FOLLOWING THE TRUE, UNERRING GOSPEL AND INSTRUCTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

-Part 1: Sermons (Preaching God’s Word)-

 "And He (Jesus) called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth,....and they went out, and preached that men should repent" (Mark 6: 7&12).

 Some time ago an individual stated that the word "sermon" is not in the Bible and therefore "sermons" are not Biblical. Obviously I will not spend a lengthy amount of time on this matter for the simple reason that very little effort is required to quickly and definitively reveal this statement for the complete absurdity that it is. Therefore let us continue. Clearly they have chosen to surreptitiously avoid, circumnavigate and altogether refuse to accept the word "preach" (which in one variation or another is used more than 140 times in the Bible) and its explicit or literal scriptural meaning which is, that’s right "Sermon." Now, if one were to follow and/or accept the foolish notion that sermons are not scriptural then simple reasoning would necessitate that we also accept as truth that "abortion" is fully permissible and acceptable because, after all, the word "abortion" is not in the Bible. The same line of reasoning would also demand that we consider it fully acceptable to ignore those who are in need because, after all, the word "assistance" is not in the Bible. Even further it would be necessary to view the Biblical narrative of John the Baptist baptizing in the Jordan as nothing more than a complete fabrication because, after all, the word "immerse" is not in the Bible. You can begin to see the absolute absurdity in the notion that sermons are not Biblical. Scripture records and states definitively that the disciples "Preached The Gospel." Paul (the Bible declares) testified (definition: to make known for the purpose of establishing a fact) mans need of "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). In Biblical context "preaching" and "sermons" are one in the same. It is "proclaiming the Word of God to a lost world." It is an indispensable and essential action for the propagation of the life-changing, soul saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sermons (preaching) go as far back as Noah. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Himself delivered many sermons to the people as He taught them. In towns & in cities (Mark 10:1), by the sea side (Mark 2:13), on hillsides (Matthew 5: 1&2), in temples and synagogues (Luke 4:15, Luke 4:31, Luke 20:1, John 7:14, John 18:20, Matthew 13:54, Mark 1:21), from boats (Luke 5:3).

The first and very obvious question that immediately comes to mind when you hear a statement like "sermons are not Biblical" is this: Without sermons (preaching) how would it have been possible for the disciples to spread the Gospel? How would the three thousand have been saved were it not for Peter’s sermon? How would any among us have any knowledge at all of the Heavenly Father..of Jesus..of His sacrificial crucifixion..His burial..His resurrection? How would we know about His marvelous gift of salvation and eternal life? The answer of course is that we would not know any of these things. The Bible itself declares "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). Without the preaching of true sound Biblical sermons the people of God and His church will be weak and lacking in spirit, but where true biblical preaching abounds the church will thrive. The Bible is laced through and through with a plethora sermons. Let’s look at just a sprinkling of the many examples of sermons (preaching) in the Bible:

*John the Baptist "Preached" (Mark 1:7).

*In a "preaching" tour, Jesus "PREACHED in their Synagogues.." (Mark 1:38&39).

*When Jesus was at Capernaum and the people learned that He was staying in Peter’s house people immediately came in such large numbers that there was no room for them. And what was the first thing that Jesus did? He PREACHED the Word unto them" (Mark 2:2). With Jesus, preaching ALWAYS came first.

*Jesus sent the twelve out to PREACH that men should repent (Mark 6:12).

*In His Great Commission to the disciples before He was received up into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God Christ said unto them "Go ye into all the world, and PREACH the Gospel....and they went forth, and PREACHED Everywhere" (Mark 16: 15, 19&20).

*Jesus said, "I must PREACH the Kingdom of God..and He PREACHED in the Synagogues of Galilee" (Luke 4: 43&44).

*Jesus said "repentance and remission of sins should be PREACHED in His Name among all nations" (Luke 24:47).

*Philip went down to the City of Samaria, and PREACHED Christ unto them" (Acts 8:5).

*When Philip was at Azotus after being caught away by the Spirit of the Lord he PREACHED in all the cities (Acts 8: 39&40).

*Saul "PREACHED Christ in the Synagogues, that He is the Son of God" (Acts 9:20).

*Barnabas and Saul "PREACHED the Word of God in the Synagogues" (Acts 13:5). "They PREACHED the Gospel" (Acts 14:7).

*What about Noah? Scripture states that Noah was a "Preacher of righteousness....by which he condemned the world" (2 Peter 2:5. Hebrews 11:7). He was not a group leader for "You’re ok I’m ok" meetings, nor did he hold "open forums" of discussion with the people so that each individual could give their opinion and thereby, as a group, consider their various options. No! Noah "PREACHED" as instructed by God. He told them they they must repent. It was not open for discussion. John the Baptist did not say "let’s all sit by the river and one by one go around and hear the many ways to get to Heaven. No! He preached and told them straight out that they were a "generation of vipers" and their only way to escape the damnation of hell was to REPENT!



By now it is evident that we could easily go on and on citing one example after another from Scripture itself that preaching is not only Biblical but it is, in fact, a "command" of Christ, an "instruction and responsibility" to be carried out until the day of His triumphant return. From the very beginning of His earthly ministry Jesus made clear, by example, the necessity of sermons. Preaching is still God’s way of proclaiming the Word in our world today.

In closing I feel the need to say one more thing; I felt the spirit urging me to confront this matter the moment I heard the statement "sermons are not Biblical. Normally I would not even entertain the idea of taking time to discuss a subject such as the one that I have just addressed because they are absurd. The Bible calls them outright "foolishness." It says that such foolishness should be avoided because it is (in layman’s terms) "much ado about nothing." Such Foolish matters (the Bible says) and genealogies, and strivings about the law are all complete and utter foolishness because they are completely unprofitable and vain (2 Timothy 2:23, Titus 3:9). The one (and only) subject that should be addressed above all else is the message of "Christ and Him Crucified." It is the only way to the Father, the only way to salvation through Jesus Christ, the only way to eternal life. It is to the Cross that our world needs to turn. It is the Cross upon which we must fix our eyes. It is at the foot of the Cross where we must lay our heart. The Cross!....THE CROSS!

God bless you,

Mark Shutts