Topical Bible: Faith: Preaching Designed to Produce

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Faith, within the Christian tradition, is a fundamental aspect of the believer's life, serving as the foundation for a relationship with God. The New Testament emphasizes the role of preaching as a primary means through which faith is cultivated and strengthened among believers. The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, underscores the importance of preaching in the development of faith: "Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). This passage highlights the necessity of proclaiming the Gospel message as a catalyst for faith.

The act of preaching is not merely a transmission of information but a divinely ordained method to awaken and nurture faith in the hearts of listeners. The content of preaching is centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ, as seen in Paul's declaration to the Corinthians: "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). This focus on Christ's redemptive work is designed to lead individuals to a saving faith, characterized by trust and reliance on Jesus for salvation.

The early church recognized the transformative power of preaching in producing faith. The Book of Acts records numerous instances where the preaching of the apostles resulted in the conversion of individuals and the growth of the church. For example, Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost led to the conversion of about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41). This event illustrates the dynamic role of preaching in bringing people to faith and expanding the Christian community.

Preaching that produces faith is marked by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, notes that the Gospel came to them "not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction" (1 Thessalonians 1:5). The Spirit's work in conjunction with the preached word ensures that the message penetrates the hearts of listeners, leading to genuine faith and transformation.

Moreover, the content of preaching must remain faithful to the apostolic teaching, as Paul exhorts Timothy: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2). This charge emphasizes the responsibility of preachers to deliver sound doctrine that aligns with the truth of Scripture, thereby fostering a robust and enduring faith among believers.

In summary, preaching is a divinely instituted means of producing faith, centered on the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is empowered by the Holy Spirit and grounded in the truth of Scripture, serving as a vital instrument in the spiritual growth and edification of the church. Through faithful preaching, individuals are brought to a saving knowledge of Christ, and the community of believers is strengthened in their faith journey.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 17:20
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
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Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
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Romans 10:14,15,17
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?
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1 Corinthians 3:5
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
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Library

The Law Established through Faith
... 6. Faith, then, was originally designed of God to re ... Christ in all his offices, and
faith in Christ as ... brass, or tinkling cymbals:" All our preaching would be ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 36 the law established.htm

The Law Established through Faith
... the faith once delivered to the saints" was designed to make void ... that he might
"hear him concerning the faith in Christ;" instead of preaching Christ in ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 35 the law established.htm

Do are Then Make Void the Law through Faith? God Forbid; Yea, we ...
... 2. The conditions of the gospel are designed to sustain the ... And the preaching of
justification as a mere gratuity ... bestowed on the simple act of faith, is the ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/do are then make void.htm

On Sleeping in Church
... whose office it is only to work upon faith and reason ... be one remedy against the contempt
of preaching rightly to consider the end for which it was designed. ...
/.../swift/three sermons three prayers/on sleeping in church.htm

The Importance of the Death of Christ in Preaching and in Theology
... a mission service) to bully them into faith, is as ... be central or fundamental either
in Christian preaching or in ... that to which the gospel is designed to appeal ...
/.../denney/the death of christ/chapter 6 the importance of.htm

Be Ye Doers of the Word, not Hearers Only, Deceiving Your Own ...
... that the apostle James, in this epistle, designed to put ... that his people love abstract
doctrinal preaching, but that ... go to heaven on a dead faith in abstract ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/be ye doers of the.htm

Regeneration by Faith. Of Repentance.
... 318] Thus, too, Christ began his preaching, "The kingdom ... 10:29), who, in falling
away from the faith of the ... But he designed thus by kindness and forbearance to ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 3 regeneration by faith.htm

The National Preacher.
... perishing creatures, for whose rescue from perdition it is designed. ... and embrace
it by a living faith, they must ... of the matter is, that the preaching of the ...
/.../leland/the national preacher vol 2 no 7 dec 1827/the national preacher.htm

A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus ...
... essential, comes into the heart, not by the preaching, or the ... No, if he do it before
faith make this in ... OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS TO RE-PRODUCE MAN'S ORIGINAL ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a defence of the doctrine.htm

A Talk to Preachers
... rational lines, lest it run not to faith but to ... is a wide difference between emotion
designed for display or ... The science of preaching is important, but so, too ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kleiser/talks on talking/a talk to preachers.htm