This year, I plan on preaching 104 sermons, not counting Gospel meetings, lectureships, Bible classes, private Bible studies, and newspaper articles. But what is the purpose of all this? Believe it or not, preaching does have a purpose.

Preaching should exegete and explain inspired literature. The first Gospel sermon preached by the apostles is found in Acts 2. Luke used 25 verses to record Peter’s sermon. Of these 25 verses, 12 are direct quotes from Scripture. Nearly 50% of the sermon was Scripture. Is that the way it is in today’s pulpits? Many know the “gist” of the Bible, but if that’s all we need, why didn’t God just give us the “gist” of His Will?

Another purpose of preaching is to disturb the audience. Many who heard the first sermon were “pricked in their hearts” (Acts 2:37). Peter did not preach in such a way as to leave his hearers feeling good in their sin. Preaching that leaves men satisfied and contented in their sin has no purpose. The primary purpose of preaching is to convert and change people. This can only be done by the Holy Spirit convicting men of sin (John 16:8), and He does this through preaching of God’s Word (1Corinthians 1:21b).

Preaching must present Christ as man’s only Hope. Preaching must produce conviction. Preaching must cause men to think and to ask questions. Much, and perhaps most, of the division in the religious world today can be attributed to the fact that people do not ask questions or investigate the Scriptures. They are simply content to take someone’s word for it, whether it be a parent, spouse, preacher, priest, etc. We are told that the Bereans were, “noble…in that they received the word with all readiness, and then searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Preaching has many other purposes such as telling men how to be saved; leading men into the Lord’s church; and helping Christians grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. –Toby Miller

Find the truth about God and become a New Testament Christian. Find out more about New Testament Christianity by running some Internet searches for “church of Christ” and “churches of Christ.” You may also want to visit http://www.abiblecommentary.com for Bible study information.

Remember, in order to be saved and enjoy all God’s blessings (not the least of which is salvation), a person must have faith (Jn. 8:24), be willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and after confessing Christ as Lord, the final step is water baptism (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Bible baptism is by immersion only (“burial,” Rom. 6:4), and once it is done, heaven puts that person “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). After proper baptism a person has their sins forgiven (Acts 2:38).