Preaching That Pleases God

A Call Back to Book, Chapter, and Verse Preaching

Preaching is something I hold very dear. It is not merely a task I perform or a tradition I follow—it is a divine responsibility that God has entrusted to His people. If preaching were not important, God would not have ordained it as the central method for proclaiming His will to the world. The apostle Paul declared, “It pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). This is not an accident of history or culture; it is the plan of God.

When I speak about preaching, I’m not talking about motivational talks, self-help lectures, or storytelling sessions. I’m talking about preaching that comes directly from God’s Word—what many of us grew up calling book, chapter, and verse preaching. This kind of preaching opens the Bible and lets God speak, not the opinions of man. It is preaching grounded in Scripture, carefully drawn from a book in the Bible, a chapter, or a verse. That’s the kind of preaching that builds up the church and honors Christ.

Unfortunately, we are living in an age where this type of preaching is increasingly rare. We live in a world flooded with entertainment and driven by attention spans that have grown tragically short. People today can consume hours of television, movies, and social media with ease, but when it comes to listening to a Bible-based sermon, their minds wander after a few minutes. In many congregations, members no longer want deep doctrinal teaching. They want short, simple, and easy-to-digest messages that require no thought and offer no challenge. But that is not what preaching was ever intended to be.

The church is being affected by this cultural shift. We are witnessing the tragic replacement of spiritually-rich preaching with shallow, entertaining fluff. The result is a weakening of the church. Instead of being fed by the meat of God’s Word, Christians are being starved on spiritual junk food. Paul’s warning to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 rings loudly in our day: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” That time is now.

But true gospel preaching has not changed. In Mark 16:15, Jesus gave the command: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Not philosophy. Not entertainment. Not opinion. The gospel. And what is the gospel? Paul defined it in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Only the gospel has the power to save. No other message—however clever, funny, or emotional—can save a single soul.

In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul described the church as “the pillar and ground of the truth.” That means our preaching must be built upon and supportive of divine truth. When preaching strays from that foundation, the church begins to crumble. Preaching must not only proclaim the truth—it must defend it. In Philippians 1:17, Paul wrote that he was “set for the defense of the gospel.” He did not shrink back from conflict when the gospel was under attack. He reasoned, disputed, and contended for the truth when necessary. Jude 3 echoes this spirit: “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Preaching must be bold. It must challenge error. It must correct false doctrine. It must not apologize for being true.

Yet in many churches today, the gospel is not being defended at all. In fact, sometimes it is being undermined from the pulpit. Preachers are so concerned about being liked or appearing tolerant that they refuse to speak plainly about sin, salvation, baptism, or the one true church. Some sermons are so vague that a lost soul could listen for a year and never learn how to be saved. This is unacceptable. Preaching must be clear, certain, and unashamed.

Paul asked in Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” We must never let the fear of offending someone cause us to withhold the truth. Truth must be spoken in love, yes—but it must be spoken. The purpose of preaching is not to entertain or flatter—it is to convict, convert, correct, and build up. Paul reminded the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 that the Word of God is “able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

We must never be ashamed of strong, Bible-based preaching. It is better to preach the truth and have a few people genuinely converted than to fill a building with people who are unconverted and half-hearted. Numbers alone mean nothing if hearts are not changed. The goal is not to draw a crowd—it is to draw souls to Christ.

I want my preaching to be clear. I want people to leave knowing exactly what I believe, and more importantly, what the Bible teaches. I want them to go home and study, and through that study grow stronger in their own faith. That’s what faithful gospel preaching is designed to do.

There was a time when churches of Christ were known for being “walking Bibles.” We emphasized scripture. We were proud to say, “Come hear book, chapter, and verse preaching.” That reputation didn’t come by accident—it came through faithful, consistent teaching of the Word. And we must not lose that legacy.

It’s better to preach plainly and help someone truly obey the gospel than to speak softly and leave them in darkness. As Joshua once said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). That must be our declaration as a congregation.

