When some people think of a preacher, they think of a fat, sweaty man in a fancy suit raining down fire and brimstone on a congregation that is simultaneously shell-shocked and disinterested. In their experience, they prefer teaching or sharing or talks.
I’ll admit. I don’t especially like the picture above (especially the fat and sweaty part!), but I do love preaching.
That is foundational to my ministry (1 Tim. 5:17). It was foundational to Jesus’ ministry (Mk. 1:38-39; Jn. 18:37). And Isaiah’s was a preaching ministry. God has chosen His Word to be disseminated via preaching.
Unfortunately, preaching has been hijacked and distorted in many churches. People’s perception of preaching is diminished because those tasked with preaching have shortchanged them.
It is like saying a person doesn’t like food because they have only eaten at McDonald’s.
Most weekdays, I listen to a short podcast called “Things Unseen.” The podcaster (and preacher), Sinclair Ferguson examines one topic each week in bite-sized chunks over five days. Last week, he considered the value of preaching.
Give a listen. I think it will encourage and challenge you.
Here is a link to the first episode: https://learn.ligonier.org/podcasts/things-unseen-with-sinclair-ferguson/how-important-is-preaching
P.S. I am curious who is reading this. If you are, and you want to “win” a cool sticker for your Yeti, Hydro, Stanley, etc., tell me where Isaiah 2:4 (“…they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.“) is famously inscribed (googling allowed).
