Brothers, we must preach. Ministers must preach because we are commanded to. We must preach because it’s our calling. We must preach because this is God’s way of giving men life. The first “act” in the life of the Christian Church after the giving of the Holy Spirit was speaking: they spoke in other languages of the mighty deeds of God and then Peter preached. Preaching is how God gave birth to 3,000 souls on the day of Pentecost.

Is anything more needed today than preaching? Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in describing why he was giving lectures on preaching, said

But, ultimately, my reason for being very ready to give these lectures is to me the work of preaching is the highest and the greatest and the most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called. If you want something in addition to that I would say without any hesitation that the most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching; and as it is the greatest and the most urgent need in the Church, it is obviously the greatest need of the world also.[1]

There is a priority of preaching.

Throughout the entire Bible, God has created through His Spirit and Word. In Genesis 1, the Spirit of God is present at Creation and God spoke the world into existence. In Ezekiel 37, the prophet is to speak God’s Word to dry bones, and the Holy Spirit is to work in a mighty way to bring back together a nation. And today, God still uses His Spirit and Word to create and strengthen His people. Preaching is a priority.

Two Questions.

First, to fellow ministers. Do you view preaching this way? More specifically; do you view your preaching like this? If you don’t, you must. God’s way of giving life, hope, and creating people anew has always been by “speaking.” God has called you to speak His Word. What could be more important?

Second, to those who listen to preaching. Do you view preaching this way? Is preaching to you the way (not the only way) that God speaks to you and renews your strength? If not, you need to seek to make the spoken word a priority in your life and in your family’s life, for the Lord wants to bless you through His Word preached. One of the greatest blessings that you can give to your family is to lead them to be under the faithful preaching of God’s Word week after week. To keep them from this is to rob them of a primary ordained means of grace that God wants to use to save your family and keep them with. His Word preached must be a priority for our souls and our family’s souls.

Preaching must be a priority. It is a priority in The Bible. In times of great Church health in Christian history, it has been a priority. And if we want to see the Lord bless His Church in greater manifestations today, preaching must again be a priority.

[1] Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971), 9.