SATURDAY, APRIL 22
1 Corinthians 1:20-25
Romans 10:14-17

"…by the foolishness of preaching
to save them that believe."

THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING

Preaching is the bold and faithful proclamation of God’s Word by the power of the Holy Spirit. Many in the world regard this as foolishness because of its content. While the world regards preaching as foolishness, the LORD has determined it to be the way in which souls are saved (1 Cor 1:21). When Paul preached to the Athenians in Acts 17:16-33, many of them mocked at the doctrine of the resurrection (Acts 17:32). But there were also a few who believed unto salvation (Acts 17:34). This was also the experience of the Corinthian Christians, for many were saved by the preaching of Paul and his associates. Indeed, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the preached word (rhēma) of God (Rom 10:14-17).

Just like in time past, many today also reject the preaching of God’s Word. Sadly, many churches today have also decried preaching. In his book Preaching and Preachers, Martyn Lloyd-Jones lamented the condition of churches forty years ago. He observed that churches rejected preaching and replaced it with social activities and "coffee talk." In fact, there were some who regarded preaching as "something carnal lacking in spirituality." Nothing can be further from the truth!

As a matter of testimony, this writer observed a church that shortened its worship service from one-and-a-half hours to a mere forty-five minutes. Considering that the singing of hymns would reasonably last about thirty minutes, that would leave only fifteen minutes for preaching. How then would the congregation be fed?

In the light of today’s Scripture passage, let us leave ourselves in no doubt that "the primary task of the Church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God" (Martyn Lloyd-Jones). No preaching, no life!

THOUGHT: How much do I value faithful preaching?
PRAYER: Help me to attend carefully to faithful preaching, O Lord.