 
SOUND PREACHING In his epistle to the young preacher Titus, Paul urged him to speak, “the things which befit the sound doctrine” (Tit. 2:1). This verse reminds us that Christianity involves doctrine as well as worship, practice and lifestyle. Our salvation depends on our abiding in Christ’s doctrine (II John 9). For only then do we enjoy the fellowship of the Father and the Son.
The words that Jesus spoke will be our standard of judgment in the last day (John 12:48). Doctrine is important! There is a sound, healthy doctrine and there is doctrine that is unsound and sickly. Only Christ’s Doctrine is Sound
We must teach Christ’s doctrine but no other. Timothy was to “charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine” (I Tim. 1:3). So serious is this matter that we are forbidden even to encourage those who teach a different doctrine. “If anyone cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting: for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works” (II John 10-11). The consequences of teaching some other gospel are awesome. Paul warns, “If any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema” (Gal. 1:9). To be able to preach sound doctrine, we must study and learn it beforehand. Faithful saints will give heed to Bible reading and to their teaching so their words will be pleasing to God (I Tim. 4:13-16). At the same time, they will seek to always be obedient to the Word of the Lord.
Only those who obey from the heart are truly Christ’s disciples (Rom. 6:17). Devout Christians will strive to “adorn the doctrine of God...in all things” (Tit. 2:10). Sound Preaching There is a kind of preaching that befits or becomes sound doctrine. Sound preaching reflects the teachings of Christ and the apostles (Acts 2:42). It proclaims “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:20, 27). There is no room for traditions of men in sound preaching (Matt. 15:6-9). Personal opinions or compromise of truth are not part of sound teaching. We must not go beyond what is written (I Cor. 4:6 ASV). Sound preachers deliver their message with a spirit of love for their hearers (Eph. 4:15). They preach from pure motives; with “love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience and faith unfeigned” (I Tim. 1:5). No respect of persons is shown (Jude 16).
Sound preaching is always balanced for the need, the occasion and the audience. Milk is provided for babes and strong meat for the mature (I Cor. 3:1-2). It will exalt Christ, the church and the Scripture but never the spokesman (Phil. 1:20). It always edifies the hearers (I Cor. 14:26). Sickly preaching on the other hand will be shallow, not thought out, vindictive, hateful, self-promoting, one-sided, bigoted, discouraging, and full of men’s words and ideas rather than God!
Sound Living Must Accompany Sound Preaching Paul writes, “in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned...” (Tit. 2:7-8). The effective preacher couples his message with a demonstration. Aristotle wrote in his Rhetoric, “Persuasion is achieved by the speaker’s personal character when the speech is so spoken as to make us think him credible. We believe good men more fully and more readily than others...” Hendriksen says, “Doctrine and life must harmonize.” Sound preachers will resist the temptations of promoting self rather than Christ; of seeking power over others; of measuring oneself by the wrong standard (II Cor. 10:12). They will never think that godliness is a way of gain (I Tim. 6:5).
Sound men will conduct their ministries with gravity or dignity (Tit. 2:7). Preaching is serious business. It must not be treated in a light or flippant manner if respect is desired. Gravity is the opposite of aloofness, arrogance and pride. It leaves no room for pettiness, grudge-bearing, bitterness, touchiness or rashness. Filthiness, foolish-talking and jesting do not become a sound preacher (Eph. 5:4). W. T. Moore wrote, “A preacher should be grave, but not grave- yardy...He ought to be an example of dignity, earnestness, and sobriety. But he need not be morose, sour, or necessarily distasteful to a reasonable cheerfulness. Indeed, he ought to be the happiest of men, but this happiness cannot properly manifest itself through a coarse levity–an unseemly humor. Genuine wit should not be despised, for if judiciously used, it may add to the preacher’s influence; but the preacher can never be a buffoon, jester, or a trifler without decidedly impairing his permanent usefulness” (Preacher Problems, p. 21).
Faithful preachers will let their “manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ...” (Phil. 1:27). With Paul they will glorify their ministry (Rom. 11:13). We must live so as to silence our opposition. Always there will be hostile souls searching for some flaw to criticize in our work. Charles Spurgeon warned his students, “we are watched by a thousand eagle eyes; let us so act that we shall never need to care if all heaven and earth and hell swelled the list of spectators.” In the words of Peter, have “your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that wherein they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (I Pet. 2:12). In all of your study, preaching and work, remember these words of the gifted
Richard Baxter, “God never saved any man for being a preacher, nor because he was an able preacher; but because he was a justified, sanctified man, and consequently faithful in his Master’s work.” Therefore, “take heed to thyself and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee” (I Tim. 4:16).
JHW |
