Questions To Ask About the Preaching In Your Church

Questions To Ask About the Preaching

In Your Church

    Preaching is important. In fact, it may be the most important human action we have the privilege to do and hear. Am I overstating this? Really? The most important human action? Yes, it may be. Think about it, when a man preaches and people listen, what is taking place? God is speaking through his word. The God who created the universe out of nothing, stoops down to speak to sinful man. God speaks through his word. Men preach that word. People hear God's word proclaimed. What could be more important?

    Why is the preached word so important? Heaven and hell hang in the balance. It is through the word that God saves sinners. Also, it is through the word that God sanctifies his people. The word of God is food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, light for them in darkness, strength for the weak, hope for the despondent, life for the dead, etc. It is important. And it must be proclaimed.

What follows are some questions both for the preacher and the listener to ponder about the preaching of the word.

Questions to ask and answer: Pastor

1) Am I truly preaching the word of God?

    Preachers are ministers of the word of God. If a minister is not preaching the word of God, he is not preaching. Do not call yourself a pastor, minister, shepherd, or anything else if you are not preaching God's word.

2) Am I preaching the whole counsel of God?

    Preachers are responsible for the eternal welfare of their flock. They will give an account for their stewardship of the word. So, preacher, are you preaching the whole counsel of God? Two methods will ensure that this is what you are doing. The first is expository preaching (verse-by-verse and book-by-book). The second is preaching catechisms (preaching doctrine by preaching the subject matter of the question, answer, but most importantly, the text given in support). Preaching the whole counsel of God means: preaching the glory of God and the sinful condition of man, the sovereign grace of God, calling sinners to repent and trust Christ alone for salvation, and how Christians are to live, grow, and glorify God.

3) Am I preaching the word with clarity and passion?

    This takes prayer, many hours of study, a heart on fire for God, a desire to minister to the flock through the word, practice, accountability, and a pastor who has been in the presence of God and in his word. I liken this to Moses on the mountain with God. Moses was there on the mountain in God's presence. He received the word of God, worshiped God, desired God, learned about God, wanted to know more about God, and then went down the mountain and delivered God's word to God's people. Pastor, are you on the mountain with God during the week? Are you in the word of God? You need to be. You better be!

4) Am I preaching the word experientially and doctrinally?

    This means, are you preaching to the minds and to the hearts of your people? The flock needs both. They need to know what the word of God says but also what to do with it. This is application. This is taking the word of God, expositing it, explaining it, and then applying it to your people in their context.

Questions to ask and answer: Hearer

1) Does my pastor preach the word of God?

2) Does my pastor preach the whole counsel of God?

3) Does my pastor preach with clarity and passion?

4) Does my pastor preach experientially and doctrinally?

5) Am I praying for my pastor as he prepares to preach?

6) Do I prepare myself to hear the word?

    Do I prepare my soul by praying throughout the week? Do I come with a spiritual hunger for the word of God? Do I have a teachable heart? Am I submissive to the word of God? Am I attentive? Do I receive the preached word with meekness and humility? Do I mix the preached word with faith and seek to apply it and live it? Do I strive to retain what was preached in order to meditate on it during the week and remember it for later in life? Do I pray that God would accompany his preached word with the appropriate blessings?

    These questions are important. Hearer, if you answered “no” to 1-4, there may be a problem in the pulpit. I cannot tell you what to do, but something must be done. If you answered “no” to any of the rest, then you may need to repent and beg God to help you to grow in these ways.

    Pastor, if you answered “no” to any of yours, seek God and mend your ways. Think on the importance of preaching the word of God. You are merely a herald. You are the messenger. You are called to preach God's message and not your own. Preach God's word. I know that some are people pleasers, fear rejection, don't want to preach on difficult topics, preach doctrine because it may be above people's heads, fear losing their church, and a host of other issues. But, that is not in your hands. That does not change the fact that you are to preach God's word! You preach the word and leave everything else up to God. Feed the sheep.

    Pastor, if you did not answer “no” to any of your questions, praise God! Remain faithful, brother. Keep preaching the word. Pray for grace to persevere until the end. Pray that God bless the preaching of his word with spiritual growth and maturity, discipline, Christlikeness, conversions, and heart-felt worship for God.