Does Good Preaching Matter?

Is the Church meeting the needs of the average 21st century person? Why should I listen to what is being preached today in the average pulpit? Questions like these often will plague the 21st century mind – and for good reason. The average church of today does not have a strong pulpit ministry. Today’s pulpit is more a “social” pulpit than a “preaching” pulpit; the central focus is not on “Thus saith the Lord.” And that is tragically sad. People come to church – not to hear the latest joke – but to hear a word from God. And if that Word – that Message – is from God, it will have three elements to it: (1.) it will glorify God, (2.) the Message will be Scripturally sound and (3.) it will be relevant to the person’s life. One or more of these three elements are missing in the average sermon delivered from the average pulpit of the average church of today. And that is the reason why it can be said that the average pulpit of today is weak in faith; and when the pulpit is weak in faith, the people of the church will be weak in faith as well. The Holy Scripture declares:

Romans 10:17 17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

When the Holy Scriptures are preached something wonderful happens within the soul of the listener.
Hebrews 4:12-16
12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

When God’s Word is truly preached from the pulpit, its power will be realized in the pew. God is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. There is no creature hidden from His sight. What God says to us is relevant because all things in our lives are naked and open before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account. To believer’s, Jesus is our great High Priest, Who intercedes for all those who place their trust in Him.

We can hold fast to the Word of God, for its soundness comes from the integrity of the living Word of God Himself – Jesus Christ! And this is why we can come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Jesus is always there for His people. As God’s people follow Jesus in their lives, the Word of God will display its power through their lives. And that is when God receives all the glory: when God’s Word becomes the living force in the life of a child of God – to the praise of the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!