The Preciousness of Preaching

I. Introduction

A. “There’s a war going on!”

1. The enemy uses terrorism to defeat us

2. Ted Koppell read last Friday night the list of the dead.

3. Here’s my list:

a) James, Mike, Steve, Jeremy, Paul, Dave, Zack, Kyle, Joel, John, Josh, Luke, Matt, Bart, Mark, Tim, Sam, Dan, Phil, Pete

b) More recognizable names: Isaiah, Elijah, Elisha, Moses, Jesus

4. 2 Cor 10:3-5—the Christians’ war

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV)

B. Our work is cut out for us—The world is getting bigger (from the United Nations document, The World at Six Billion)—from 2,728,516,402 (1954) to 6,375,882,069 (2004) in 50 years

1. World population did not reach one billion until 1804. It took 123 years to reach 2 billion in 1927, 33 years to reach 3 billion in 1960, 14 years to reach 4 billion in 1974 and 13 years to reach 5 billion in 1987.

2. It has taken just 12 years for the world to add this most recent billion people. This is the shortest period of time in world history for a billion people to be added.

3. World population [crossed] the six billion threshold… [in] 1999.

4. World population is projected to cross the 7 billion mark in 2013; the 8 billion mark in 2028; the 9 billion mark in 2054 (2048, as of
7-17-2003). [updated numbers from U.S. Bureau of the Census]

II. Two passages

A. Romans 10:14-15—“How beautiful are the feet…”

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (NIV)

1. Good news for Israel…

a) Nah 1:15—deliverance from Assyria

b) Isa 52:7—deliverance from Babylon

c) Rom 10:15—deliverance from sin in the coming of Christ

2. …means good news for us

3. Preachers of good news needed!

a) Brothers & sisters: Bible class teachers (see Robert, Brad T, James, Thomas, Brad Mc)

b) Brothers & sisters: Bible study teachers—WBS (see David), missions (see Vic), home (see Rocky)

c) Brothers: Preachers—see God!

(1) No greater work!

(2) Training available!

B. Luke 4:16-21 (Isa 61:1-2)—“good news to the poor”

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me

¹to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me ²to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, ³to release the oppressed,

19 ⁴to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (NIV)

1. The gospel is for whom

a) The church is a hospital for sinners, too, not just a haven for saints

b) The church is full of imperfect people

2. Help me say this: “God had only one Son: He was a preacher!”

III. Conclusion

A. Preachers needed! Will you answer the call?

B. Matt 11:28-30—the best message of all!

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)