Biblical Preaching: An Examination of the Biblical Demand for Preaching

Preaching is a demand of the Bible that is fitted with a specific purpose and a strong theological base. It is the proclamation of the word of God and is done in churches throughout the world. Preaching plays a role in the spiritual formation of its hearers, helping to form a community of faith whose members are sharing in and supporting one another in a spiritual journey. The topics of preaching can be found in both the Old and New Testaments, within several different genres, but closer attention might be given to the genres of the parables of Jesus and the speeches in the book of Acts. As a topic of preaching, the parables can be understood as examples of allegory, simile, and/or metaphor. The speeches in Acts offer a picture window of a sort into the homiletical mindset of the apostles and other disciples as they proclaimed the gospel to the world as they knew it. Preaching is a demand of the Bible and a specific task of those who are privileged to do it.