A Charge to Keep

I have been reflecting in recent days about the task of preaching. It is something upon which I reflect a great deal given the fact that I am a preacher but I have had some interesting conversation recently about preaching that have caused be to think about this important subject a bit more than usual. If you have had opportunity to attend various churches you will quickly recognize that there is a lot that goes on in churches under the name of preaching. Some “preachers” read a Bible verse or two and then set out on a course that has little or nothing to do with those Bible verses. Others will have a topic in mind and will read from multiple places in the Bible to address that particular subject. With God’s help, I have deliberately chosen a different path in my preaching and I hope to share a little about that here.

Sunday after Sunday, those who attend the church I pastor will typically hear me preach from one book of the Bible. I am currently preaching through 1 Samuel on Sunday mornings. I put my best effort into studying the particular passage for each Sunday that I might understand its message and then prayerfully consider how that message should be applied to my own life and to the lives of those who will listen on Sunday. I try to limit telling stories except when I think a story or illustration is essential to impressing the point of the Biblical text upon those who attend the worship service.

Admittedly, there are a lot more entertaining ways to address an audience gathered at a worship service. Admittedly, there are times when preaching in this manner forces me to say things I would much rather leave unsaid. Admittedly, there are times when the congregation may want to hear another message altogether. Admittedly, it would often be much easier to do something entirely different than what I do each week. So why do I preach the way I do?

The answer to that question is really summed up in the words of one of Charles Wesley’s hymns which says, “A charge to keep I have.” As a preacher of the gospel of the Lord Jesus, I have been entrusted with a task. I have been charged by God to preach His Word and that means that I must preach all of God’s Word. I am not permitted to skip things I would rather not talk about or that the congregation would rather not hear about. I am not permitted to reduce my charge to delivering an entertaining, motivational pep-talk. I am not free to do anything less than to preach the Word.

If I am to be a faithful preacher of the Word, then I must do all that is possible to get out of the way of the text of Scripture. If I offer the congregation anything but the infallible and inerrant truth of holy Scripture then I have failed to keep the charge I have been given. I admit it. I have nothing profound to say other than what profound truth God has revealed in His Word. I admit it. I have no counsel to offer other than what wise counsel God has provided in His Word. I admit it. I have no encouragement or comfort to give other the life-giving encouragement and comfort contained in God’s Word. But it is the Word of God which provides to all people of all time the truth, counsel, encouragement and comfort necessary. Therefore, I will as long as God allows, preach the Word. A charge to keep I have.