Beyond the Church Walls: Rediscovering the True Purpose of Preaching

Challenging Traditional Views on Preaching: A Biblical Perspective

Today, I want to challenge our traditional thinking about preaching. It's a topic close to my heart, and I believe it's time we take a fresh look at what the Bible really says about this crucial aspect of our faith.

Introduction

Have you ever wondered if there's more to preaching than what we commonly see in our churches? I certainly have. The idea I want to explore with you today is this: preaching is primarily for unbelievers, not just for delivering a monologue to the same congregation repeatedly for decades.

I know this might sound radical to some, but bear with me. In this blog post, I aim to dive into the biblical foundation for preaching to unbelievers and challenge the conventional notion of preaching as a weekly monologue to the same audience. Let's embark on this journey together, with open minds and hearts ready to be shaped by God's Word.

The Traditional View of Preaching

Before we delve into what the Bible says, let's consider the common misconception many of us have grown up with. In many churches, preaching is seen as giving a monologue to the same congregation week after week. It's a familiar scene: the pastor stands at the pulpit, delivers a sermon, and the congregation listens attentively (or sometimes not so attentively).

But where did this idea come from? To understand this, we need to look at some historical and cultural factors.

The origin of this perception can be traced back to several key developments in church history. In the early centuries of Christianity, as the church became more institutionalized, there was a gradual shift from the house church model to larger gatherings in dedicated buildings. This shift naturally led to a more formalized structure of worship, including the sermon as a central element.

The Protestant Reformation, while emphasizing the importance of Scripture and personal faith, also inadvertently contributed to this model. The reformers' focus on the centrality of preaching in worship services reinforced the idea of a single speaker addressing a congregation.

In more recent times, the rise of mass media and the "celebrity pastor" phenomenon has further entrenched this model. Large churches and televised services have made it seem normal for one person to speak to thousands, reinforcing the one-to-many relationship in preaching.

Cultural factors have played a role too. In many societies, there's a tradition of respecting authority figures, which can translate into a passive acceptance of the preacher's words without much dialogue or questioning. The education system, with its lecture-based model, has also influenced how we perceive learning in church settings.

However, this model presents a problem. The focus on creating large congregations necessitates an uninterrupted monologue for information transfer, which is not the biblical model of discipleship. It can create a passive audience rather than active disciples, and it doesn't necessarily lead to the kind of transformative growth we see in the New Testament church.

Now that we've identified this issue, let's turn to the Bible to see what it really says about preaching.

Biblical Context and Examples

When we look at the Bible, we find a much more dynamic and engaging picture of preaching than what we often see in our churches today. Let's explore some key examples.

Paul's Preaching in Acts 20

One often misunderstood passage is Acts 20:9-11, where Paul is preaching, and a young man named Eutychus falls asleep and dies. Many say this as an example of long sermons, but a closer look reveals something different.

The King James Version says:

"And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead." (Acts 20:9, KJV)

The key here is the Greek word used for "preaching." It's "dialegomai," which means more of a discussion or dialogue, not a monologue. This word is usually translated as 'disputing' or 'reasoned' and is only used as 'preach' in Acts chapter 20. This is different from the word used in Romans 10, which we'll look at later. Paul wasn't just talking at people; he was engaging in a lively discussion that went on for hours!

Open-Air Preaching in the Bible

When we look at Jesus and the apostles, we see them often preaching in open spaces, addressing large, diverse crowds. The Sermon on the Mount is a prime example:

"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying," (Matthew 5:1-2, KJV)

Jesus didn't confine His preaching to a synagogue or a select group. He went where the people were and spoke to them directly.

Similarly, we see Paul engaging with people in public spaces. In Athens, he reasoned with people in the marketplace and at the Areopagus:

"Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection." (Acts 17:18, KJV)

Preaching to the Lost

A crucial point we often overlook is that preaching in the New Testament is primarily directed towards those who have never heard the Gospel. Paul makes this clear in his letter to the Romans:

"Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:" (Romans 15:20, KJV)

And again in 2 Corinthians:

"To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand." (2 Corinthians 10:16, KJV)

The Greek Word 'Kerusso': To Publicly Herald the Gospel

The word 'kerusso' is used 61 times in the New Testament to indicate public proclamation. This isn't about speaking to a closed group of believers, but publicly declaring the good news to all who would hear. This is the same Greek word Jesus uses in the Great Commission passage found in Mark 16.  

In Romans 10, Paul emphasizes the importance of preaching to those who haven't heard:

"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?" (Romans 10:14, KJV)

Biblical Model of Discipleship

While we've established that preaching in the New Testament was primarily directed towards unbelievers, it's crucial to understand how this fits into Jesus' overall ministry model. Jesus' approach provides a clear distinction between preaching to the masses and discipling believers.

