The Importance of the Bible in Preaching

The great need of the pulpit is not more human wisdom, cleverness, personality, or entertainment. The great need is for men who know God, tremble at His Word, and faithfully proclaim what He has said.

God said:

“To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” — Isaiah 66:2

A preacher has no authority merely because he stands behind a pulpit. His authority is found only insofar as he faithfully declares the Word of God. Paul charged Timothy:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” — 2 Timothy 4:2

The command is not simply to preach about the Word, nor to use a verse as a starting point for our own ideas. It is to preach the Word.

The Word of God Is the Preacher’s Authority

Scripture is not man’s religious opinion about God. It is God’s revelation to man.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16

And again:

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” — 2 Peter 1:21

Therefore the preacher dare not alter God’s message to make it acceptable to his hearers. He is an ambassador entrusted with a message from the King.

God told Jeremiah:

“He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.” — Jeremiah 23:28

This is one of the greatest responsibilities given to any man. The preacher must resist the temptation to preach what people want to hear and instead ask, What hath the Lord said?

The Word Must First Work in the Preacher

It is possible for a man to preach truths that have never deeply affected his own heart. He may know doctrines, outlines, commentaries, illustrations, and even the original languages, yet remain spiritually cold.

Ezra gives us a better order:

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” — Ezra 7:10

Notice the order: seek it, do it, and then teach it.

The preacher must come under the authority of the Word before he attempts to bring others under its authority. God’s Word must search his motives, expose his sin, humble his pride, correct his ways, and bring him into obedience.

Paul therefore warned Timothy:

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine.” — 1 Timothy 4:16

The preacher himself is part of the sermon. A holy message proclaimed through a careless life brings reproach upon the truth he professes to preach.

Preaching Must Exalt Christ

The Bible is not merely a collection of moral lessons. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s great purpose of redemption centres in His Son.

Jesus said:

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” — John 5:39

After His resurrection, Christ opened the Scriptures to the disciples:

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” — Luke 24:27

True biblical preaching will therefore lead men beyond the preacher to Christ.

Paul could summarize his ministry:

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” — 2 Corinthians 4:5

The preacher is not called to build his own name, following, ministry, or reputation. John the Baptist expressed the proper spirit of the servant of God:

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:30

Christ must be seen. Christ must be exalted. Christ crucified, risen, reigning, and coming again must be proclaimed.

The Word Exposes Sin

Biblical preaching cannot avoid sin because the Bible does not avoid sin.

God’s Word does not merely comfort us; it searches us.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword… and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” — Hebrews 4:12

The faithful preacher does not merely condemn the sins of society while leaving the congregation comfortable. The Word must come home to the conscience.

When Peter preached at Pentecost, his hearers were not merely impressed with his sermon:

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart.” — Acts 2:37

When Stephen preached, his hearers:

“were cut to the heart.” — Acts 7:54

True preaching brings men face to face with God. It exposes not merely outward sins, but pride, unbelief, hypocrisy, self-righteousness, worldliness, bitterness, covetousness, and the secret idols of the heart.

The Word Calls Sinners to Christ

Conviction is not the end of preaching. The preacher must point the convicted sinner to God’s remedy.

Paul described his ministry as:

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Acts 20:21

Man’s deepest problem is not ignorance, poverty, politics, culture, or lack of self-esteem. It is sin and separation from God.

And God’s answer is not self-improvement. It is Christ.

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” — 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

Therefore biblical preaching must proclaim the holiness of God, the guilt of man, the judgment of sin, the necessity of repentance, the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice, and salvation through faith in Him.

The preacher must be able to say with Paul:

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” — 1 Corinthians 2:2

The Word Must Be Preached in the Power of the Holy Ghost

Correct doctrine alone does not make powerful preaching.

A sermon can be doctrinally accurate, carefully prepared, beautifully arranged, and spiritually dead.

Paul said:

“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” — 1 Corinthians 2:4

The preacher must study diligently, but he must also pray desperately. He must recognize that only God can open blind eyes, convict the conscience, reveal Christ, and bring spiritual life.

