The Centrality of Preaching
The Church of Jesus Christ lives by the Word. Through it we have been called out of darkness into light, and by it we are sanctified, edified, and sustained. Among all the means of grace the Lord has ordained for the growth and preservation of His people, preaching holds a central place. Scripture was given to be read, meditated upon, and lived, but also to be proclaimed. Preaching is the public, solemn, and ordered form of declaring the Word of God in the context of congregational life. It is not an ecclesiastical invention or one method among others: it is the means instituted by God to form, feed, and keep His flock.
The Voice of God Throughout History
The Christian preacher may be compared to the herald of the ancient world, for both publicly proclaimed a message received from a higher authority. The herald did not invent the content; he was the spokesman of the king. In the same way, the preacher does not speak on his own, but as a steward of the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1), faithfully announcing the revelation of Scripture. His authority is derived, not inherent, and his mission is to proclaim with reverence the eternal truth of the King of kings. Preaching demands a response: repentance, faith, comfort, and renewal. Paul employs the image of the kēryx (herald) to describe his ministry (2 Tim. 1:11), emphasizing that preaching is not merely teaching or conversing, but communicating a divine summons.
This calling appears in the earliest chapters of redemptive history. Noah is called a “herald of righteousness” (2 Pet. 2:5), proclaiming God’s judgment amid corruption. Moses stands as the paradigm of the prophet-preacher: he not only delivers laws but confronts Pharaoh, intercedes, reaffirms the covenant, and proclaims that life depends on obedience to the Word. Joshua is instructed to meditate on and teach the Law; the judges, though flawed, summon Israel to repentance. Kings such as Josiah and Jehoshaphat promote the teaching of Scripture, leading the people to renew the covenant. Prophets like Elijah and Elisha speak before kings and crowds; Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others record sermons that became Scripture, joining rebuke, hope, and promise.
John the Baptist appears as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness,” preparing the way for the Messiah with incisive preaching. Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, begins His ministry by saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” His great discourses — the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the Olivet discourse — combine depth, clarity, and authority. In Acts, the apostles proclaim the gospel with power, and the Church grows through preaching, not by human strategies. The Pastoral Epistles confirm the centrality of preaching: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season…” (2 Tim. 4:2).
The Proclamation of the Word in the Church Today
Even in our own day, in a digital and relativistic age, proclamation has not lost its validity. On the contrary, it has become all the more necessary. Biblical preaching is rooted in an objective truth revealed by God, not in subjective constructions or individual preferences. It does not exclude dialogue, but it precedes it, for to proclaim is to authoritatively offer what has been entrusted. Strikingly, the world has not ceased to proclaim — it has merely changed the content. Amid slogans, activism, and the noise of opinions, Christian proclamation offers clarity, grace, and truth: “Christ died and rose again.”
The Church is, by nature, a public witness, and preaching holds a central position in her life and worship. When faithful, it builds up, corrects, comforts, and shapes the people of God. Expository preaching — which seeks to set forth the meaning of the biblical text in its context — is the method most consistent with this calling. It avoids moralism, self-help, and emotional manipulation, offering solid food for faith. Yet for the Word to bear fruit, the Church must be taught to listen with reverence, discernment, and readiness to obey.
The preacher is a servant of Christ, and his authority lies in Scripture, not in his experience or charisma. He must be godly, humble, prepared, and faithful. His message must be biblical, Christ-centered, relevant, and applicable. Haddon Robinson defines expository preaching as “the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, and then through him to the hearers.” Expository preaching respects the structure and original intent of the text, unlike thematic preaching (which begins with a theme) or allegorical preaching (which seeks symbolic meanings), both of which are susceptible to error if misused.
In pastoral practice, Reformed Baptist preachers avoid the so-called “evangelistic appeal,” with immediate public invitations. This choice rests on four foundations: salvation is the sovereign work of God; the modern appeal has decisionist roots that reduce conversion to an emotional gesture; the response to the gospel must be deep and accompanied by fruit; and church membership is the result of discipleship, not isolated decisions. Instead of the public appeal, pastoral and relational invitation is practiced, leading to public confession of faith and integration into the life of the church.
Preaching demands a response. Thus, listening well is also a spiritual act, part of worship to the Lord. The Word is not a motivational lecture but the voice of God resounding through Scripture. The Church must receive it with faith, reverence, and a desire to obey.
Statement of Principles
Central Principle
Preaching is the ordinary, public, and solemn means instituted by God to build up, feed, correct, and keep His people. It holds a central place in the worship and life of the Church, for through the faithful proclamation of the Word, God Himself speaks with authority to His congregation.
Complementary Principles
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Christian preaching is the public proclamation of truth revealed by God, not a subjective expression of human opinion.
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Expository preaching is the church’s preferred method, for its faithfulness to the biblical text and its edifying power.
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Preaching remains indispensable, even in times of relativism and a multitude of voices.
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The preacher’s authority comes from Scripture, not from himself.
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Preaching summons hearers to an authentic spiritual response, not to superficial emotional gestures.
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Listening well to preaching is a spiritual act that requires instruction, preparation, and reverence.
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The entire life of the church must be nourished and guided by the Word faithfully preached.
Summary of Class Taught by Pastor Gilson Santos
Church: Igreja Batista da Graça – São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
Date: May 11, 2025
This class, led by Pastor Gilson Santos, emphasized the central role of preaching in the life and worship of the Church. Rooted in Scripture as God’s ordained means to call, sanctify, edify, and preserve His people, preaching was presented not as a human invention but as the authoritative public proclamation of God’s Word. The class traced the biblical and historical witness to preaching — from Noah, Moses, and the prophets, through John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the apostles, and the early Church — showing its unbroken place in God’s redemptive work. Special attention was given to expository preaching as the most faithful method, for its commitment to the original meaning of the text and its power to build up the Church, avoiding moralism, self-help, or emotional manipulation. The lesson also addressed the Reformed Baptist practice of avoiding modern “evangelistic appeals,” favoring pastoral and relational invitation that leads to genuine faith and integration into the congregation. Finally, the class underscored that listening to preaching with reverence, discernment, and a readiness to obey is itself an act of worship, by which God’s people receive His truth for faithful living.
