Our Confidence In Preaching

 
  • WHEREAS, the Great Commission given by Christ commands us to make disciples by teaching “all things” that He commanded (Matthew 28:19,20); and
  • Since the darkened, depraved heart of every sinner is awakened to life by the Word of God by the Spirit of God (Romans 10:17; Ephesians 2:1-4); and
  • Because the “foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25); and
  • Since God in His wisdom chose to use “the foolishness of the message preached” to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:21); and
  • Since the contemporary North American church increasingly is departing from the centrality of preaching and teaching “Christ crucified” in pursuit of a therapeutic, man-centered paradigm of local church ministry (2 Timothy 2:3-4);
 
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that we, the messengers of the churches in fellowship with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches meeting for our 75th Annual Conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June 26-29, 2007, express our confidence in preaching both corporate and individual as the means by which sinners are brought to Christ and saints made complete in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 2:1,2; Acts 20:32); and
 
  1. We urge pastors and congregations to teach and model an appropriate, classic hermeneutic as the foundation for Biblical preaching and teaching, interpreting the Bible grammatically, historically, and contextually, with an understanding of authorial intent; and
  2. We exemplify preaching that communicates both the relevance and sufficiency of the timeless message of the Word of God, bringing both preacher and listener to spiritual maturity and usefulness for God (2 Timothy 3:16, 17); and
  3. We preach the gospel to every creature in every circumstance (Mark 16:15; 2 Timothy 4:1,2), and though many will not endure sound teaching, we purpose neither to relent to those with “itching ears” nor create such; and
  4. We preach the Word of God as our solemn responsibility before God (1 Timothy 4:1,2) communicating the message of the gospel not only to meet the true spiritual needs of our sinful world but also to announce the supremacy and glory of God (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)