Why Don’t You Just Preach the Bible?
The apostle Paul had a singular focus, in the ministry God entrusted to him (1 Cor 9:17; Gal 2:7; 1 Thess 2:4; 1 Tim 1:11; Titus 1:3), that was, to preach Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 1:23; 2:2). Paul wrote to the Colossians, and simply stated, “We proclaim Him (Col 1:28).” Paul’s passion was to know Him (Christ), and the power of His resurrection (Eph 3:10). His stewardship was to preach the Gospel of God, the Gospel of peace, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Whichever city Paul found himself, he would visit the synagogue and/or the town center market place, in order to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul ended up in jail on a number of occasions, and in those places, he preached Jesus Messiah.
Today, the church is filled with charlatan preachers, and the people have no idea what they are missing. Instead of immersing themselves in the study of the Scriptures, as Ezra did (Ezra 7:10), pastors are obsessed with church growth. Their libraries, if they have one, are occupied with books from organizational gurus, both secular and church-focused. There is an entire leadership success cult among clergy within the church. Their desire is to lead an ever-growing, ever-larger organization. The more complex the organization, the more successful is the leader. Idolatry is rampant in the American church.
Our question is simple, “Why don’t you just preach the Bible?” It is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe (Rom 1:16). Who is in a better position to believe than those who hear the Gospel preached (Rom 10:14–17)?
The Gospel is to be preached to all creation (Mk 16:15). It is to be preached in the whole world, as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Mt 24:14).
If the prophets preached the coming Messiah; if John the Baptist preached repentance (Mk 1:4); if Jesus preached the kingdom of God; and the apostles preached Jesus and the resurrection, then what is the church doing, today?
The Roman Catholics have their Mass. The Methodists have their social programs. The Pentecostals have their prosperity and prophetic speaking conferences. The Evangelicals have their proliferation of Christian counseling services, leadership conferences, and their conservative political agendas. The Anglicans have their social/political movements. In reality, no group is excluded, for all have gone astray, some more than others. We need a reformation in America, and it must begin with preachers in the pulpit, who are committed to preaching the Bible.
Where is the place of preaching in today’s church? Which church or denomination is generally known for its pulpit prowess?
In this, I mean to identify the man of God, who is like Apollos, mighty in the Scriptures (Acts 18:24). Where is the lover of God’s Word, like David (Ps 119:97)? Who is the man with God’s Word burning in His bones, like Jeremiah (Jer 20:9)? Where is the fearless, focused, denier of self, as was John the Baptist (Mt 11:7)? Show me the man that has been with Jesus, in his study (Acts 4:13), and we will see the heat and light this man brings to the pulpit. Surely, his cup will overflow in the presence of his enemies (Ps 23:5), to the delight of Christ’s sheep, who have ears to hear.
It is time for the church to reject those who preach psychology, philosophy, church growth, along with organizational leadership and development. The church must demand the text of the Bible be expositionally preached, rather than merely used as a helpful illustration, for the pastor’s man-made strategy, for whatever his pet project may be.
Churches, now, need men who will preach the plight of man in sin. Preachers must reintroduce the wrath of God against sinners (Rom 1:18). We need preachers who will openly confront the scourge of the Arminian heresy (Jn 1:12–13; Rom 9:16). The church needs to meet the sovereign God of the universe, who has decreed all things that will come to pass, and who sustains all things by the Word of His power (Heb 1:3).
We need men who believe that the Gospel is all we need (1 Cor 1:23). That knowing Christ, by knowing the Scriptures, is the vital program, the essential agenda (Jn 17:3; Acts 2:36). With singular purpose, preachers must forsake their particular first loves and return again to the Word of God preached (Rev 2:4). They must believe in the preaching of Christ, as the power for sinners to receive justification by grace. They must also believe in preaching (1 Cor 1:21), as the Spirit’s agency for sanctification of the saints (Jn 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16).
Christian, pray fervently, today, that God would have mercy on us and forgive us for our ministry idolatries in the church. Pray that God would put His Spirit in men, called and appointed to be preachers (1 Tim 2:7). Pray for the local churches to desire Bible-grounded preachers — not showmen, nor psychobabblers, nor those with “prophetic voices”.
Christian, find the preaching pulpit in your town and make it your church home. Support the preaching ministry in your community. If, like many towns, you do not have even one, dedicated preaching pulpit, then find others who want this more than anything else and become that church.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
January 1, 2022
