What other scriptures highlight the importance of preaching the gospel? Setting the Stage with 1 Corinthians 9:16 “Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” Paul’s cry of “woe” sets the tone: preaching is not optional—it is an urgent, God-given obligation. Jesus’ Direct Commands • Matthew 28:18-20 – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” • Mark 16:15 – “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” • Luke 24:47-48 – “…repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” These passages make preaching the gospel a non-negotiable marching order straight from the risen Lord. Power for the Mission • Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses…” The Spirit supplies boldness and effectiveness so that the command can be carried out. The Urgency Spelled Out in Romans • Romans 10:14-15,17 – “How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? … How can they hear without someone to preach? … So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Without proclamation, people cannot believe; eternity is at stake. Apostolic Examples and Exhortations • 2 Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season…” • Acts 20:24 – “I consider my life of no value to myself; if only I may finish my course…testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” • 1 Corinthians 1:17-18 – Christ sent Paul “to preach the gospel…for the message of the cross is…the power of God.” The apostles modeled and insisted on tireless gospel proclamation, whatever the cost. Ambassadors and the Ministry of Reconciliation • 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 – “He has committed to us the message of reconciliation…we are ambassadors for Christ.” • Colossians 1:28-29 – “We proclaim Him…so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” Preaching is God’s chosen means for extending reconciliation and maturity to the world. Old-Testament Echoes of a Gospel-Sharing Heart • Psalm 96:2-3 – “Proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations.” • Isaiah 52:7 – “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news…” • Jeremiah 20:9 – “His message becomes a fire burning in my heart… I cannot prevail [in keeping silent].” Even before Christ’s earthly ministry, the covenant people were charged to broadcast God’s saving acts. Heaven’s Perspective • Revelation 14:6 – “I saw another angel…with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.” The gospel’s proclamation continues into the last days, underscoring its everlasting priority. Inescapable Implications for Today • Preaching is rooted in Christ’s authority, energized by the Spirit, and mandated for every era. • Scripture ties eternal destinies to the hearing of the gospel; silence is not an option. • From Old Testament psalms to angelic messengers in Revelation, God consistently spotlights heralding His good news. • Like Paul, believers today inherit a holy “compulsion” that propels them beyond comfort zones so that others may hear, believe, and be saved. |
    |