“When God gives life—either physical or spiritual—he does so through the power of his Word. This means pastors who want to have a life-giving ministry have no viable option other than the preaching and teaching of Scripture. Yes, small groups, fellowship, and various programs can be good tools for discipleship and evangelism. But none of those should be done to the exclusion of faithfully preaching God’s Word.”

As the pastor of a local church, I have to make decisions every day about where to invest my time and what to prioritize in the life of the church I lead. There are so many worthwhile activities vying for attention. If I didn’t have clear direction from God’s Word about what is most critical for building a healthy church, I might be swept away by the dozens of new church programs that arrive in my mailbox every month. Fortunately, God has promised to use one thing to give life and grow his people. And that one thing is the proclamation of his Word.

The Word of Life

Throughout the Bible from start to finish, it’s clear that God’s Word is the life-giving Word. When God brought the universe into existence out of nothing, he did so simply by speaking. When he gave life to Adam, he breathed into his body the breath of life. When the dry bones came to life (Ezek. 37:1–14), it was by God’s power through the Word of the Lord that Ezekiel prophesied.

Jesus’s own ministry also made this point brilliantly. Over and again, Jesus proved that his word had the power to heal and to give life. In Matthew 8, it was his bare word, “Go; it shall be done for you,” that healed the centurion’s servant (Matt. 8:13 NASB). In Mark 5, it was the power of his word, “Little girl, I say to you, get up,” that brought the synagogue ruler’s daughter back to life (Mark 5:41 NASB). In John 11, it was his word, “Lazarus, come forth!” that broke death’s grip on his friend and called the formerly dead man from his tomb (John 11:43 NASB).

No Other Viable Option—Anywhere on Earth

When God gives life—either physical or spiritual—he does so through the power of his Word. This means pastors who want to have a life-giving ministry have no viable option other than the preaching and teaching of Scripture. Yes, small groups, fellowship, and various programs can be good tools for discipleship and evangelism. But none of those should be done to the exclusion of faithfully preaching God’s Word.

What this means, practically, is that if people are going to come to Christ and be saved—whether we’re talking about people who live in the West or in the majority world, anywhere on this earth—they will do so only by hearing God’s Word.

As Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ” (NASB). Also, 1 Peter makes it clear that believers are “. . . born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God . . . and this is the Word, which was preached to you” (1 Pet. 1:23, 25 NASB).

Additionally, if Christians are going to mature and grow as followers of Christ, they will do so through God’s Word. First Peter 2:2 commands believers, “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (NASB).

Pastors, if we want our churches to be filled with vibrant spiritual life, God has told us how he does that. It’s through his Word!

The Preached Word Should Be Central

It comes as no surprise that Christians throughout history have made the preaching and teaching of the Bible central in the life of the church. In the earliest days of the church, the emphasis on the preaching of the Word was nothing short of scandalous. Christians were slandered as being “atheists” because the focal point of their faith was the spoken word, rather than statues of their gods.

The centrality of the preached Word is still scandalous today. Nobody accuses Christians of being atheists, but people chafe at the fact that—in an age where the visual dominates and dialogue is king—Christians still value sitting and listening quietly as one man preaches the Bible to them for an extended period of time. Regardless of what people prefer—or even think they need—the truth is, people need the Word of God opened for them, explained to them, and applied to their hearts and wills.

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