Preaching the Word of God means preaching doctrine. It is inescapable. The late Ernest Reisinger wrote these words concerning the importance of doctrinal preaching:
Some may call the doctrines dry bones. We must ask what kind of a body would that be which has flesh and blood but has no bones? Of course, if the preacher presents doctrine in skeleton nakedness, apart from a vital relationship to life and experience, it is the fault of the preacher and not the fault of true doctrinal preaching.
Sound doctrinal preaching must always be practical and experimental, applied to the necessity and capacities of the hearers. In fact, the two should never be separated any more than flesh and bones should be separated. If they are separated there is death for sure.
They should always blend together in order to compliment and establish each other, and be pervaded by the unction of the Holy One.
The doctrinal preacher need not be concerned that good people will not attend to his sermons. I have generally found that good people will attend if the preacher gives them something to attend to.
Read the entire article entitled “The Priority of Doctrinal Preaching” here. You can also read our review of Robert Smith’s Doctrine that Dances, and our article, Doctrinally Rich Evangelism.
