Have you ever been out in public and heard the voice of a preacher calling sinners to repent? How did that make you feel, and why? What is preaching for? 

Peter, with the other disciples of Jesus standing with him, boldly declared these words in open-air preaching to a crowd in Jerusalem. They had come from many nations and regions for the feast of Shavuot, or Pentecost. Some in the crowd were likely among those who shouted, “Crucify!” about Jesus seven weeks earlier during Passover.

Preaching is God’s idea, not man’s idea. It is not confined to a church building or to any building. Its purpose is to declare that only Jesus is the Messiah who was promised, and that God has given all authority to Jesus. Scripture says faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) 

Another purpose of preaching is to declare how to respond to this truth: repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins. Before coming to Jesus, each of us is an enemy of God and separated from Him because of our sin. We may as well have been among the crowd that crucified Jesus. Only by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, forgiveness is possible. Don’t you want everyone to know this good news? 

A third purpose of preaching is to warn and call people to separate from sinful behavior and corruption in their culture. On this occasion, Peter warned his hearers with many other words and pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” (also 2 Corinthians 6:17-18)

Open-air preachers stir up various reactions, from mockery to conviction. The Apostle Paul told believers to stop arguing among themselves about who was a better preacher. He pointed out, “God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21) And that’s the point.

 

Next time you hear someone sharing the gospel, stand with them by praying for them to speak true words about Jesus, and that by the power of the Holy Spirit, the hearers would respond, “We believe. What should we do?”

Querido Padre Celestial,

Thank You for the great privilege of preaching Your Word and standing with others as they preach the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Help me not to shrink back when preaching about or exposing the fruitless deeds of darkness. Help me get the log out of my own eye, so I am not a hypocrite when I call others to repentance and trust in Jesus. Help me not to be ashamed or embarrassed or afraid to speak Your Word or to stand with brothers and sisters who do. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Since Jesus is Messiah and God has given Jesus all authority in heaven and on earth, ask yourself these questions today: What am I doing to be a disciple of Jesus? What am I doing to make disciples of Jesus?