Preaching In The New Millennium

By John Isaac Edwards

Someone has said we need a new kind of preaching in the new millennium. If you think a new kind of preaching is needed, would you be so kind as to tell us what this new kind of preaching should consist of? I don’t believe you can improve on this kind of preaching:

1. Heart Pricking Preaching. The preaching of Peter on Pentecost was of such a nature that folks “were pricked in their heart” (Acts 2:36). If we want people in the new millennium to ask, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) and be moved to obey the gospel as folks did in the first century, then we need heart pricking preaching in the new millennium!
2. Bold Preaching. Acts 4:31 records concerning Peter and John, “They spake the word of God with boldness.” A lot of preachers are too timid to take a stand and preach the truth, afraid of ruffling feathers. Thus, compromise and soft preaching that leaves everybody with a “fuzzy feeling,” are the order the day. Preaching that says it like it is, without fear or favor of men, is needed in the new millennium!
3. Cut To The Heart Preaching. When the counsel of Gamaliel heard the preaching of Peter and other apostles, “They were cut to the heart” (Acts 5:33). The word of God is the “sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 5:17 and is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12). Much of the preaching being done today reflects a dull blade! Cut to the heart preaching may not be very popular, but it’s the kind of preaching faithful men will be found doing in the new millennium.
4. Scriptural Preaching. I am amazed as I attend gospel meetings at the deficiency of Scripture in many sermons. A lot of preaching any more has little scriptural content. I read where Philip “opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35); and where Paul “reasoned with them out of the scriptures” (Acts 17:2). Whatever happened to this kind of preaching?

I don’t know what kind of preaching you think is needed in the new millennium, but I maintain that the kind of preaching done in the Bible is the kind needed at all times. This is the kind of preaching this preacher will be doing in the new millennium.

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