Jump to navigation

Home

Christian Library

Main menu

  • Browse
  • Log in
  • OTP

Search

You are here

  1. Library > 
  2. Preaching
Subscribe to RSS - Purpose and Function of Preaching

Purpose and Function of Preaching

The Gospel of the Cross

  • Semi-Technical
  • Samuel Chadwick

This article shows the centrality of the cross of Christ in the gospel and in preaching.

  • Read more about The Gospel of the Cross
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Preaching and the Real Battle for Worship

  • Basic
  • Barrett L. Gritters

Preaching should lead to worship. How many sermons have you heard, did they make you behold your God? If you will be preaching or hearing a sermon in the future, then read this article, for a refresher on what the goal of preaching is.

  • Read more about Preaching and the Real Battle for Worship
  • Share
  • Add new comment

A Casket without a Jewel

  • Popular
  • John J. Murray

Just why exactly does the cross of Christ need to be central in preaching and teaching? This article explores the reason.

  • Read more about A Casket without a Jewel
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Teach with Clarity

  • Popular
  • John R. Sittema

This article is about the minister's task to preach simply and with clarity.

  • Read more about Teach with Clarity
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Preaching: An Affair of the Heart

  • Popular
  • Leslie Holmes

What is the goal of preaching? Who is your preaching about? This article explains that preaching is a matter of the heart being pointed toward Christ.

  • Read more about Preaching: An Affair of the Heart
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Preaching to Meet Crisis Needs (Part 5)

  • Popular
  • Wayne E. Oates

Preaching God's Word to his people implies addressing the needs of the church through the Word. This article explains that it is important to preach to crisis needs, and identifies common crisis needs and how preaching should address them.

  • Read more about Preaching to Meet Crisis Needs (Part 5)
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Preaching to Emotional Needs (Preaching and Pastoral Care–Part Three of Five)

  • Popular
  • Wayne E. Oates

Preaching God's Word involves addressing the needs of the church. This article explains that preaching to the emotional needs of people is crucial. It explains the dangers of psychological preaching and addresses a proper way of preaching to emotional needs.

  • Read more about Preaching to Emotional Needs (Preaching and Pastoral Care–Part Three of Five)
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Three Ways the Gospel Can Divide a Church

  • Popular
  • Jared C. Wilson

The gospel does not only bring unity in the church, but it also brings divisions in the church. How? It confronts the self-righteous, overthrows hobby horse riders (activists on a topic), and addresses those who do not want change.

  • Read more about Three Ways the Gospel Can Divide a Church
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Should I Ever Break from an Expository Sermon Series?

  • Popular
  • Hershael York

This article offers a suggestion as to when a pastor could take a break from his sermon series.

  • Read more about Should I Ever Break from an Expository Sermon Series?
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Preaching and Judgment

  • Popular
  • A. N. Hendriks

This article stresses the importance of the proclamation of God’s judgment for believers. The article considers that believers need to be reminded of our sins, in order to benefit more deeply from knowing the Saviour from sins. Thus, the law needs to be preached from the pulpit, for the sake of the gospel.

  • Read more about Preaching and Judgment
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Is a Certain Infantilization of the Church Threatening Us?

  • Popular
  • J. Jonkman

This article considers a trend towards simplistic preaching, which will leave a congregation immature and infantile. The author pleads for the full preaching of the gospel that will bring maturity to all who have ears to hear.

  • Read more about Is a Certain Infantilization of the Church Threatening Us?
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Does This Have to Be in a Sermon?

  • Popular
  • J. Van Amstel

Does the judgment of God have a place in preaching? This article gives reasons why some preachers do not proclaim the judgment of God, but why it is important that the church of Christ also hear the warnings of the gospel in preaching.

  • Read more about Does This Have to Be in a Sermon?
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Orators and Heralds: Audience-Driven Vs. Obedience-Driven

  • Popular
  • Mike Riccardi

This article spells out the historical difference between an orator and a herald. The former adapted his message to his audience in order achieve desired results; the latter had his message set for him by another, and so he was not results-driven but obedience-driven. The Corinthians wanted an orator, but Paul was a herald.

  • Read more about Orators and Heralds: Audience-Driven Vs. Obedience-Driven
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Sermons Are Not for Liking

  • Popular
  • Tim Challies

"How did you like the sermon?" This is just a wrong question to ask, because sermons are not for liking. Instead, as the article suggests, the question could be: What did you learn from the sermon?

  • Read more about Sermons Are Not for Liking
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Preaching Also to the Affections, the Need of the Hour

  • Basic
  • Ian Hamilton

This article encourages the right handling of God's truth, such that preaching also appeals to the affections of the hearers after the preacher himself has been affected by the Word.

