and the proclamation of that good news. The word Gospel means good news. A good example of what was proclaimed is the message of the apostle Peter to the house of Cornelius. See Acts 10:34-48. Here are some of those words:

"That word, I say, you know, which was published throughout all Judea and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. We are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree." (verses 37-39.)

Paul likewise described preaching as a proclamation of good things.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom. 10:13-15.)

Allow me to enumerate some of the things that make up the story of the glad tidings to mankind:

1. That God has been made flesh and lives among men. (John 1:14.)
2. Jesus came not to be an earthly king, but to be a spiritual king and to bless the lives of his subjects. Listen to this passage: "Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." (Acts 3:26.)
3. Sinners can receive the remission of sins through the blood of His Son. (Acts 10:43, Eph. 1:7.)
4. We can have peace. (Luke 2:14, Rom. 10:15—the Gospel of peace.)
5. Jesus arose from the dead. (Rom. 10:9, Matt. 28:6-7.)
6. You will be raised from the dead and live forever with Him. "And God hath both raised up the Lord and will also raise up us by his own power." (1 Cor. 6:14.)

convictions in churches today, that we have largely lost the meaning of this aspect of preaching. It is not seen as the proclamation of good news and glad tidings. Many view preaching as a negative thing to bear—as a part of punishment for being sinners. God makes us listen to these sermons as a form of purgatory on earth! Somehow we must bring back to life this original meaning of the act of preaching. Preachers must bring it back. Churches should demand it. Sinners and saints alike need it.

Listen to the words of Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, as he prophesied concerning the work of John. He said, "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins; through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel." (Luke 1:76-80.) John had a good mission preparing the way for the Lord. He proclaimed the tender mercy of God in visiting man on earth. The message gave light to those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death. We need light, encourage-ment, and good news as we too sit in the shadow of death.

Invariably someone protests, but doesn’t biblical preaching also include pointing out sins and standing against the world and religious error. Yes, but that is not Gospel or the good news, which gives the remedy for sin. What if Noah just preached to those lost in his day, saying, You are going to drown! For a hundred years he pointed his finger at them with a sadistic gleam in his eyes, seemingly glad that they were lost. Of what value would his denunciations be if there were no Ark of hope? Remember the Israelites who were bitten by fiery serpents because they disobeyed God? (Num. 21.) What if Moses just went around pointing his finger at the people, saying, "You are dying; you are dying; a snake bit you!" They already knew that. The good news that he proclaimed was that if they looked upon the brazen serpent on the pole, they could be healed and live. Jesus reminded Nicodemus of this event saying, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world . . . . " (John 3:14-16.) Note verse 17: "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."

Paul wrote that the gospel was preached before unto Abraham saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (Gal. 3:8.) This was the good news promised to Abraham. It was the Gospel of Christ in kernel form. The essence of the Gospel is good news for lost mankind.