We cannot allow the worldly-minded members in any congregation to steer the direction of the church. Those who reject strong preaching, who are uncomfortable with sound doctrine, who refuse to repent, or who reject the uniqueness of Christ’s church—those individuals must not be allowed to shape the teaching of the body. Unfortunately, in many places, the worldly element has been given too much influence, and the church has suffered for it.

Preaching must be done without fear or favor. It must be delivered without concern for applause or popularity. Like Paul, we must say, “I will preach the truth, and I hope you accept it—but if you don’t, I will not change the message.” That is the kind of preaching that pleases God.

As I look ahead, I am committed to continuing that kind of preaching. I’m thankful for this congregation—because I believe we still stand for what is right. We are not perfect, but we strive to uphold God’s truth in a time when many are falling away. I am proud to be part of a church that still values the Word of God. Not in arrogance, but in gratitude.

And now, the choice is yours. Will you submit to the gospel? Will you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 8:24)? Will you repent of your sins (Acts 17:30), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16)? That’s what the Bible teaches—and there is no room for doubt.

If you are already a Christian, stay faithful. Support preaching that honors God’s Word. And never be ashamed of the truth.

As we sing the invitation song, we invite you to choose Christ—choose truth—choose life.

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Here is a sermon outline for “Preaching That Pleases God”, based on the full essay-style sermon, complete with scripture references and a call to action for today at the end:

Sermon Outline: Preaching That Pleases God

Main Texts: Mark 16:15; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Timothy 3:15; Romans 1:16
Theme: Returning to bold, book-chapter-and-verse preaching rooted in the gospel of Christ

I. The Divine Purpose of Preaching

• 1 Corinthians 1:21 – God chose preaching to save those who believe.
• Preaching is not man-made—it is God-ordained.
• It is not entertainment—it is a divine tool for salvation and edification.

II. Book, Chapter, and Verse Preaching

• Preaching that comes directly from Scripture (not opinion or storytelling).
• 2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the Word, rebuke, exhort, with doctrine.
• This type of preaching is what built strong congregations in generations past.

III. The Influence of the World

• We live in an entertainment-driven society (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
• Many now want short, easy, non-confrontational sermons.
• The danger: worldly thinking crowds out spiritual truth.

IV. What Preaching Must Do

1. Preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15)
   – Not philosophy, psychology, or personal stories.
   – Romans 1:16 – Only the gospel has the power to save.
2. Uphold and Proclaim the Truth (1 Timothy 3:15)
   – The church is the pillar and ground of the truth.
   – Preaching must give clarity, not confusion.
3. Defend the Gospel (Philippians 1:17; Jude 3)
   – Preaching must contend with error and expose false teaching.
4. Convert and Convict (Galatians 4:16)
   – Preaching must lead people to real repentance and transformation.

V. The Tragic Consequences of Weak Preaching

• People remain unconverted.
• Churches are filled with half-hearted members.
• Acts 20:32 – The Word of God is what builds up, not entertainment.
• Preaching that hides the truth is not loving—it is dangerous.

VI. What We Must Do Today

• Preach with clarity, with conviction, with confidence.
• Never be ashamed of strong, biblical preaching.
• Defend the truth boldly, even when it’s unpopular.
• Be proud (not arrogant) of being part of a congregation that stands for God’s Word.
• Joshua 24:15 – “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Conclusion & Call to Action

For Preachers and Teachers:
Stand firm in proclaiming the full counsel of God. Let your sermons be filled with scripture, not fluff. Never compromise truth for applause. Be a herald of heaven’s message, not a performer for man’s approval.

For the Church:
Support preaching that honors God’s Word. Demand sound doctrine. Open your Bibles, grow in knowledge, and live what you hear. Be the pillar and ground of truth that God called His church to be.

For the Lost:
The gospel has been preached. The Word of God is clear. Will you obey?

• Believe (John 8:24)
• Repent (Acts 17:30)
• Confess Christ (Romans 10:9-10)
• Be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16)

There is no room for doubt—only a decision.
Will you choose Christ today?
If you're ready to make that decision, don't wait. The invitation is open. Come as we stand and sing.