Without a Preacher

(Rom 10:12-15 RSV) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. {13} For, "every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." {14} But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? {15} And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!"

Can we apply these verses to each of us? Yes.

Should we apply these verses to each of us?

What should we be preaching?

(Mark 16:15-16 RSV) And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. {16} He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

The Gospel.

Repentance.

Baptism

(1 Cor 9:16 RSV) For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

What if I don’t preach the gospel?

Do we feel the same necessity as Paul?

(2 Tim 4:2-4 NIV) Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. {3} For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. {4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Is the Gospel enough? Yes.

Should we preach more? Yes.

(James 3:1 RSV) Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.

Is there a difference between “Preaching” and “Teaching”?

Preaching: Urge, insist, exhort. More emotional than teaching. Assumes a need to know.

Teach: Instruct, tutor. Less emotional than preaching. Assumes the teacher has more knowledge than the student.

(Rom 6:23 RSV) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is the basic message.

Sin = Death.

But, God offers eternal life for sinners.

(Rom 3:22-24 NIV) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, {23} for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, {24} and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

But am I a sinner? Yes.

What must be done to avoid eternal death and receive eternal life?

(John 3:16 RSV) For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

It’s just that simple!

Belief implies a good faith effort to follow the teachings of Jesus.

When with your help a person decides to accept Jesus as Lord he necessarily repents and is baptized. A miracle has happened! That person has been reborn. This means that person is a baby in the Lord. When you bring such a person to the Lord don’t leave him on someone’s doorstep! You have a responsibility to feed and nourish him just as you have the same responsibility with a naturally born child.

How will you feed and nourish that infant?

By example.

By instruction.

By prayer.

By love.

By patience.

Summary:

We all have a responsibility to share with others our faith in Jesus. That is we are all preachers. You need to persuade them with the Word of God and by the way you live. They need to know that you have lifesaving answers and a better way of living. They also need to know that God will not abandon them because He loves them. They need to know you feel the same way.

(1 Pet 3:15 NIV) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

A man once laid a piece of chocolate candy on a table. Then, picking up an ant, he put it near the delicious bon bon. He was surprised to see it take a single bite and then hurry off to inform the rest of the colony. Soon the little creature returned, followed by a long train of other ants who enjoyed the treat with him. Many Christians who have tasted that the Lord is good can learn a lesson from that little insect. Having found God's rich supply of grace, they ought to spread the glad tidings to others.