When addressing large crowds of primarily unbelievers, Jesus often used parables:

"And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;" (Matthew 13:3, KJV)

These parables weren't straightforward sermons but thought-provoking stories that challenged listeners to engage with His message. This method of preaching to unbelievers invited reflection and personal discovery, sparking curiosity that might lead to deeper inquiry.

However, Jesus' approach to those who believed was markedly different. He focused on small group discipleship, pouring most of His time and energy into three key disciples—Peter, James, and John—while also mentoring the other nine, albeit less intensively.

This dual approach highlights an important distinction: preaching, in its purest form, was aimed at introducing unbelievers to the Gospel, while discipleship was reserved for believers who sought to deepen their faith.

By recognizing this difference, we can see that the common practice of delivering weekly sermons to the same congregation doesn't align with the biblical model of preaching. Instead, it more closely resembles discipleship, which Jesus conducted in smaller, more intimate settings.

This realization challenges us to rethink our current church structures. Are we truly engaging in biblical preaching if we're primarily addressing the same group of believers week after week? Should we not, like Jesus and the apostles, be focusing our preaching efforts on reaching those outside the church, while reserving more intensive, relationship-based teaching for those already in the faith?

By understanding and applying this biblical model, we can more effectively fulfill both the Great Commission to preach the Gospel to all creatures (Mark 16:15) and the command to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). It's about striking the right balance between reaching out to unbelievers through public preaching and nurturing believers through intimate discipleship.

Historical Context: Whitefield and Wesley

To bring this into a more recent historical context, let's look at George Whitefield and John Wesley. These two great preachers of the 18th century revolutionized how the Gospel was shared, particularly through their embrace of open-air preaching.

Initially, John Wesley was hesitant about preaching outside of church buildings. He considered it a breach of church order and was uncomfortable with the idea. However, his friend George Whitefield saw the potential to reach those who would never darken the door of a church.

In his journal entry for March 29, 1739, Wesley recounts his pivotal decision to join Whitefield in open-air preaching:

"I could scarce reconcile myself at first to this strange way of preaching in the fields, of which he [Whitefield] set me an example on Sunday; having been all my life (till very lately) so tenacious of every point relating to decency and order, that I should have thought the saving of souls almost a sin if it had not been done in a church."

This moment marked a significant turning point in Wesley's ministry. Despite his initial reservations, he soon saw the profound impact of this approach. In the same journal entry, he continues:

"In the evening I reached Bristol, and met Mr. Whitefield there. I could scarce believe he would suffer me to declare, as I had determined, if it were permitted me, the glad tidings of salvation, in the highways and hedges, to all who would hear. But he did not say a word against it; so on Monday, April 2, I began expounding our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, in a place called the Brickyard, to about three thousand people."

Whitefield's influence and Wesley's willingness to step out of his comfort zone led to a revolutionary approach to evangelism. Their open-air preaching was considered scandalous at the time. The established church frowned upon preaching outside of consecrated buildings. But these men saw the need to reach people where they were, just as Jesus and the apostles had done.

Their open-air preaching had a significant impact during the Great Awakening. They reached thousands who would never have set foot in a church, bringing the Gospel to the masses in a way that hadn't been seen since the early church. Wesley himself would go on to preach over 40,000 sermons in his lifetime, many of them in the open air.

This historical example reinforces our earlier points about the nature of biblical preaching. Like Jesus and the apostles, Whitefield and Wesley took the message to the people, focusing on reaching those who were outside the church. Their approach challenges us to reconsider our modern methods and to ask ourselves: Are we truly following the biblical and historical model of preaching?

Conclusion

As we've explored the biblical and historical evidence, it becomes clear that our traditional view of preaching needs to be challenged. Preaching, in its purest form, is not about delivering weekly monologues to the same group of believers. It's about reaching the lost, engaging in dialogue, and fostering deep, personal discipleship.

I want to encourage you to rethink your approach to preaching and consider the biblical examples we've discussed. Here are some practical steps you can take:

Prioritize evangelistic preaching: Look for opportunities to share the Gospel with those who haven't heard it.

Engage in dialogue: Don't just preach at people, but create opportunities for discussion and questions.

Focus on discipleship: Invest deeply in a few people, following Jesus' model.

Be willing to go where the people are: Don't limit your preaching to church buildings.

Use stories and parables: Engage people's minds and hearts, not just their ears.

Remember, the goal of preaching is not to create passive listeners, but to make disciples who will, in turn, make more disciples. As we align our practices more closely with the biblical model, we may see a revival in our churches and communities that rivals the Great Awakening.

Let's be bold in our proclamation of the Gospel, innovative in our methods, and always grounded in the truth of God's Word. The world is waiting to hear the good news. Will we deliver it as Jesus and the apostles did?

I pray that this exploration has challenged and inspired you. May we all grow in our understanding and practice of true biblical preaching, for the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom.