September 16, 2024
Preaching the Word of God is a true calling and should be undertaken with total effort and the utmost seriousness. Some people preach for selfish reasons or personal gain. But gospel preaching is only successful by those whom God has chosen. The best preachers are those who preach God’s Word, not their own opinions.
Doctors Bryson and Taylor (Building Sermons to Meet People’s Needs) in speaking of successful preachers, wisely advised all preachers, “You must learn to face and accept yourself as a human being. A growing, healthy image of self-worth balanced with a confession of fallibility communicates an authentic person to an audience.” In other words, the preacher should realize that he is in the same boat as everyone else. He is the preacher not because he is less sinful, but merely because God called him to preach.
There are men who stand in pulpits and shout accusations and point fingers at church members. There are fallible men who rant about the sins of their congregants, while stealthily committing the same acts. What hypocrisy! What a shame! I do not condone sin, but any genuine preacher must temper his ranting with knowledge of his own unworthiness. The only difference between most church members and their preacher is that the preacher is in the pulpit and the people are in the pews.
Every good preacher needs a whole lot of humility. The Bible makes clear that there are no good people on earth. In Romans 3:10-12, Paul reminds us, “As it is written: There is none righteous, no not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.”
Men who answer God’s call to preach are rewarded with great joy and happiness on earth. It is a thrill to serve the Lord in sincerity and for the right reasons. But this means serving the Lord and not one’s self. Theologian Dr. Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology) declared, “Throughout the history of the church the greatest preachers have been those who have recognized that they have no authority in themselves and have seen their task as being to explain the words of Scripture and apply them clearly to the lives of their hearers.”
The best sermons are those inspired by the Holy Spirit. This can and should include personal experiences as illustrative examples to help the hearers understand what God is telling them. But political opinions and personal issues have no place in the pulpit. There is no legitimate value in “social gospel.” Preachers cannot go wrong sincerely preaching directly from God’s Word. The Bible is God’s speaking to His people. And this is exactly what everyone needs to hear today as always. This is because God has declared, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).
I agree with the theologians who say that every sermon should contain an element of the gospel. In fact, this is my only requirement to officiate a funeral. And that is because I know there are usually people at most funerals who never attend church or hear the gospel any other time. It is my duty as a Christian to witness for the Lord at any available opportunity.
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Ralph Fudge is the pastor of Big Ochlocknee Baptist Church in Coolidge, Ga., and has a Master’s degree in theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
