For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach—and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9:16 (CSB)
Preachers today are preaching many things, but gratefully, some of them are still preaching the gospel. Biblical preaching is the proclamation, according to Paul, that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried, and raised back to life on the third day, according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 3:4-5)
We can look at our text in several ways. Paul sees no reason to boast about preaching the gospel. Like Jeremiah, Paul is compelled to preach what is in his heart. I say, “I won’t mention him or speak any longer in his name.” But his message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones. I become tired of holding it in, and I cannot prevail. Jeremiah 20:9 (CSB)
Paul was not talking about preaching on the latest social fads. It is not about preaching on ten ways to improve your marriage, or how to live your best life. There was a compulsion, or better yet, a commission, to preach the gospel message.
I recall my grandfather telling the story of a seminary president who charged each graduate with the command, “Preach the Word.” On one occasion, a graduating seminarian replied, “Do I have to limit myself to the Word?” We might wonder how he graduated, or why he had never comprehended the depth of God’s word.
When Paul said, “woe to me if I do not preach the gospel,” it wasn’t just about having an opportunity to voice his opinion. He knew that he had been charged with preaching the good news, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
At All Times
Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. 1 Corinthians 1:21 (MSG)
Preaching is the proclamation of the good news that there is a God in heaven who loves us, and a Savior who died for our sins. The evidence for God is all around us, yet the world in all of its wisdom is usually oblivious.
Preaching alone is not enough. Without the convicting power of the Holy Spirit preaching will seem like foolishness. Paul went on to say, “So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.” 1 Corinthians 1:23 (NLT)
The credibility of the one who makes the proclamation is important. We recall the famous quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, “What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you say.” Can you imagine how much easier it would be to convince the world of their need of Christ, if Christians lived what they preached?
I have a great appreciation for the words attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.” We know that words are eventually needed, but our words are more effective when we live consistently. How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14 (CSB)
Our message is most effective when we live what we preach!
Preach Everywhere, To Everyone
Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15 (CSB)
The two operative verbs in our commission are “go” and “preach.” Preaching done from a pulpit or platform only represents a small percentage of the gospel proclamation. It’s a message that people need to hear wherever they live. The hymn puts it this way:
We’ve a story to tell to the nations that shall turn their hearts to the right,
a story of truth and mercy, a story of peace and light, a story of peace and light.
More recently, Andre Crouch composed these words:
Tell them even if they don’t believe you.
Just tell them even if they don’t receive you.
Oh, tell them for me, tell them for me.
Please, please, tell them for me, tell them that I love them.
And I came to let them know.
Paul went on to say:
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. Romans 10:15–18 (CSB)
Not everyone will receive the message: “Don’t say such things,” the people respond. “Don’t prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!” Micah 2:6 (NLT) However, like the watchman in Ezekiel 33, we must proclaim the word. Someone’s life depends upon it.
Preach in the Power of the Holy Spirit
My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:4–5 (CSB)
The gospel we preach must never be about our eloquence or wisdom. If we are left to our own devices and abilities, we will fail. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. Mark 16:20 (NLT)
We have a commission to preach the gospel, but in our own strength, our efforts will be frustrated. We may be able to attract followers after ourselves with smooth talk, but only the Holy Spirit can soften hearts and bring sinners to repentance. Preach the gospel!
Steve Ekeroth
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