Paul asked:

“And who is sufficient for these things?” — 2 Corinthians 2:16

The answer is not greater natural ability. Our sufficiency is of God.

The early church understood this. When threatened, they prayed, and:

“They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” — Acts 4:31

We need preaching in which the Word of God is proclaimed by men who have sought God and who depend upon the Holy Ghost rather than upon personality, eloquence, or technique.

The Word Produces Faith and Spiritual Life

God has chosen His Word as the instrument through which men hear the Gospel.

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

Peter writes:

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” — 1 Peter 1:23

The preacher cannot give spiritual life to anyone. He cannot manufacture conversion. Emotional manipulation may produce decisions, but only God can produce the new birth.

Therefore the preacher must sow the incorruptible seed of God’s Word and trust God for the increase.

The Word Sanctifies the Believer

Biblical preaching is not only for the conversion of sinners. God uses His Word continually in the lives of His children.

Jesus prayed:

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” — John 17:17

The Psalmist asked:

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?”

and answered:

“by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” — Psalm 119:9

God’s Word corrects us when we wander, strengthens us when we are weak, comforts us when we sorrow, warns us when we become careless, and directs us when we do not know the way.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105

The purpose of preaching is therefore not merely that people should say, “That was a good sermon.” The question is: Will we obey what God has said?

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” — James 1:22

Do Not Substitute Anything for the Word

There is a danger in every generation of replacing biblical preaching with something else.

Stories may have their place. Illustrations can be useful. Testimonies can glorify God. History can instruct us. But none of these must take the place of Scripture.

God asked through Jeremiah:

“What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.” — Jeremiah 23:28

Then He declared:

“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” — Jeremiah 23:29

We do not need to make God’s Word powerful. It is powerful.

Our responsibility is to proclaim it faithfully.

The preacher must therefore beware of becoming an entertainer, storyteller, motivational speaker, political commentator, or performer while the Bible remains almost closed upon the pulpit.

Preach the Whole Counsel of God

Faithful preaching must not select only the pleasant portions of Scripture.

Paul could say:

“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” — Acts 20:27

There are doctrines that comfort and doctrines that confront. Scripture speaks of heaven and hell, mercy and judgment, grace and holiness, faith and repentance, assurance and warning, the love of God and the wrath of God.

The faithful preacher does not ask, “What will make me popular?” He asks, “What hath God said?”

He does not soften God’s warnings or enlarge God’s promises beyond what Scripture says.

He speaks God’s Word faithfully and leaves the consequences with God.

A Famine of Hearing the Word

One of God’s most terrible judgments upon a people is not merely physical famine:

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.” — Amos 8:11

A church may have buildings, music, programmes, crowds, money, activity, and preaching—and still suffer a famine of the Word of God.

What a tragedy if men come to our churches carrying Bibles but seldom hear those Bibles faithfully opened and applied to their consciences.

Our generation does not need less Bible. It needs more.

Conclusion: Preach the Word

The preacher’s calling is solemn.

He stands between eternity and dying men with an open Bible in his hand. He must remember that one day both preacher and hearer will stand before God.

Therefore Paul’s charge should continually ring in our ears:

“Preach the word.” — 2 Timothy 4:2

Preach it when men receive it and when they reject it.

Preach it when it comforts and when it wounds.

Preach its promises and its warnings.

Preach man’s ruin through sin and God’s remedy in Christ.

Preach repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Preach Christ crucified, risen, exalted, and coming again.

But before we preach it to others, may we allow that same Word to search us.

May God deliver us from sermons filled with man’s wisdom but empty of God’s power. May He give us preachers who tremble at His Word, walk with Him in secret, preach Christ rather than themselves, and can say with Paul:

“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” — Acts 20:27

And when all our sermons have been preached and our voices are silent, the preacher will pass away, but the Word he was called to proclaim will remain:

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” — Isaiah 40:8