Preaching Definition

By Gerry Straker, 19 Jan 2026

On Sunday 18th January I preached on Titus 1:6-16. The answer to the problems on Crete, and the problems in the UK Church is to appoint elders. Not just any elders, but godly elders who do their one job: preach. 

An elder must be blameless... holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it. (Titus 1:6, 9). 

In our Teaching Time we considered the theme of teaching in Titus and I shared my definition of preaching which I drew together from a number of texts in the Bible over 10 years ago. It's not the final definition, but I hope it's helpful. 

PREACHING
A fullest possible definition in progress:

Preaching is the passing on of the apostolic [1] Christ-centred [2] Word of God,[3] by teaching sound doctrine [4] to a particular context. [5] Preaching is done in the presence of God, [6]  trusting in Him to work through His Word,[7] and to the church.[8] Its purposes are to bring repentance[9] and faith,[10] to prevent falling away,[11] to build up the church in numbers [12] and godliness [13], and to train Christ’s body to serve one another [14] so that church grows in maturity. [15] Preaching is done by proclamation, [16] persuasion [17] and exhortation, [18] by a man [19] who is qualified in godliness [20] and ability,[21] in the midst of false teaching,[22] and in the face of rejection [23] and opposition.[24]

[1] Acts 2:42; 4:31, 33; 5:42; 8:4 etc. See also Acts 13:13; Ephesians 2:17; Jude 1:6; Hebrews 1:1.
[2] Luke 24:44-49.
[3] (Acts 4:31; 6:2, 7 etc. for the apostles); 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:11.
[4] 2 Timothy 1:13; Titus 1:9; 2:1.
[5] The letters!
[6] 2 Timothy 2:14.
[7] Isaiah 55:10-11; Mark 4:26-32; Acts 11:15-18; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; 1 Peter 1:12.
[8] 1 Timothy 3:13.
[9]  Mark 1:15; 1 Peter 1:23-24.
[10] Mark 1:15; Acts 13:48; Romans 10:1.
[11] 1 Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 2:1; 3:13.
[12] Mark 4:20; 4:30-34; Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 9:31.
[13] 1 Timothy 4:7-11; 6:3, 2 Timothy 3:16.
[14] Ephesians 4:12.
[15] Mark 4:20; Ephesians 4:13; 1 Peter 2:2.
[16] Acts 8:5; 9:20; 10:37, 42; 19:13; 20:25; 28:31.
[17] Acts 17:2, 17; 18:4, 19; 19:8, 9;20:7, 9; 24:25.
[18] Acts 2:40; 11:23; 14;22; 15:32; 16:40; 20:1, 2.
[19] 1 Timothy 2:12; 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9.
[20] 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
[21] 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9.
[22] 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:14, 25; Titus 1:10-16.
[23] Acts 12:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
[24] 2 Timothy 2:9; 4:5.