What is a Preacher?

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:14-15 NIV)

This is one of my favorite texts. There is so much in these short sentences. Paul says in order to be saved, i.e. "call on the Lord," a person must believe. Before a person can believe, a person must hear preaching. Before a person can hear someone preaching to them, they (the person preaching) must be sent. What is it they are preaching? "Good News," i.e. the Gospel.

So what is a preacher anyway? Is a preacher a man (or woman) who stands behind a pulpit wearing a suit? Is he the guy down on the street corner yelling at those who walk or drive by? What is a preacher? It is a professional clergyman, or theologian?

No. A preacher according to the Bible is anyone who has been born again. Though all may not be called to "5-fold" ministry, all are called to be preachers.

Yesterday, I mentioned Acts 8. It says that the Church had begun to be persecuted, and the Church fled, except for the "preachers." The apostles stayed behind in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, the Word tells us that: "Those who had been scattered [the Church] preached the word wherever they went."

The word "preach" simply means to proclaim. We are all told in Romans 10, the same exact chapter as the text mentioned at the beginning, that to be saved involves confessing Jesus as Lord. To confess Jesus as Lord also involves confessing Jesus as Lord to others. In Revelation 12:11, describing the Church, the Bible says: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

This "word" of their testimony, means the message they were preaching. It is the message of Jesus Christ, the Gospel.

In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded his apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. This commandment was first geographical, meaning it applied to the men He was speaking to. Yet, it was also generational, meaning that Christ's words were intended for them, not as apostles chiefly, but as the first 11 members of the Church. This is easy to see, for in Matthew's version, Jesus tells the apostles that they are not only to make disciples, but also to "teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you." One thing He had commanded them, was to make disciples!

Thus, the Great Commission is for the Church, and the Church, according to Paul is "not one member, but many." In fact, it could be argued that the majority of disciples are won for Christ, not in mass preaching events, but by one on one evangelism by ordinary folks.

Thus, to tell someone about Christ and His love is preaching. To hand someone a salvation tract is preaching. Even to some extent living a Godly life is preaching. As one church sign read, "Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary."