Why Preaching Matters

In Isaiah 6:8, the Lord asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” There is a need today, as in Isaiah’s time, for men to answer God’s call for preachers. God is looking for someone who will “stand in the gap” (Ezekiel 22:30). Should God say today, as He did in Ezekiel’s day, “I found no one”? We need men to step up. We need preachers!

Local churches need preachers.

In Acts 11:19–26, the church in Jerusalem received word of new Christians in Antioch, and wanting to help this younger church, they sent a preacher to them: Barnabas. Barnabas lived up to his name, encouraging the church and multiplying its growth. Then, Barnabas found Saul and brought him to Antioch too, and “for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people” (Acts 11:26).

The ministry team in that church continued to expand, bringing in prophets like Agabus, Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen (Acts 11:27–28; 13:1). The church in Antioch became a New Testament powerhouse, a firm presence in the early church, because of strong preachers.

God designed the life, work, and growth of the local church with evangelists and teachers in mind (Ephesians 4:11–12). We can find an excellent example of the importance of preaching in the leadership of Paul in the early church. Paul wanted Timothy to preach in Ephesus for the church’s instruction and protection (1 Timothy 1:3; 4:6). Paul wanted Titus to preach in Crete for the establishment and encouragement of the churches there (Titus 1:5). Paul knew that these churches needed good preachers. I imagine that you, like Paul, know congregations today who need sound biblical teaching and spiritual guidance. Churches will always need preachers. They might need you!

Lost souls need preachers.

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). The work of a preacher is the work of an evangelist, an investment in the salvation of souls through the gospel. Paul told Timothy: “Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5).

Jesus’s care for people motivated Him to teach and preach the gospel, and as Jesus worked to reach the lost, He told His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:35–38). Every evangelistic Christian I have met has echoed the Lord’s sentiment: we need more workers.

Be busy praying for more evangelists—more inviters, more bringers, more seekers, more teachers—and more preachers. Alongside those prayers, evaluate your own ability to do the work. God sometimes employs us to answer our own prayers—if we are willing, when the door is open, to get off our knees and on our feet (Romans 10:15). Who knows whether Isaiah had been praying for God to send someone to Israel when he heard the Lord's question, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Either way, Isaiah was ready to say, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

Older preachers need younger preachers.

If you are like me, you grew up with a list of your favorite preachers. But at some point, you realize that your favorite preachers are growing older every year. They won’t be around forever. And it is not only your favorites who are getting older. Every year, preachers retire, preachers move, preachers leave ministry, preachers lose their health and ability, and preachers die. Pulpits which have been filled for decades will eventually be empty, unless new men step into them.

Moses mentored Joshua. Elijah trained Elisha. Jesus taught the apostles. Paul guided Timothy and Titus. Barnabas took Mark under his wing. And Paul encouraged Timothy to raise the next generation of teachers (2 Timothy 2:2). The best leaders today are thinking about who will be leading tomorrow when they are gone.

The work of the gospel must continue generationally. A generation in Egypt did not know Joseph, and the Israelites became slaves; a generation in Israel did not know Joshua, and the Israelites became sinners (Judges 2:10–12). Now, generations are rising up who will never know the preachers you do. Will they know God? Will they know Scripture? Will they be faithful and spiritually strong? You might be the answer to those questions for your generation.

Want to prepare yourself to answer God's call for preachers? Click the link below to learn how Brown Trail can help you.

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