Why Preaching Still Matters

Why would a church ever preach about preaching? The answer is simple: because preaching has always been central to the life of God’s people. It is how God chose to save souls. Paul makes this clear in his first letter to the Corinthians, “Since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, He has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21 NLT).

From the earliest days of the church, Scripture shows us that preaching was not optional. In Acts 2, Luke tells us that the first Christians were devoted to “the apostles’ teaching.” The book of Acts records several sermons from the Apostle Paul, and before him, Jesus Himself preached constantly—teaching in synagogues, homes, on hillsides, and even from a boat. Preaching was foundational to the New Testament church, and it remains crucial today.

In some modern settings, preaching has fallen out of favor. Many believe church gatherings should focus primarily on music, discussion, or personal reflection. Those things matter, and they certainly belong in the life of the church, but Scripture consistently shows that church leaders placed a strong emphasis on preaching the Word. In fact, the apostles even delegated certain responsibilities so they could devote themselves more fully to prayer and the ministry of the Word. They studied Scripture not only for personal growth but to faithfully communicate God’s truth to God’s people.

What Is Preaching?

At its core, preaching is giving voice to what God wants said. It is the prayerful, studied communication of God’s Word with passion, urgency, and authority. Preaching is sharing the heart of God with the hearts of people.

John Stott once described preaching as building a bridge. A preacher begins with the biblical text but does not stop at explanation alone. Instead, the message must cross into real life, connecting Scripture to the everyday experiences, struggles, and hopes of the listener, and then lead people back again to the Word. When done well, Bible knowledge comes alive.

Preaching should not be the only way believers learn, but it must be an important one. A steady diet of biblical preaching should stir a church’s longing for Jesus. As Stott famously said, “Churches live, grow, and flourish by God’s Word, but they languish and perish without it.”

Preaching is Commanded

The primary reason the church preaches is not preference or tradition: it is obedience. Scripture commands it. In 2 Timothy 4, the Apostle Paul gives a solemn charge to a young evangelist: “Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”

This is not a suggestion. Paul does not say, “If you have time,” or “If it’s popular.” He says, “Preach the Word.” In season or out of season. Popular or unpopular. The church is not called to preach opinions, vent frustrations, or deliver motivational talks. We are called to preach Christ. We proclaim the gospel of grace.

Sadly, some churches rarely open a Bible, reducing preaching to a few closing remarks. That leaves people spiritually hungry. Biblical preaching is how the church feeds God’s people. As Paul said, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.”

Have you ever attended a party at someone’s house where you thought there was going to be food, but there wasn’t? You come hungry, and there are just a few sweets for snacks. Thus, when you leave, the first thing you do is head to the closest fast-food drive-through. I fear that this is often the case in many places of worship, and I pray that this never be the case at any of our churches.

Preaching Promotes Sound Doctrine

Paul exhorted the young evangelist Timothy, “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work–which is by faith” (1 Timothy 1:3-5 NIV).

Paul also warned Timothy that “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

Paul warned Timothy that false teaching would arise from within the church itself. People would devote themselves to myths, speculation, and distorted doctrine. Some would even abandon the faith as a result.

The Bible is clear: not all beliefs are equally true. While culture often tells us the truth is subjective, Scripture insists that what we believe matters. No one truly lives as though truth does not exist, especially when it affects their life, their money, or their future.

Believing the wrong things about God is not harmless; it can shipwreck one’s faith. Wrong beliefs can devastate lives and alter eternity. This is why preaching matters.

Scripture is the Church’s Safeguard

Paul’s solution to false teaching was simple and consistent: devote the church to Scripture. He instructs leaders to publicly read the Bible, preach it, teach it, and persist in it. God’s Word is the standard—the norm—by which all other ideas are measured. It teaches, corrects, reproves, and trains believers for every good work.

Preaching is not about the preacher having something clever to say. It is about God having something necessary to say. Scripture not only informs us—it exposes us, shapes us, and leads us to salvation.

Preaching Grows Believers

Good Bible preaching grows the believer. Preacher and Professor Mark Scott says, “Few things are as impactful as when the church gathers in the name of God to hear the preaching of the Word of God, to retell the story of the love of God. … [A]nd to leave dumbfounded by the mystery of God as they go out to do His will in the world en route to the new creation of God.”

Good biblical preaching matures the church. Hebrews tells us that the Word of God is living and active, piercing hearts and discerning motives. There is power in the public proclamation of Scripture.

A faithful sermon does several things: it corrects sin, exposes error, and encourages growth. It does not beat people down but leads them toward a clearer understanding of who God is and who He calls us to be. When churches lack spiritual maturity or unity, it is often because they lack consistent biblical preaching. While preaching should not be the only source of nourishment, it must be a significant one.

The Listener Has a Role Too

There is one aspect that we don’t talk much about: the role of the person in the pew. What can you do?

First, you can be at church on a regular basis. I think we have grown to treat worship attendance too flippantly. We come when it’s convenient. The early church was committed to gathering. They couldn’t get enough prayer, worship, and learning of the apostles’ teaching.

Another thing you can do is get ready. Try to focus by getting rid of all the distractions. Take time to pray before you come. If you know the passage that will be preached, read over it. Participate in worship and listen with an open heart. Become a participant in the message.

Preaching is not a performance; it is participation. Søren Kierkegaard said, “People have an idea that the preacher is an actor on a stage, and they are the critics, blaming or praising him. What they don’t know is that they are the actors on the stage; he (the preacher) is merely the prompter standing in the wings, reminding them of their lost lines.”

Believers prepare to receive God’s Word by gathering faithfully, coming with focused hearts, praying beforehand, engaging during worship, and living out what Scripture teaches. Preaching should supplement a life already rooted in Scripture, not replace it.

Preaching Leads People to Salvation

Ultimately, preaching is about Jesus. Paul reminds us that God chose to use the proclamation of the gospel to bring salvation. Scripture asks a powerful question: how can anyone believe if they have not heard, and how can they hear without someone preaching?

Every sermon should point toward the cross. Tim Keller wrote that essentially, a preacher has not finished until the message shows both our inability to save ourselves and Christ’s sufficiency to save us completely. When people are led to Jesus, salvation happens. Lives change. Obedience grows. God works powerfully through His Word.

Why We Keep Preaching

We preach because God commands it.

We preach because truth protects the church.

We preach because God’s Word grows believers.

And we preach because salvation depends on it.

Preaching may not always be popular—but it has always been powerful.

My favorite place to preach is at the Shoals Christian Church, but I love preaching anywhere. When I preach, I am continually amazed at what God does through a sinner like me. There is power in preaching the Word.

Matthew Sullivan is the Preaching Minister of Shoals Christian Church, Shoals, IN, and Professor of Bible and Professional Studies at Louisville Bible College. He can be reached at shoalspreacher@frontier.com.