  • Read more about Preaching Also to the Affections, the Need of the Hour
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Hermeneutics, Preaching, and the Problem of Biblical Illiteracy

  • Popular
  • Jason Garwood

What is biblical illiteracy? This article argues that biblical illiteracy is not knowing redemptive history. This article shows that the cause of it lies in the mind and heart. It is through preaching that it can be cured.

  • Read more about Hermeneutics, Preaching, and the Problem of Biblical Illiteracy
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Preaching to People: Confession of a Preacher

  • Basic
  • Anthony Selvaggio

One of the mistakes a pastor can make is to forget that he is preaching to real people. This article brings this reminder home through a personal story.

  • Read more about Preaching to People: Confession of a Preacher
  • Share
  • Add new comment

From Scriptures to the Sermon: The Problem of Paradigms

  • Semi-Technical
  • J. I. Packer

For preaching to be effective, the preacher needs to understand the paradigms surrounding him. This article shows that there is a paradigm shift that preaching must take into consideration in three themes: God, man, and godliness. Understanding this shift is crucial for the faithfulness and effectiveness of preaching.

  • Read more about From Scriptures to the Sermon: The Problem of Paradigms
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Preaching and Grief (Fourth in a Five-Part Series)

  • Popular
  • Wayne E. Oates

Preaching God's Word to his people implies addressing the needs of the church through the word. This article explains that preaching to the grieving is crucial, and identifies different kinds of grief to which preaching must speak.

  • Read more about Preaching and Grief (Fourth in a Five-Part Series)
  • Share
  • Add new comment

The Gospel: An "It" or a "He"?

  • Semi-Technical
  • Marcus Peter Johnson

How would you define the gospel? As something, or someone? This article stresses the need for seeing the gospel as the crucified and risen Christ.

  • Read more about The Gospel: An "It" or a "He"?
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Training Parrots or Making Disciples?

  • Semi-Technical
  • James M. Hamilton Jr.

There are many goals of preaching, yet this article focuses on one: helping the hearers think and read for themselves. It encourages pastors to exercise their skills for this end. Definitions of exegesis, biblical theology, and systematic theology are offered in the article as well.

  • Read more about Training Parrots or Making Disciples?
  • Share
  • Add new comment

The Centrality of Preaching

  • Basic
  • Johann Odendaal

This article considers the fundamental importance of the pure preaching of the Word, with consideration to how how the Puritans viewed preaching.

  • Read more about The Centrality of Preaching
  • Share
  • Add new comment

The High Mystery of Predestination

  • Semi-Technical
  • Fred A. Malone

This article provides pastoral direction to those called to preach on predestination. It considers the teaching of predestination itself, the reason for teaching it, and the effect of predestination upon the believer.

  • Read more about The High Mystery of Predestination
  • Share
  • Add new comment

The Centrality of the Cross

  • Popular
  • The Magazine of the Sovereign Grace Union

This article considers the centrality of the cross of Christ for salvation and thus also for preaching, by surveying how it has been discussed (or not) throughout the history of the Christian church.

  • Read more about The Centrality of the Cross
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Preaching with Power the Word "Correctly Handled" to Transform Man and His World

  • Semi-Technical
  • Louis Goldberg

This article reflects on preaching and biblical exegesis. The author considers the preacher, the Word, and what it means to correctly handle the Word (2 Timothy 2:15).

  • Read more about Preaching with Power the Word "Correctly Handled" to Transform Man and His World
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Subtracting Through Addition: Galatians 6:14-15

  • Basic
  • Allen C. Guelzo

From Galatians 6:14-15 this article shows that the gospel is all about Jesus Christ, and there is no room for adding anything to it or subtracting from it.

  • Read more about Subtracting Through Addition: Galatians 6:14-15
  • Share
  • Add new comment

What Is Preaching According to the New Testament?

  • Technical
  • Klaas Runia

Does preaching still have any meaning in our time and age? Is the sermon a relic of the past? This essay wants to reflect on the theological question of what preaching really is. The true renewal of preaching can only happen in the way of understanding the real nature and function of preaching. A renewal on the level of preaching technique alone is not really a renewal at all. In the New Testament, we find the origin of what Christian preaching is. Some key terms used for preaching are examined.

  • Read more about What Is Preaching According to the New Testament?
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Negative Preaching and the Modern Mind: A Crisis in Evangelical Preaching

  • Semi-Technical
  • Ian Stackhouse

This article is written from the conviction the preaching is the creation of the gospel itself. The concern of this article is that classic preaching as proclamation has almost completely disappeared from the life and agenda of the church.

  • Read more about Negative Preaching and the Modern Mind: A Crisis in Evangelical Preaching
  • Share
  • Add new comment

Right sidebar

Featured content

Left sidebar

Library

Those who need miracles are men of little faith John Hus
  • Share