What Preaching Ought to Be

1 Corinthians 14:1-9 KJV

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

Paul is distinguishing between the values of speaking in tongues and prophesying (which I believe the context teaches to be preaching) and in so doing gives great teaching on preaching: 

Preaching ought to be easy to understand

Vs 9

One preacher used to say, "Profundity is placing all the cookies on the lowest shelf." Some preachers need to realize their task is not to elevate a person's mental acuity but to raise their spiritual ability.

Preaching ought to fall into one of these categories

Vs 6

1. Revelation

Revealing what the Word of God has to say

2. Prophesying

Declaring the impact of what the Word of God has to say

3. Knowledge

Expanding the experience of the listener to the Word of God

4. Doctrine

Teaching the truths that are found in the Word of God

Preaching ought to aim to accomplish one of these objectives

Vs 3

1. Edification 

Building the people of God up in their relationship with Christ

2. Exhortation

Urging them to the spiritual practice of their faith

3. Comfort

Assuring them of the benefits of grace in the midst of this troublesome world

Preaching ought to be beneficial to the church rather than glorifying to the preacher

Vs 4

There is a tendency today to promote a type of preaching that has too much of an entertaining value. The motivations might be sincere. We live in a world deluged with entertainment. People do not have the capacity of attention they may once have had. But the trap is none the less real; preaching that contains an entertaining value quickly degenerates into a celebrity status for the preacher and little real adoration for the Saviour.