Why We Need Preaching

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-2-2025

1 Corinthians 1:17-31

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Biblical, doctrinal preaching is not something that I choose. It is something that God commands.  In light of the apostasy affecting the church at Ephesus, Paul, when writing to Timothy, said, “Preach the word!”  Not teaching the Word.  Now for my usual disclaimer: I preach both because it is commanded and because I know it is the right and doctrinal.  The only way to preach. I enjoy my time in the pulpit! 

 

1.  As we look at this baby church full of spiritual babies, we find that preaching was not something that they had ever heard or become accustomed to. To preach is the announcement of glad tidings.  In verse 18, we see the word “preaching,” which implicates a topic or discourse. 

 

2.  In the Roman-Greco society of their time, where Rome held political power and Greece was the center of intellectual thought, there was a constant search for novelty in discourse. A prime example of this can be seen at Mars Hill, where Paul engaged with the Stoics, Epicureans, Gnostics, and philosophers. He introduced them to the UNKNOWN GOD, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

3.  Paul, in the remainder of this epistle, will introduce these new believers to a world they never imagined existed.  The realm of Christianity!

 

B.  Last week, we established the difference between teaching and preaching.

 

1.  Teaching informs the intellect but requires no decision to be made.

 

2.  Preaching demands a decision to be made.

 

3.  This is why teaching is the most popular of the two.  “" Heap to themselves teachers” is the will of the people, not the saint's path.

 

C.  There are three things that I want to mention concerning the preaching of the cross. 

 

1.  The Preaching of the Cross.

 

a.  The word “preaching” comes from the Greek word “logos” or word.  Thus, the preaching of the cross must be Bible based, not denominationally based.  It matters not what man says unless it matches what God said!

 

b.  Within our context, the Cross is equated with the Gospel in verse 17.

 

1 Corinthians 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

 

c.  The preaching of the cross alone is of “none effect!”  If Christ died on the cross without the burial and resurrection, it cannot save!  If our Lord is still portrayed as hanging on the cross, the gospel is made of “none effect.”  That's what God says!

 

Romans 1:16-17  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  (17)  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 

Romans 10:9-10  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  (10)  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

d.  The preaching of the cross is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.  We often sing the song “Because He Lives.”  Because He lives, I live also!

 

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

2.  The Preachers of the Cross. 

 

1 Corinthians 1:17-19  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  (18)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  (19)  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

 

a.  They are Preachers! 

 

1 Corinthians 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

 

1)  In verse 17, Paul distinguishes between intellectualism and Spirit-filled preaching in “not with the wisdom of words.” 

 

2)  Intellectualism elevates education beyond the lack thereof.  I have nothing against education, but equating it with either spiritualism or effectiveness in preaching is perilous.

 

3)  This perspective can lead to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which God despises, by placing the clergy above the laity.  The preacher is not above his people; he is one of them.  Peter expressed this in his epistle to the dispersed Jews:

 

1 Peter 5:2-3  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  (3)  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

 

 

4)  I once heard a pastor who exalted his education, which was an earned doctorate, say, “I had rather be a ‘silver trumpet than a tin horn.’”  That was an ignorant statement to make!

 

b. They are Nobodies!  Until Christ becomes all and we become nothing, we are nothing! 

 

1)  Intellectualism exalts the wisdom of men above the wisdom of God, producing teachers rather than preachers, and false teaching is a last-day phenomenon.  Paul stated that he was not sent to preach with eloquence and oratory.  Scholastically, he was certainly qualified to deliver an intellectual dissertation, but chose the simplicity of the old gospel story to fulfill his mission.

 

a)  Intellectualism is the idea that knowledge is primarily derived from pure reason, suggesting that reason is the ultimate principle of reality. In this view, reason precedes faith in the Bible, which is the foundation for pure doctrine.

 

Matthew 23:1-8  Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,  (2)  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:  (3)  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.  (4)  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  (5)  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,  (6)  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,  (7)  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.  (8)  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

 

b)  Doctor, doctor!  I certainly do not oppose having an earned doctorate, as I have one, but the greatest titles you can give me are pastor, preacher, or Brother Dave.  Regardless of social status, God’s men elevate God and the Bible!  You are not here to see me tonight.  You are here to hear the Word of God and, through the Bible’s eyes, see Christ!  Anything other than that is failure.

 

Matthew 23:1-8  Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,  (2)  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:  (3)  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.  (4)  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  (5)  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,  (6)  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,  (7)  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.  (8)  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

 

2)  God chose those who were not wise after the flesh, not mighty, and not noble! 

