To begin our Preaching 101 series, going back to the basics of preaching, we must start with the Bible. What does the Bible say about preaching?

I have heard a lot of debate in recent years about whether or not preaching even matters.

I have heard arguments for less preaching and more relationships. Less teaching, more community. Less rows, more round tables. Less lecture, more discussion.

If you listen to these thoughts long enough, you may begin to believe that preaching is an outdated method that no longer works. But is that really true?

Does preaching matter? Is it actually important?

I could tell you what I think, but what I think doesn’t matter. Why not let scripture speak for itself?

What Does the Bible Say About Preaching?

(The following list was compiled using variations of the word “preach” found in the ESV translation of the New Testament. This doesn’t even include the word “proclaim” which also implies preaching and appears in numerous other passages such as 1 Peter 2:9 or 1 John 1:5.)

John the Baptist preached to prepare the way for Jesus.

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

Mark 1:7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

Luke 3:18  So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.

Jesus’ ministry largely consisted of preaching.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 11:1 [ Messengers from John the Baptist ] When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Mark 1:38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”

Mark 1:39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Mark 2:2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.

Matthew 11:5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Luke 4:43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

Luke 4:44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Luke 7:22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

Luke 20:1 [ The Authority of Jesus Challenged ] One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up

Jesus was the first to say practice what you preach.

Matthew 23:3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

Jesus sent the Disciples out to preach.

Mark 3:14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Luke 9:6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Early Christianity spread by preaching of the Gospel.

Acts 5:42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Acts 6:2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

Acts 8:4 [ Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria ] Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 8:25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Acts 8:40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

Acts 10:36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

Acts 11:20-21 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

Acts 14:7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Acts 14:21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,

Acts 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Acts 16:10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Acts 17:18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

Paul preached the Gospel and taught others to preach too.

Romans 1:15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Romans 2:21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?

Romans 10:14 How then will they call on 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 someone preaching?

Romans 10:15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Romans 15:20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,

Romans 16:25 [ Doxology ] Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

1 Corinthians 9:16 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!

1 Corinthians 9:18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 15:1 [ The Resurrection of Christ ] Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

1 Corinthians 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

2 Corinthians 2:12 [ Triumph in Christ ] When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord,

2 Corinthians 8:18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 10:16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence.

2 Corinthians 11:7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?

Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:11 [ Paul Called by God ] For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.

Galatians 1:15-16 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

Galatians 1:23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

Galatians 4:13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,

Ephesians 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

Ephesians 3:8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.

1 Timothy 2:7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

2 Timothy 1:10-11 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,

2 Timothy 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,

2 Timothy 4:1-2 [ Preach the Word ] I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Titus 1:3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

Peter writes about preaching.

1 Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

1 Peter 1:25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 4:6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

Does Preaching Matter?

The Bible is filled with examples and instructions about preaching.

Preaching has been the primary way the Gospel of Jesus Christ has spread across the world.

Does preaching matter?

YES! YES IT DOES!

Preaching the Gospel is one of the most important responsibilities of a pastor.

“What Does The Bible Say About Preaching?” is part of the Preaching 101 Series. More from this series:

• Preaching 101 – Back to Basics
• What Does The Bible Say About Preaching?
• Before You Practice Preaching, Practice What You Preach
• How to Write a Sermon – 7 Steps to a Memorable Message (Step 1)
• How to Write a Sermon – 7 Steps to a Memorable Message (Step 2)
• How to Write a Sermon – 7 Steps to a Memorable Message (Step 3)