Preaching: A Lost Art?

Although I am not "Reformed" in my theology, I do believe that the church is in need of reformation.  This is not a bold statement for many have thought so before me.  In truth, as long as the church is made up of Saints who are already saved yet being saved there will always be a need for reform.

One of the most astonishing areas in which the church needs reformation is in its proclamation of the word of God. That there is a lack of spiritual/doctrinal knowledge among the body of Christ can not be denied.  It is amazing how often even older Christians can not explain why they believe in baptism, what type of baptism it should be, or articulate even the basics of salvation or soteriology.

There is a lack of discipleship.  And it is a lack of discipleship in the Word of God.  We live in an age where more resources are available to the people of God than ever before.  Yet fewer unbelievers are being brought under the Lordship of Christ, and even fewer believers can share what that means.  We have at our disposal commentaries, lexicons, dictionaries, journals, and popular books.  There is no lack of media in our churches with moving backgrounds, still backgrounds, power points, and movies.

With the click of a mouse you can hear your favorite speaker or pastor's latest mp3 or read his sermons.

Yet men are no longer leaders of their homes or churches.  Wives and children, as well as others in our churches no longer know their roles according to God's Word.  I wonder if we have homes and churches made up of a bunch Christians instead of Christian homes and churches.

What would happen if in our churches on Sunday mornings, all pastors preached through the basic doctrines of the faith?  What if our pastors preached through the Bible verse by verse?  And what would happen if we expected those in our churches to know the Word and live it?  What would happen if we cut fellowship with them if they were unwilling to receive the truths of Scripture? 
 Christ commands such things in His Word.  And he was not unwilling to cut ties with those who would endanger the rest of the body. He commanded Paul to do such things. And Paul did them because he was more concerned about the Body of Christ than about the psyche of a few people, or about his own comfort among his people

What we need today are leader's in our churches who take people verse by verse through the Word of God.  They must take their people through books, and share God's ideas instead of their own ideas.  We need expository preaching not simply because it is Biblical, but to combat our own ignorance.

And we need better men of God, courageous men of God to speak His truth.  How can we bring persons to the God, whom we do not know ourselves?


NIV 1 Corinthians 9:16 "Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"