Preaching In Worship

(2 Timothy 4:1-5)

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Importance of Preaching --- God directed/God revealed

1. Principle of “May” vs. “Can” --- “Can” run a red light/”May” not run red light (don’t have authority by law).

II. WHO MAY PREACH IN WORSHIP ASSEMBLY? Women may NOT Preach

1. Women are to teach (Apollos --- Aquilla & Priscilla) (Acts 18:24-26)

2. But women are NOT to usurp authority over men (1 Corinthians 14:34)  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (1 Timothy 2:12-14)  (12)But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.  (13)  For Adam was first formed, then Eve.  (14)  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

a. Why NOT women? --Man was formed first, then woman --Adam was not beguiled, but Eve

B. Faithful men MAY preach (2 Timothy 2:2)  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

1. Faithful = “to be trusted, reliable” [Vines, pg. 412]

2. Faithful to God’s Word/Gospel (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)  (1)Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  (2)  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

a. Paul refers to Apostles…principle applies to preachers

b. Stewards = “Primarily denoted the manager of a household or estate…(such were usually slaves or freedmen)” [Vines, pg. 1097] (1) (2)

III. WHAT MAY NOT BE PREACHED IN WORSHIP ASSEMBLY? NOT Traditions of man (Colossians 2:8-10)  (8)Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  (9)  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  (10)  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: NO Other Doctrine other than Christ’s (1 Timothy 1:3-7)  (3)As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,  (4)  Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.  (5)  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:  (6)  From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;  (7)  Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

III. WHAT MAY BE PREACHED IN WORSHIP ASSEMBLY?

A. God’s Word MAY be preached (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

1. God’s Word = Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17) (Romans 15:4)

2. Peter equates Paul’s epistles with scripture of God (2 Peter 3:14-16)  (14)Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  (15)  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;  (16)  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

B. Specifically, the Gospel MUST be preached (Romans 1:16) (1 Corinthians 15:1-6)

1. Preach Jesus (Acts 8:34-35)  (34)And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?  (35)  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (2 Corinthians 4:5)  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. (3)

IV. WHY PREACH AT ALL?

A. Because it is commanded (Mark 16:15-16) (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

1. If we love Jesus, we will OBEY Him (John 14:15)

2. We KNOW we’re saved IF we obey (1 John 2:3)

3. Those that MAY, that are able, NEED to preach (Matthew 9:35-38)

B. It is the Master’s means of applying the Medicinal Message of His Mercy

1. Sin is mankind’s GREATEST problem (Isaiah 59:1-2) (Romans 3:23) (Romans 6:23)

2. Sin causes people to miss heaven

3. Preaching the Gospel SAVES us from sin (Romans 10:13-17)  (13)For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (14)  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  (15)  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  (16)  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17)  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Preaching the Gospel builds up the church (Acts 20:32)  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

D. Preaching for my OWN soul’s sake

1. To fail to do good is sin (James 4:17)

2. The truth compels Gospel Preachers to preach (1 Corinthians 9:14-16)  (14)Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.  (15)  But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.  (16)  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

V. CONCLUSION Preaching in the assembly is BOTH a privilege and a duty

B. ONLY Faithful Christian MEN MAY preach the Gospel

C. ONLY God’s word is to be proclaimed

D. Public preaching is an essential element in accomplishing God’s purpose in salvation