The quality of preaching is of paramount importance when deciding which local church to be a part of. The pulpit is the central place from which the Word of God is proclaimed, and as such, it should not be taken lightly. It is through sound, expositional, experiential preaching that the flock is fed, sinners are converted, and saints are edified. The Apostle Paul himself places a high emphasis on preaching, stating, "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21, KJV).
Good preaching should be biblical, clear, and apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lives of the hearers. It should align with the doctrines outlined in the great Creeds and Confessions of the Church throughtheages. A church where the preaching is weak is a church that is spiritually malnourished, regardless of how vibrant its community life may be or how many programs. The quality (truth and application) of preaching should be among the highest considerations when choosing a local church. Other factors like community, discipleship programs, and outreach are indeed important, but they flow out of the centrality of sound biblical preaching.
The quality of preaching is of paramount importance when deciding which local church to be a part of. The pulpit is the central place from which the Word of God is proclaimed, and as such, it should not be taken lightly. It is through sound, expositional, experiential preaching that the flock is fed, sinners are converted, and saints are edified. The Apostle Paul himself places a high emphasis on preaching, stating, "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21, KJV).
Good preaching should be biblical, clear, and apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lives of the hearers. It should align with the doctrines outlined in the great Creeds and Confessions of the Church throughtheages. A church where the preaching is weak is a church that is spiritually malnourished, regardless of how vibrant its community life may be or how many programs. The quality (truth and application) of preaching should be among the highest considerations when choosing a local church. Other factors like community, discipleship programs, and outreach are indeed important, but they flow out of the centrality of sound biblical preaching.
Where would you rate quality of preaching when deciding which local church to be a part of?