The Character of New Testament Preaching

I. INTRODUCTION
A. What makes for a "good” sermon? Who is a "good” preacher? Most of us think we know the answers to these questions, but is our understanding based on the truth of God or the preferences of man?
B. Let us consider the character of New Testament preaching as it is revealed in the Bible so that we may recognize New Testament preaching when we hear it.
 
II. NEW TESTAMENT PREACHING IS…
A. New Testament preaching is a presentation of the Scriptures.
1. The best evidence a preacher can give to prove his points is by quotations of Scriptures.
a. In Peter's sermon on Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40), he quoted Joel 2:28-32, Psalm 16:8-11, Psalm 132:11, Psalm 16:10, and Psalm 110:1. When he compared these passages to the events of Christ's resurrection, he proved to his audience that Jesus is the Christ.
b. Other great sermons of the New Testament are filled with quotations of Old Testament Scriptures (the sermon on the mount – Matt. 5-7, Peter's second sermon – Acts 3:12-26, Stephen's sermon – Acts 7). All of these use Scripture to prove their points.
2. In addition to quoting Scriptures, it is often necessary to give explanations and applications also.
a. When Jesus preached the sermon on the mount, He explained the true application of the Old Testament Scriptures in contrast to the errant, traditional interpretations.
b. When Peter preached on Pentecost, he explained to the listeners how the Psalms described Jesus rather than David.
c. When Peter preached in Acts 3, he explained how Jesus was the fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:15 and Genesis 12:3.
d. When Stephen told the history of Israel, he applied the Scriptures to the Sanhedrin to show how they were making the same mistakes as their fathers.
e. When Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch, he explained how that Jesus was described by Isaiah 53 (Acts 8:30-35).
B. New Testament preaching is a declaration of Christ as the only hope.
1. The sermons recorded in the book of Acts emphasize Christ as the only hope for salvation.
a. In Acts 2, Peter gave the first presentation of Christ's gospel as the power of salvation.
b. In Acts 3, Peter again preached Jesus as the source of salvation.
c. In Acts 4, Peter preached to the rulers and elders of the Jews that "there is salvation in no one else, for there is not other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (v. 12). This scene was repeated again in 5:29-32.
d. Stephen declared that Jesus was the "Righteous One” foretold by the prophets (7:52).
e. Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26-39).
f. When Saul was converted, he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues (9:20-22).
g. When Peter preached to Cornelius and his household, he proclaimed Jesus (10:34-43).
h. In the many sermons of Paul, Jesus was presented as the source of salvation (13:14-43; 17:16-31; 20:18-35; 22:1-21; 26:1-32).
2. New Testament sermons may address many important spiritual issues, but they must always be given within perspective of Christ and His cross.
a. Preachers and teachers are bound to "declare the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27), but they must be certain that they never take our focus away from the foundational truths that give meaning to all of these issues (1Cor. 15:1-4).
b. It is Christ and His cross that give every spiritual issue a proper meaning and context. None of these things matter without Jesus, for only in Him can we be saved.
C. New Testament preaching is provocative to the audience.
1. The sermons preached in Acts prompted listeners to make a decision about Jesus and themselves.
a. On Pentecost, the listeners "pierced to the heart” by the gospel message (2:37).
b. The rulers of the Jews were angered by the apostles' preaching (4:1-7, 13-22; 5:17-42).
c. The Sanhedrin murdered Stephen for his preaching (7:54-60).
d. Many others rejoiced and obeyed the message (8:5-13, 36-39; 9:17-18; 10:47-48; 16:11-15, 25-33; 19:1-7).
2. New Testament preaching today must likewise stir up listeners to be mad, glad, or sad, but never indifferent.
D. New Testament preaching is instructive for the salvation of lost souls and the edification of Christians.
1. When the Jews asked Peter on Pentecost what they should do, he instructed them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” (2:37-38).
2. In Acts 3:19, Peter said, "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away…”
3. When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian, it is evident that he included the necessity of baptism for salvation (Acts 8:35-39).
4. When Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders, he gave instructions for overseeing the church and commended them to God and His word (Acts 20:18-35).
5. Many other examples of preaching show the instructive and edifying nature of preaching.
III. NEW TESTAMENT PREACHING IS NOT…
A. New Testament preaching is not a presentation of cute stories, entertaining anecdotes, funny jokes, and emotional tales.
1. The modern concept of a "good” sermon is presentation of the wit, humor, and wisdom of man presented by a dazzling speaker. None of this is characteristic of New Testament preaching.
2. Nothing is proven or effectively taught by entertainment and jokes.
a. Peter and Paul did not use these, and neither should we.
b. Spiritual truth is found in God's word, not in man's cleverness. If a point cannot be proven or taught by Scripture, then it cannot be proven or taught by jokes and stories.
3. New Testament preachers must take on the mantra of Paul from 1Corinthians 2:1 – "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God” (see vv. 1-5 for the full message).
B. New Testament preaching is not an advertisement for the preacher or the local church.
1. Preaching is not about the preacher, but rather it is about Jesus and the hearers. The preacher's goal must not be to impress his hearers by his wit, but to instruct them by God's word (compare to Ezek. 33:30-32).
2. Preaching is not about the local church, i.e., how nice the members are, how much fun they have together, how the visitors should join them. Preaching is about how to be a part of the saved body.
C. New Testament preaching is not condescension to weak listeners.
1. Rather than provoking a response and demanding an answer, much modern preaching avoids difficult subjects for fear of "running off” sinners who refuse to repent.
2. Preaching that conforms to the weak sensitivities of sinners and unfaithful Christians produces only more weakness, more unfaithfulness, and no salvation.
D. New Testament preaching is not a "Dear Abby” advice column for lost souls and Christians.
1. Many modern preachers have turned away from strong gospel messages in favor of soft pandering.
a. Whereas preachers were once strong, bold, and even confrontational when necessary, now preachers are often ambiguous, restrained, and evasive of controversy at all costs.
b. Whereas gospel preaching was once clear and distinct, now preaching is often compromised and vague. Too often preachers are shrinking from declaring the whole purpose of God (Acts 20:27) in favor of cute anecdotes, humor, emotional stories, and irrelevant blather such as one would read in a newspaper advice column.
c. As a result, churches and Christians now are not what they used to be.
2. Perhaps the reason for this change in preachers and preaching is that listeners have demanded it.
a. Many listeners are no longer tolerant of a challenging gospel message that calls upon them to give up their selfish pleasures, make sacrifices, and live by God's rules.
b. Therefore, they have accumulated to themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and turned away from the truth (2Tim. 4:3-4).
c. Because of this, preachers are compelled to compromise the gospel message in order to meet expectations.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. What makes for a "good” sermon? Who is a "good” preacher? The answer to both of these questions is found in true, Scriptural, New Testament preaching.
B. Therefore, let us properly esteem preaching according to the pattern found in the New Testament rather than according to the opinions of men. Good preaching is New Testament preaching – nothing more and nothing less.



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