Preaching Beyond the Pews
A Stirring in My Soul
Today, I want to talk about something that’s been more than just a passing thought; it's a topic that has been stirring deep in my soul for a long, long time. You know how the Lord plants a seed? It’s not something you can rush. You can't just dig it up the next day to see if it’s growing. You rise and sleep, and somehow, God gives the increase. This particular seed has been bubbling up to the surface, and I finally have to speak on it.
The words are exhort, evangelize, and preach.
Have you ever found yourself sitting in a church service, looking around, and a quiet question forms in your mind: "Where is this in the Scripture?" Maybe you’ve felt a disconnect, a disparity between the traditions we practice and the raw, powerful faith we read about in the Book of Acts. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves, seeing how our traditions, as Jesus said to the Pharisees, can nullify the Word of God. When I read the book of Acts, a part of me gets fired up, even a little angry, because I see a model of the spiritual and supernatural life that seems so distant from our modern experience.
This post is about closing that gap. It's about rediscovering the original, potent meaning of these three foundational actions. It’s a call to examine ourselves, to see if we are truly in the faith as the Bible describes it, and to reclaim the dynamic, world-changing power that Jesus promised to His followers.
The Missing Signs: Where is the Power?
Let's start with a foundational promise from Jesus Himself. In Mark 16, He gives the Great Commission, and it's packed with a word we need to understand: preach.
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:15-18, KJV)
The passage doesn't stop there. It tells us what the disciples did next: "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." (Mark 16:20, KJV)
This puts a critical question on my radar, and it should be on yours too: If these signs are meant to follow believers, where are they today? If we see a lack of the supernatural—the healings, the deliverance, the divine protection—we have to ask why. It forces us to examine ourselves, as Scripture commands, to see if we're truly in the faith. We often quote Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Could it be that our lack of knowledge about the true nature of preaching, exhorting, and evangelizing is what’s holding back the power of God in our lives and communities?
I believe we might be missing the mark. The word "sin" itself means "to miss the mark." So let's take aim and redefine our understanding of these crucial concepts, starting with the word "exhort."
1. The True Meaning of "Exhort" (Parakaleo)
When you hear the word "exhort," what comes to mind? For many, it might have a connotation of stern warning or correction. But the Greek word, parakaleo, is much richer. It’s related to Parakletos (the Comforter, the Holy Spirit) and means an impartation of solace, comfort, and consolation. The King James Dictionary defines it as "to embolden, to cheer, to advise... to excite or to give strength, spirit, or courage."
It’s about inciting someone to a good deed, to animate them, to urge them on. Paul uses it this way in 1 Corinthians 14:3, where he connects it directly with the prophetic gift:
"But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." (1 Corinthians 14:3, KJV)
This is exactly what I see happen when we're out praying for people. So often, we encounter the "lost sheep of the house of Israel"—lukewarm or backslidden Christians who feel off-course. Our role in that moment is to exhort them. It’s a prophetic act of course correction. We remind them of the abundant life Jesus promised and help them identify the "rocks" in their soil—unforgiveness, bitterness, church hurt—that are choking out the Word. We use the keys to the kingdom that Jesus has given us to help them rise up in their faith again. This isn't about condemnation; it's about breathing courage and spirit back into a weary soul.
2. The Work of an "Evangelist" (Euaggelistes)
Next, let's look at "evangelist." We might think of massive crusades with figures like Reinhard Bonnke. But the word only appears three times in the New Testament. In 2 Timothy, Paul gives a charge to his young protégé that reveals the heart of this role:
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine... But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (2 Timothy 4:2-5, KJV)
Notice the context: enduring afflictions, dealing with people who have "itching ears" and have turned to fables. The work of an evangelist is the work of a preacher of the gospel, and it’s not always glamorous. It involves perseverance and a commitment to truth even when it's unpopular. It's tied directly to the act of preaching and exhorting, often in difficult circumstances. It's a role every believer is called to step into in some capacity, sharing the good news wherever we are.
3. The Radical Call to "Preach" (Kerusso)
This brings us to the most misunderstood word of all: preach. What is your paradigm of preaching? Is it a polished 45-minute sermon delivered from a pulpit to a room full of saved people? For centuries, that has been the tradition handed down to us. But is it biblical?
The Greek word is kerusso, and it means "to herald, as a public crier." A herald doesn't speak in a private room; they cry out in the public square. They proclaim a message for all to hear. Look at how Jesus defines it when He sends out the twelve:
"And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:7-8, KJV)
Notice they are going. They are moving. Christianity is a portable religion. And the preaching is immediately followed by supernatural power. Later in the same chapter, Jesus intensifies the public nature of this call:
"What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." (Matthew 10:27, KJV)
This is about a deep, personal, spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus. What He speaks to us in the "darkness," in those quiet, prophetic night seasons, we are to proclaim from the rooftops! This isn't preaching to the choir; this is preaching to people who might want to harm you. It’s a public, bold, and courageous heralding of the good news.
From the Housetops to the Streets: My Experience
This isn't just theory for me. I’ve seen the difference between the traditional model and the biblical one firsthand. A while back, my wife Susan and I, along with some friends, went down to Beale Street in Memphis. We were just carrying signs that said "Jesus" and "Free Prayer." It was a typical night, with crowds hell-bent on partying. We saw a group with a PA system playing worship music. One of the guys saw my Christian t-shirt and the sign. The first thing he said to me was, "You want to talk?"
And just like that, I began to preach on a public street corner, right across from the Hard Rock Cafe. I talked about relationship, not religion. And you know what happened? The cops came and told me to stop. It was a stark reminder that when you’re truly preaching in the biblical sense, you will face opposition. But those are the people who need to hear it most.
On another occasion, during an outreach, I saw a man on the side of the road with his own PA system set up in a parking lot. He had a small pulpit and a microphone, and he was preaching the gospel with passion. We stopped to listen, and I was blown away. This was it. This was kerusso in action. This was biblical preaching. And as I watched, two or three different people walked up and gave the man an offering, completely unprompted. He didn't have to compel them or manipulate them. His obedience to the call bore witness in their spirits, and they wanted to support the work of God they were seeing.
A Call to Action for Team Jesus
I see articles every day about how our nation is drifting further from God, and I believe it's directly connected to the apathy in the Church. Too many of us are hiding in our buildings, just waiting for the rapture, when we are called to be out in our communities, making an impact. We are called to exhort the weary, to do the work of an evangelist, and to preach—to herald the good news—in the public square.
It's time for Team Jesus to rise up. It's time to step out of our comfort zones, endure the afflictions that may come, and get serious about bringing people into the kingdom of God. Ask yourself this sobering question: If your church disappeared today, would your community even notice?
Let's reclaim the spiritual, prophetic, and supernatural power that is our inhJoin the Conversation!
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