How and What Men Are To Preach

I remember talking with some potential church members one time that were interested in attending the church I was pastoring. They were related to a current member and they came to one of our fellowships that we had. I sat at their table to find out more about them and to see what they were looking for in a church. The lady was not shy at all about letting me know right up front that she was not interested in hearing anyone yell, shout, holler, or get loud while preaching. She preferred a more laid back and mellow type of preaching. I knew right then that they would not be joining any church that I pastored because I have been known to do all of those things. Sure enough, they visited for one service and never came back...

Well, that got me to thinking, what does the Bible say about how and what we should preach? Does preaching style really matter, or is it just the content of what is preached? After much studying, I came to the conclusion that both actually matter. 

Below are a FEW examples from the Bible on how and what men are supposed to preach:

Preach righteousness:

Psalm 40:9: 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

2 Peter 2:5: 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Preach with wisdom, knowledge, and truth:

Ecclesiastes 12:9-10: 9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

1 Corinthians 2:4: 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

Preach with the Spirit, with anointing, with liberty, with comfort, with glory to the Lord:

Isaiah 61:1-3:  1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Preach what God bids you to preach:

Jonah 3:2:  2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

Preach repentance:

Matthew 4:17: 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 6:12: 12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Luke 24:47: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Preach the Gospel:

Matthew 4:23: 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Mark 14:9: 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Mark 16:15: 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Preach with warning:

Matthew 10:7: 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Colossians 1:28: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Preach the Word:

Mark 2:2: 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

Preach to reprove, rebuke, exhort. Preach with longsuffering and Preach doctrine:

2 Timothy 4:2: 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Preach the Kingdom of God:

Luke 9:2: 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luke 9:60: 60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Preach Jesus without ceasing:

Acts 5:42: 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:5: 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Preach Christ and not yourself:

2 Corinthians 4:5: 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

Preach boldly:

Acts 9:27: 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Preach forgiveness of sins

Acts 13:38: 38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Preach the Cross of Christ:

1 Corinthians 1:17-18: 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Preach with power:

1 Corinthians 2:4: 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

Preach peace:

Ephesians 2:17: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Preach the truth in love:

Ephesians 4:11-16: 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.