INTRODUCTION
Today we will explore the heart of Christ’s method—proclaiming the gospel. If you’re like most people, you’re probably a little nervous about the idea of proclaiming or preaching. But stay with me, and let’s find out what the Bible says about it.
I. THE CALL TO PREACH
There are seven verses in the New Testament where the global mission of the church is commanded or described. Let’s start with the most well-known (read Matt 28:19–20).
When people read the command to “make disciples,” they sometimes overlook the fact that the heart of this command is to share the gospel with others. To “make disciples” is to lead people to accept the gospel and to follow Christ and His Word. Acts 14:21 affirms that it was the preaching of the gospel that resulted in new disciples. There is no way to make disciples without sharing the truths of the gospel and the message of Scripture.
Now let’s consider the other six passages that describe or command the church’s mission to the world.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world” (Matt 24:14).1
“And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations” (Mark 13:10).
“‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature’” (Mark 16:15).
“‘And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations’” (Luke 24:47).
“You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’” (Acts 1:8).
“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth” (Rev 14:6).
Do you notice the common thread? Five out of these seven passages plainly say that we are to preach the gospel, while the other two imply it. There’s no getting around it, friends. Preaching is at the heart of our mission as Christians.
As Paul says in Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
People need preaching because people need the Word. It is through the Word that people are born again (see 1 Pet 1:23). Therefore, Paul says that if we want to reap a bountiful harvest, we must sow Bible truth bountifully (read 2 Cor 9:6).
The early church lived by this principle, sowing the seed of God’s Word wherever they went.
II. WHAT IS PREACHING?
(Read Acts 8:1, 4.) In the early church, when persecution arose in Jerusalem, the believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. That is, everyone except the apostles. But these church members weren’t carrying around pulpits or raising up tents. Since they were scattered, you get the clear sense that they were sharing with individuals and families. You see, in the Bible, preaching is primarily personal.
Such as when Philip met the Ethiopian eunuch. The Bible says that Philip “preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35). This was biblical preaching, but there was no crowd. It was just one person sitting down and studying the Bible with someone else.
Paul, though he gave his share of public sermons, also went “house to house” teaching people about God’s Word in their homes (Acts 20:20).
Now listen to what Ellen G. White has to say about the importance of sharing the truth with individuals:
“Everyone who hears is to repeat the invitation. Whatever one’s calling in life, his first interest should be to win souls for Christ. He may not be able to speak to congregations, but he can work for individuals.”2
“If we can have but one part done, let it be the individual labor of opening the Scriptures in households.”3
Did you catch that? Individual members sharing Bible truth is even more essential to the mission of the church than public preaching!
And the good news is, you don’t need a special gift to share your faith. Which is why you won’t find witnessing on the biblical lists of spiritual gifts (see Rom 12:3–8; 1 Cor 12:4–10; Eph 4:11). Rather, sharing our faith in personal ways is something everyone can do.
Not only can we do it, but it’s essential to our spiritual growth! Ellen White makes this point in the book Christian Service: “Let ministers teach church members that in order to grow in spirituality, they must carry the burden that the Lord has laid upon them— the burden of leading souls into the truth.”4
III. HOW TO PREACH
So how do we do it? How can a church member lead souls into the truth?
The Global TMI disciple-making framework divides this area of Christ’s method— proclaiming the truth—into three steps. First, we plant the seed of God’s Word. We do this by praying with our neighbors and friends, having spiritual conversations, inviting them to Sabbath School or a Bible study, or sharing literature or audio sermons with them. When we do this, we are testing the soil.
If someone shows an interest after the seed is planted, we can now cultivate that interest by going through Bible studies or evangelistic meetings. You might lead the study, or it may be led by someone else. Either is okay. But don’t rule out giving a Bible study yourself. Elder Stephen Haskell, the originator of the Bible readings movement in the Adventist Church, referenced only two things you must be able to do to give a Bible study: (1) tell what God has done for you, and (2) read the Scriptures.
After planting the seed and cultivating spiritual interest, the third component of sharing the truth is the harvest. This is where you encourage your Bible study students to make decisions to follow what they’ve learned, and ultimately to be baptized.
So proclaiming the truth is about introducing Bible truth (planting), studying Bible truth (cultivating), and making appeals to follow the truth (harvesting). As we engage in this work, which is at the heart of disciple-making, we ourselves and blessed. Notice: “The more one tries to explain the word of God to others, with a love for souls, the plainer it becomes to himself.”5 And Proverbs 11:25, “He who waters will also be watered himself.”
CONCLUSION
Debbie was a faithful Seventh-day Adventist who felt a burden to share the message of salvation with others, but she was extremely shy. Despite her fears, she decided to leave tracts at every door in her neighborhood. After doing so, she prayed for the blessing of God on every home she had visited.
A woman in one of the houses read the tract Debbie left and the Holy Spirit impressed her with the truth. Soon this woman was attending Sabbath School and church until, several months later, a visiting minister made an appeal at the end of his sermon. The woman sprang from her seat and came forward to commit her life to Jesus. Imagine the joy that filled Debbie’s heart that day!
As you accept the call to be a personal preacher, you too can experience that joy. Will you choose today to lead someone into the truth of God’s Word?
1 All biblical quotations are from the NKJV. Emphasis supplied.
2 Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1898), 822.
3 Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, rev. ed. (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1915), 337.
4 Ellen G. White, Christian Service (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1925), 69.
5 Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1900), 354.
James Howard is the director of the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department at the GC of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