 

1 Corinthians 1:26-29  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  (27)  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;  (28)  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29)  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

1a)  Wise – “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise”

 

1b)  Weak Things – “and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty”

 

1c)  Base Things – “And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:” 

 

3)  Humble – “That NO flesh should glory in His presence”

 

 

3.  The Product of the Cross. 

 

1 Corinthians 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,

 

a.  The Salvation of the Sinner’s Soul.  “In Christ Jesus!”  Verse 30.  This occurs when the Cross and the Gospel are preached with the power of God’s Word.

 

b.  The Righteousness of the Saint’s Standing.  “who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

 

c.  The Glory of the Saint’s Praise.  “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”  Verse 31.

Limiting The Holy One

 Temple Baptist Church - 3-30-2025

Psalm 78:34-42 (vs. 41)

 

Introduction:

 

Psalms 78:34-42  When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.  (35)  And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.  (36)  Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.  (37)  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.  (38)  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.  (39)  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.  (40)  How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!  (41)  Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.  (42)  They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

 

A.  Probably the most known of Dr. Harold Sightler's messages was his message “Can God.”  I certainly will not try to preach his sermon tonight but did want to give you Dr. Sightler’s main point outline.

 

1.  God can Save.

 

2.  God can Sustain.

 

3.  God can Satisfy.

 

4.  God can Supply.

 

5.  God can be Sufficient.

 

6.  God can Shield.

 

B.  Psalm 78 recounts the history of Israel, from their deliverance from Egypt to the reign of King David.  It highlights Israel's disobedience and God's enduring mercy. I will not preach on every verse but below is a simple outline of the Psalm.

 

1.  Verses 1-8:  God’s admonition to teach our children.

 

2.  Verses 9-20:  Israel’s continual sinfulness.

 

3.  Verses 21-35:  God’s response to Israel’s sinfulness.

 

4.  Verses 36-37: Israel's irresponsible response to God’s judgment. 

 

5.  Verses 38-39:  God’s gracious reaction to Israel's continuation in sin.

 

6.  Verses 40-53:  Israel’s refusal to get right with God.

 

7.  Verses 54-58:  God’s promise to give Israel the land of Canaan. 

 

8.  Verses 59-67:  God turns His back on Israel.

 

9.  Verses 68-72:  God once again blesses Israel by establishing the Throne of David.

 

10.  Psalm 78 ends with these verses:

 

Psalms 78:70-72  He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:  (71)  From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.  (72)  So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

 

In these last three verses, we find the promise given to David:  “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

 

C.  I believe that the key verse to Psalm is Psalms 78:41, “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” 

 

D.  This brings us to the question: “What could God have done with and for Israel had they not limited Him?”  Then the question must be asked: “What could God have done with and for us had we not limited Him?”

 

E.  The dangers of limiting the Limitless God that saved us.

 

1.  We Can Limit God in Prayer.  James 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

 

a.  Simply by not asking!  If you don’t ask the question, the answer is already “NO.”

 

1)  Doing things in our own strength.

 

2)  Not asking God for His leadership and guidance.

 

3)  By walking a guilty distance from God which hinders our prayers.

 

b.  By asking amiss!  “Amiss” means wrongly or inappropriately.  Asking God for things that we know to be biblically not the will of God.

 

2.  We Can Limit God in Finances.  God wants to bless His children through obedience in tithing and giving.  God called money the “unrighteous mammon.”  “Mammon” means avarice or wrongful confidence.  In this case, mammon is money. 

 

a.  Mistrust in Finances. 

 

Malachi 3:10-11  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  (11)  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

Luke 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

 

b.  Misuse in Finances.  By getting so far in debt that we cannot financially “breathe!”  A bad case of the “Gotta have its.?

 

3.  We Can Limit God in our Service.  God has a use for all of His children. 

 

a.  Through Refusal.  Every distinct believer has a distinct gift to be used within the Body of Christ and the local church.  Everybody has a part in making the body whole.  A missing part causes the body to be incomplete.

 

1 Corinthians 12:13-25  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  (14)  For the body is not one member, but many.

 

1 Corinthians 12:18-20  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  (19)  And if they were all one member, where were the body?  (20)  But now are they many members, yet but one body. 

 

b.  Through Discontentment.  God gave each of us work to do that edifies all of us.

 

1Corinthans 12:15-17  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  (16)  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  (17)  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 

 

c.  Through Jealousy.  If I cannot be the pastor, deacon, teacher, etc., then I just won’t do anything.  Do what you can and do not worry about what you can’t!

 

1 Corinthians 12:21-25  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.  (22)  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:  (23)  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.  (24)  For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:  (25)  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

 

d.  Through Selfishness.

 

1 Corinthians 12:24-25  For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:  (25)  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

 

4.  The Results of Limiting God.

 

a.  We limit God’s Power. Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

b.  We limit God’s Produce - John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

c.  We limit God’s Performance - Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

d.  We limit God’s Provision - Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

e.  We limit God’s Protection - 2 Timothy 4:17-18  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  (18)  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.