What “really” is preaching?

Once I was watching one of my favorite Christian talk shows (it doesn’t air anymore). The man (sorry, didn’t catch his name) was teaching on the power of addiction. He compared addiction to a form of idolatry. Interesting concept, right? My topic is “what is preaching” so hang in there with me.

“You yourselves are our letter, … known and read by everybody.” II Corinthians 3:2

He said people become addicted when they attempt to substitute something for what only God can supply to the fullest. What do you think of that concept? Tell me below.

Anway.

For example, people may crave a sense of calm, fulfillment, comfort and they lean on their addiction to supply a counterfeit version of that thing.

For some it’s food, others choose sex, others opt for tobacco, the list goes on. Really. What do you think about using artificial things to fill voids only God can fill?

Anyhoo…

My blog post is not about addiction, but about something my kiddo said years ago and how it really “spoke” to me then and now.

So….during the Christian talk show, the man being interviewed said something or another and I yelped “Amen! That’s good preaching!”

Well, John-John (my 100-year-old in a four-year-old frame) looked at me rather quizzically and said definitively “He’s not preaching, He doesn’t even have a Bible, Mommy”.

How cute, right?

Well, the truth of the matter was that the man was quoting scripture, so in essence, he was “preaching”.

In the end, I opted not to try to explain the concept to my baby who has been alive for less than five years. He wasn’t interested anyway.

As he popped out the door to rejoin his dad downstairs, I thought to myself ” Wait, kid. The man really was preaching.”

I began to think.

You know, we are all sort of preaching when we convey spiritual truths from the Word of God.

Whether we wear robes and don Bibles is inconsequential.

We preach every time we comfort someone with God’s soothing promises.

We preach when we tell someone how the Bible instructs us to live.

I actually had a wonderful opportunity to do just that in Walgreen’s the other night. As the lady and I parted, she said: “God sent you to me tonight”. Praise God, she felt that way, but you know, He sends us all…He sends us to preach.

Christian woman, know you don’t’ need a pulpit and a Bible to preach with your life.

You are a living breathing, walking reflection of Jesus Christ every single day…whether you have a Bible or not!

Speaking of your Bible, you need it to “preach” with your life. You need it’s wisdom to know how to answer a person who is hurting, angry or opressed.

Spend time in your Bible; learn God’s Word.

Study it. Read the same things over and over. Research what they mean. So you can “preach” every day.

Girl, after a while, you’ll be “preaching” in the stores, malls, offices, and gyms around the world! Amen?

For those of you that go to my church, don’t go telling everyone ‘Sister Teri is a preacher now!”. That’s not what I mean. LOL 🙂

From Matthew 5:
“14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”