Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Please turn to Romans 10
• Example of Charles Wesley
• The passage is all about the Gospel, the need for preachers (v14)
• The preachers need to be sent - a lifelong calling to preach the word of God
• Overview:
1. The Need of Gospel Preachers
2. The Message of Gospel Preachers
3. The Response to the Gospel Preacher

The Need of Gospel Preachers

• There is an absolute need for preaching the gospel
• Not just in foreign tribes but in Britain too
• People are saved through faith (in God)
• Faith comes by hearing
• Eph 2:8-9
• 1 Pet 1:23 - you must be born again (through a living word)
• James 1:18
• At times God speaks directly to the people
• The Apostle Paul
• People in the New Testament have dreams and visions
• Jesus always speaks
• We are all to be able to teach the gospel
• There are those that must have a constraint and calling from God to preach the word
• They must be verified by the church, ordained and sent out
• Preachers must be evangelists
• Each has a sphere and calling - examples
• The apostle Paul would never build on another mans foundation
• Paul's desire was to go where the gospel was not being preached
• If you are called to preach you will not be satisfied with anything else
• Example of Joseph the Masai Warrior
• Quote from Luther
• "As the Father sent Me, so I am sending You"

The Message of Gospel Preachers

• A "gospel of peace"
• A message of hope
• It can bring reconciliation between rebels and God
• The paradox of God being near us, even though we are far from Him
• People are on the brink of salvation
• They need only confess with their mouth and believe in the heart
• It is an awful thought that people are on the road to destruction but we have a gospel of hope
• "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (v13)
• Good news
• No works
• Our message:
• Christ crucified
• Not great words or oratory but the power of Christ
• Focussed on Christ alone
• All about Jesus Christ

The Response to the Gospel Preacher

• The response has not been favourable from Israel
• This was prophesied by Isaiah (v16 - cf. Is 53:1)
• They have heard God's 'general revelation' - Psalm 19
• God's voice is heard and seen in creation
• The message had gone out throughout the known world and no-one could say they had not heard
• Are people without excuse today?
• They will be judged differently
• Paul's desire was that Israel would be saved
• The salvation of the Gentiles should provoke some of the Jews to salvation (11:13-14)
• Isaiah is very bold, in that he is talking about grace (v20)
• God has held out His hands to the people
• They rejected His privileges
• Is the UK like this?
• Think of the revivals and now empty chapels
• Yet God is still raising up men
• The Jews were rejecting but the Gentiles were crowding into the Kingdom
• Applications:
1. Prayer - pray for the sending of preachers
2. A new mentality - not just about preservation but advancement
3. Support Gospel workers - 3 John 6
4. Living the Christian life

Closing Remarks