Don't Listen to Those Who Dunk on Preaching

Eventually, you are going to hear someone criticize the importance of preaching. They will tell you that the problem with the church is that we have relied on the sermon to do more than it was ever designed to do. They will argue that we need to rely on other forms of discipleship and make preaching less central to the ministry of the church.

There is an element of truth in this criticism. The other day, I posted a quote from Tim Keller:

I stand by that. I also agree with the authors of The Trellis and the Vine when they say, “Sunday sermons are necessary but not sufficient… Sermons are needed, yes, but they are not all that is needed.”

We don’t need less preaching; we need more. At the same time, we need other forms of word ministry in the church.

So there’s an element of truth when people say that we sometimes rely too much on the sermon. But still, don’t ever listen to anyone who questions the centrality of preaching in the local church.

Ignore the critics of preaching. Here’s why.

First, because you have (or should have) a high view of Scripture. Your view of preaching is directly tied to your view of Scripture. A high view of Scripture leads to a high view of preaching. Once you understand the claims Scripture makes about the word of God and its power, you will also have a high view of the importance of preaching the word. Nothing can take its place.

Whenever you begin to waiver about the place of preaching in the church, spend time meditating on passages that speak of the power of God’s word. This will help you recapture your vision for the importance of God speaking and for how central preaching is to the church.

Second, preaching is central to the Bible’s vision of ministry. Read 2 Timothy 4 if you haven’t read it recently. Notice that the charge is framed with maximum weight, is described in its many effects, and encouraged no matter what people think of the idea of preaching. Resist all pressures and trends that diminish the role of preaching. It’s not hard to find passage in Scripture that emphasize the importance of preaching; it’s impossible to find passages that diminish its importance.

Third, preaching is inherently proclamational. The role of preaching within the church is not simply to discuss what God has said. It is for someone to stand and proclaim, “Thus says the Lord,” then point to his word and apply it. I am not opposed to discussion in a church, but I am concerned when people try to replace the proclamation of God’s word with discussion about God’s word.

Finally, critiques of preaching are not new. Read Lloyd-Jones in his excellent book Preaching and Preachers, and you will see the same tired criticisms being thrown at preaching even then. “We are living in an age when not only preaching but the very Church herself is being questioned,” he wrote. The challenges are not new, and neither are the answers. Do not be surprised when the same old criticisms come up again and again.

I’m not writing to convince the critics of preaching that they’re wrong. I am writing to those who may hear or read those criticisms and wonder if they’re true.

Do not let the constant barrage of criticism against sermons shake your confidence in God’s preached word. Preaching cannot do everything, but it does something that the church desperately needs.

Hold on to your confidence in God’s word. Hold on to the centrality of preaching itself. Do not settle for only a discussion of God’s word. Long for the proclamation of God’s word.

Study church history and recognize the preaching of God’s word is often under attack, but that should not change how we see it.

Do not pay attention to the ongoing criticism against the importance of preaching in the life of the church. We need more than preaching, but we don’t need less preaching. Preaching will always be central to the life of a healthy church.