My Sermon Outline (12 Nov 06)

Sending Preachers
Romans 10:12-18

Introduction

• The church’s greatest duty on earth is to send preachers.
• Church is God’s only institution on earth that is given the task of preaching the Gospel of salvation everywhere.
• So the Apostle Paul instructs the church in Rome, its duty of sending preachers.

Reasons for Church’s Commitment to Send Preachers
1. We are entrusted with a message (v.15c)
“preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (v.15c)

• “Gospel of peace”: The good news that offers peace. (cf. Ephesians 6:15)
– It is the word of reconciliation between God and man. “On earth peace” (Luke 2:14).
– Romans 5:1 - “. . . Peace with God through Jesus Christ”

• “Glad tidings of good things!”:
– 2 Thessalonians 2:16 – “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.”
– Romans 10:12b-13 - “the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

• “is rich” (Greek – plouteo): It indicates that God is affluent in resources so that He can give blessings of salvation to all.
• What a joyous news is that God will manifest His grace and salvation abundantly to all those who would trust Him.

• The Apostle Paul has described the message of the Gospel also as

– “Gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27)
– “Gospel of salvation” (Ephesians 1:13; 1 Thess 3:2; 2 Thess 1:8)
– “Glorious Gospel” (1 Timothy 1:11)

2. We are entrusted with a mandate (vv.14-15a)

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”
• Faith comes by hearing, so they must hear the message. How will they hear?
• A messenger must go to them with the message.
• But this means that the messenger must be sent.
• The preachers ought to be sent to every people, indiscriminately. It is God’s commandment to His Church.

– Romans 10:12-13 – “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
– Matthew 28:18-20

Role of the Church in Sending Preachers
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (v.15a)
• Preparing Preachers
– 2 Timothy 2:2 – “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
• Providing for Preachers
– Philippians 4:10-19
• Pray for preachers
– We must pray for more labourers to do the work of evangelism. - Matthew 9:37-38
– We must pray for the protection of those who preach the Gospel - Romans 15:30-31
– We must pray that God would grant us more opportunities to preach the Gospel. - Colossians 4:2-3
– We ought to pray that the preachers of the Gospel would have the grace to expound the truth clearly to the hearers. - Colossians 4:3-4
– We must pray God that He would grant us boldness in preaching - Ephesians 6:19, 20

Responses to the Church’s Sending of Preachers
• Some will turn to the Lord
– Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• Some will reject the Lord
– Romans 10:16 – “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”

Results of the Church’s Sending of Preachers
• Divine commendation
– Romans 10:15b - “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace”
• Many will turn to Christ by faith
– Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
• World evangelization is accomplished
– Romans 10:18 - “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”
We will be able to fulfil our part in God’s plan concerning the Global preaching of the Gospel.
– Matthew 24:14 – “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”