Successful Gospel Ministry Is A Strong Preaching Ministry
Why preaching is integral to Paul's understanding of gospel ministry
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
True gospel ministry doesn’t just proclaim God’s message but it also proclaims God’s message in God’s way.
Paul says he came “proclaiming”. He’s giving us the picture of a messenger who is given information by an authoritative Sender to go and give that information (no more and no less) to a certain people. In other words, Paul saw himself as an ambassador. He was like a server in a restaurant; not the chef. He might describe the meal and deliver the meal but he doesn’t cook the meal.
It is interesting, too, that Paul says he came proclaiming—this means that Paul came first and foremost preaching. Paul’s ministry was not first and foremost counseling, discussion groups, mercy ministry, Bible studies, or something else (though those are all important!). Paul saw ministry like Martyn Lloyd-Jones would see it when he said: “The primary task of the Church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God.”
The first and foremost way to deliver God’s meal is through the preaching of the Word. Preaching is not the only meal but it is the main meal.
But, Paul also said he came in weakness, fear, and much trembling. Weakness is the word that is emphasized in the Greek language here. One person says, “Paul’s weakness, fear, and trembling should not be ascribed to natural human nervousness. Rather, Paul feared that he would trust in himself rather than in the cross, because his work would be futile if the Corinthians trusted in wisdom and rhetoric instead of relying on the message of the cross, where the Spirit’s power is located.”
It was once said by a pastor to a young man: “You’re too strong to be used in a powerful way.” God chooses to use the weak because weak people pray most. When we really know we’re weak, we’ll really pray. But, our prayerlessness shows that we think we don’t need God. If we’re going to have a successful preaching ministry then we must have a strong praying ministry.
Instead of the worldly way, Paul insists on God’s ways to deliver His message. He describes this in v4-5. He says he came to preach in the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power. Paul knows that worldly power is no match for heavenly power. No one can do what the Holy Spirit can do. Preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit is what beats back against the gates of hell itself!
When Paul repented of relying on himself to preach the gospel and started relying upon the Holy Spirit, then he preached with true power. This is why the preaching of the gospel must always be backed by the prayers of the preacher and the people. It must be clear, simple, engaging, and “reaching out” to the people in front of them. This type of preaching feels more “weighty”. It keeps eternity in mind. It treats heaven and hell like an all-consuming reality. It seems sinful people in desperate need of a sufficient Savior. It proclaims not its own message but heralds that of Jesus Christ. True preaching in the Holy Spirit is not the man’s message but the man delivering Jesus Christ’s message! And that type of preaching is what converts the most wicked sinners. It changes the most hardened of hearts. It nourishes the most malnourished churches.
At the time of the Reformation the gospel-light broke in upon the church. It drove away the clouds of anti-Christian darkness that covered the church. The power of divine grace followed by the preaching of the Word so that it had visible success in the conversion and edification of souls. The blessed fruits appeared in the hearts and lives of its professors. That was one of “the days of the Son of man.” Then the exalted Redeemer rode forth in His glory and majesty on the white horse of the pure Gospel, “conquering and to conquer.” The bow in His hand was like that of Jonathan; it returned not empty.
- William Cowper