TEXT:  1 Cor. 1:20-25

INTRODUCTION:

A.      IT IS THROUGH PREACHING THE GOSPEL GOD PLANS TO SAVE US.

          1.       Jews preferred signs - lost.

          2.       Gentiles sought human wisdom - lost.

B.      BECAUSE PREACHING IS SO CENTRAL IN SAVING SOULS,

          WE ALL NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I.     WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN?

A.      WEBSTER: "to expound or proclaim... to advocate... urge strongly or persistently; to

          deliver a sermon."

B.      SEWELL:  "The activity of a redeemed man, standing in Christ's stead, by his authority and

          in obedience to his command, proclaiming, explaining, illustrating, and strongly

          urging the word of God, the Gospel of Christ, in such a manner as to make it possible for

          responsible people to understand it and accept it unto life or reject it unto death."

II.    WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT PREACHING?

A.      THE PURPOSE IS TO URGE THE SINNER TO BE RECONCILED ( 2 Cor. 5:18-20 ).

B.      WE CAN'T COME TO JESUS WITHOUT HEARING ( John 6:44-45 ).

C.      ON THE BASIS OF THIS TRUTH CHRIST COMMANDED ( Mark 16:15 ).

D.      PREACHING IS NEEDED BY CHRISTIANS, TOO( 2 Tim. 4:1-4 ).

III.   OF WHAT DOES PREACHING CONSIST?

A.    THE AUTHORITATIVE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL,

        MOVING MEN TO CHRIST, SALVATION, & ETERNAL LIFE.

        1.     Life is in the message( John 20:30-31 ).

        2.     Needs a spokesman( Rom. 10:13-15 ).

B.    THE POWER RESTS NOT IN THE MAN BUT IN GOD & HIS

        WORD( 1 Cor. 2:1-5 ).

        1.     Preaching, a divine function accomplished thru men as his earthen agents

                ( 2 Cor. 4:5-7; Phil. 2:12-13 ).

        2.     A speech may exhibit every rule of composition and delivery and yet be

                of the world entirely.  It may violate every standard ofliterary purity and

                yet be a voice vibrant with the love and power of God.

C.    GOSPEL PREACHING, IF IT IS INDEED FROM GOD, MUST BE

        AUTHORITATIVE( Titus 2:15 ).

        1.     It must strongly urge  serious consideration and obedience to the gospel.

        2.     Observe the authority of these speaker( Acts 2:36-38;  17:30-31 ).

D.    IF IT IS NOT THE DECLARATION OF THE AUTHORITATIVE WORD

        OF GOD, IT IS NO GOOD!( Gal. 1:6-10 ).

        1.     The preacher does not create the message.

               a.     The apostles didn't( 1 Cor. 2:13-13 ).

               b.     We must not( 2 Tim. 2:2;  1 Pet. 4:11 ).

        2.     A curse on those who would alter it( 2 John 9-11 ).

        3.     The responsibility is grave( James 3:1 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.    THERE IS ONLY ONE HOPE FOR MAN( Rom. 1:16 ).

B.    HAVE YOU OBEYED THE GOSPEL?