Sermon:
SERMON OUTLINE: Preach the Word 1. Reasons for preaching the Word Of God. A. It is a command. 2 Tim. 4:2 - says that the Word of God is to be our message. Our words will accomplish little, but God’s written Word will accomplish great things. Jesus is our example and He preached - Matt. 4:17. Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the Word that He spoke of in Isa. Chapter 61. Read Matt. 10:7-8. B. The Word Of God is Powerful. In Heb. 4:12 it says that the Word of God is powerful and alive, which means that it gives life to all who receive it. The Word Of God can even make a distinction between the inner spirit and the human soul. This is something that we cannot do in our own wisdom. Our spirit being the life our God breath in us at creation and the soul is our personality. The Word Of God also discerns our motives whether they are good or bad within our heart ( spirit ). Those who are mature and perfect in God’s Word can discern the difference between good and evil ( Heb. 5:12-14 ). C. The Word Of God brings Salvation. When Peter preached the Word of God on the day of Pentecost ( Acts. 2:14 ) out of the book of Joel ( Acts 2: 16 ) three thousand souls were saved ( Acts 2:41 ). Paul preached out of the books of the prophets and called the Word Of God salvation in Acts 13:26. To preach Christ is to preach the Word of God, see Jn.1:1. To preach Christ or the Gospel of Christ is to preach the Word Of God. In Rom. 1:15-17 to preach Christ brings salvation for it is the Power of God. 2. What does it mean to preach the Word Of God? A. To preach is to proclaim or to speak out loud the very Word Of God. The Jewish custom was to read from the scriptures out loud from the pulpit and this was called preaching. This is what Jesus did as recorded in Lk. 4:16-21. Jesus being our example did what He wanted us to do when He spoke in the synagogue. For example we should read the whole book of Colossians out loud in church from the pulpit and then expound on it. B. To preach the Word of God is to have boldness. In Acts 4:29-31 the disciples prayed for boldness to speak the Word Of God. Boldness and preaching go together and produce wonderful results. Because the disciples desired boldness to speak the Word the Holy Spirit came upon them again with power, shook the place where they were and filled them afresh with Himself. The preaching of the Word of God brings the Holy Spirit, Who enables us to preach with boldness. This is the purpose of the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit, that is for us to preach the Word with all boldness. 3. What can we expect when we preach the Word Of God. A. Signs, Wonders and miracles follow the preaching of the Word Of God. Read Mk. 16:20 and you will see that it is God’s Will and plan for confirmation to follow the preaching of the Word when it is mixed with faith. See Heb. 4:2. Philip preach the Word Of God in Acts 8:4-8 and the people experienced and saw the wonderful works of God. Look at the passage closely, miracles followed the preaching. Not just a miracle but miracles of different kinds by the power of the Holy Spirit because of the preaching of the Word Of God. We are not sure exactly how many miracles but more than one would be plenty for most churches to handle today who still believe in