The Weapons of our Warfare 3 Proclamation

The church’s testimony to an unbelieving world

The main weapons in this area are:

  • the proclamation of the Word of God
  • our testimony.

Preachers are not listed amongst the ministries in Eph. 4:11. It is something that all the ministries will employ as a method of fulfilling their ministry –the purpose of which is to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. (Will preachers be redundant in heaven? But worshippers will be required! Cliff Barrows once joked with Billy Graham: “When we get to heaven, you’re going to be out of a job, but Bev Shea and I won’t. We’ll go on singing.” To which, Mr. Graham replied, “When I get to heaven, I am going to sing like Bev Shea!”)

Two main words used in the New Testament which are translated ‘preach’:

  • Euangelizo – to announce good news
    • Acts 8:4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word
  • Kerusso – to herald, announce
    • 2 Tim. 4:2, Paul charges Timothy to ‘preach the Word’.

Related to the second word, we also find Kerugma – preaching, which really means ‘the thing preached’, i.e. the message rather than the delivery

The delivery – 1 Cor. 1:17-21; 2:1-5 not the cleverly polished performance, or emotional appeal/manipulation which can characterise many pulpits on Sunday mornings

1 Thess. 2:13 Nor the dead presentation of intellectual propositions which characterises most of the rest

Note the impact 1 Thess.2:14 – ref. 1 Thess.1:5

“Preaching with a view” – not for people to be informed and unchanged, but to be transformed and changed!

How does it work?

Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Rom. 10:17

If our message is hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing 2 Cor. 4:3

So there has to be an announcement, which means there must be announcers – us! Acts 1:8; and for Spiritual Warfare Rev. 12:11

In Acts, Public preaching either in the Synagogue or in the open drew people, but the main teaching took place in private, e.g. the schoolroom of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9) and in homes (Acts 18:7; 20:8)

The Content of the Message

Do we agree with the saying attributed to Francis of Assisi “Preach the gospel at all time and if necessary, use words”? Words ARE necessary!

  • We preach Christ crucified 1 Cor. 1:23
  • In this way we preach, and so you believed 1 Cor. 15:11 (preaching the resurrection)
  • We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord 2 Cor. 4:5
  • The word of faith which we preach Rom. 10:8
  • 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? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? Rom. 10:14

The Character of the Messengers

Paul’s charges to Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:1-5, 15, 24

  • v.1 Strong in grace
  • v.2 Training others
  • v.2 Discerning
  • v.3 Enduring
  • v.4 Focused
  • v.5 Faithful
  • v.15 Devoted to study,
  • v.24 do not strive, be gentle, instructing with meekness (Paul’s example 2 Tim. 3:10-12)

Please view the subsequent discussion here to see how he put them into practice in his own ministry in 1 Thess. 2:3-14