Biblical Preaching

“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8).

There were three characteristics of preaching involved in the work of Ezra (Nehemiah 8:8). Those same elements need to be present in our preaching today.

First, preaching must be biblical.

Just as Ezra began by reading the law of God distinctly, so must today’s preacher begin with God’s book. Much of the religious turmoil of our day would be eliminated if those who filled the pulpit preached the word.

We need to be reminded again and again that when God has spoken men should be silent. Preaching, if it is biblical preaching, begins with the BOOK!

Second, preaching involves giving the sense of what has been written.

Paul wrote, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, that we must “rightly divide the word” (2 Timothy 2:15). A verse out of its context can be made to teach anything. Giving the sense, or rightly dividing the word, involves a study of the pas­sage within its context.

• When was it written?
• To whom was it written?
• What else has been written in conjunction with the thoughts expressed in the passage?

One cannot give the sense of any passage until he has studied it in light of its context and with respect to all that God has revealed on the subject.

Third, preaching is an effort to cause men to understand.

Biblical preaching must be clear and concise. The average word in the Bible contains fewer than five letters (KJV translation). One need not be a “sesquipedalian” (a user of big words) to express great biblical truths. Preaching is to aid the understanding, therefore thoughts must be expressed clearly and concisely.

We should demand that preachers be biblical.

Anything less is unacceptable to God and should be to us.