[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Why the word of God?
We believe that the word of God is uniquely designed to reveal the thoughts and intentions within the heart of man that are not aligned with the will of God (Hebrews 4:12). We believe that everything pertaining to life and godliness is provided to us through a greater understanding of God (2 Peter 1:3) and that this understanding is only available through the word of God. We believe that the study of the word of God is profitable for our teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. Without the word of God, the church would be inadequately equipped to accomplish the work of God (2 Timothy 4:16–17).

Why preaching?
The primary importance of preaching is first seen in Genesis 1 and exists throughout the entirety of Scripture and has been prevalent throughout every age of the church. In 2 Corinthians 4:6, the Apostle Paul describes God commanding creation into being (see Psalms 33:6–9). In Genesis 2:16–17, Moses wrote of God’s commanding Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis 7:9, Moses wrote of God’s command to Noah concerning the bringing of the animals into the ark. The action of commanding on the part of man’s creator, conveys the same authority present in preaching. The Hebrew grammar used to express God having spoken with Abraham conveys the sense of preaching. Thus, one could say from the beginning of time God has been a God who communicates through preaching.
Oftentimes Moses writes of God giving directions to human beings in a manner that leaves no room for discussion and argumentation. God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it and rule over it (Genesis 1:28). He gave Cain the directive to cease sinning and do well (Genesis 4:7). These directives convey a strong authoritative message that is conducive with the manner and message of preaching.
Enoch was one who prophesied about the coming judgment of God (Jude 14–15). The Apostle Peter describes Noah as one who preached a message of righteousness (2 Peter 2:15). The Hebrew grammar used to convey the manner in which Moses spoke to the people in Deuteronomy 1:1 and 5:4 describes Moses as preaching. The preaching of Joshua can be seen in Joshua 24:14–28. All throughout the Old Testament, the prophets are described as conveying the declarations of the Lord.
John the Baptist, the last transitional prophet from the Old Testament to the New Testament, began his ministry preaching (Matthew 3:1). Jesus was known as one who preached (Matthew 4:17) He placed a priority on preaching and described preaching as a reason for His being (Mark 1:38). Early in His ministry, Jesus chose those who were to be His apostles, in order to spend time with them, so that one day He could send them out to preach (Mark 3:13–17). Jesus spent this time with these men in order to provide them with the inspiration for preaching and the authority of preaching. Prior to His ascension, He commanded them to go into all the world and preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15).
The Apostle Peter is described as raising his voice to be heard as he preached his first message (Acts 2:14). Acts 7 is a record of a powerful message preached by Stephen. Philip was one who proclaimed Christ (Acts 8:5) and preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12). The Apostle Paul described himself as one who was eager to preach (Romans 1:15).
God’s two great witnesses will be prophesying for 1260 days during the tribulation. During this time, there will be angels preaching the eternal gospel (Revelation 11:1–3; 14:6)
From Genesis through Revelation the word of God repeatedly portrays God as one who conveys His message through preaching. Thus, throughout the history of the church, preaching has held a prominent position in the ministry of the church. Whenever the church has abandoned faithful preaching of the word of God, the church and society have suffered. When the church returns to the faithful preaching of the word of God, the church and society has benefitted. The decline of preaching just prior to the dark ages, the great demise of preaching during the dark ages, the return to preaching near the end of the dark ages and the total resurgence of preaching during the reformation give prove the vital need for the word of God to be preached.  Thus, the word of God preached is the sole focus and exclusive purpose for the pulpit ministry at Christ’s Church of Tucson.

What is expository preaching?
God desires to communicate His word to man through the human voice of preachers. The goal of expository preaching is to provide God with a vehicle through which He can speak to humanity. Thus, the true expositor has two primary responsibilities.  First, to obtain an accurate understanding of the original author’s intended meaning.  Second, to provide a clear proclamation of that meaning that is conducive and not detrimental to God’s desire to speak directly to the congregation through the message preached. Or as Thomas G. Long has simply put it a herald of scripture needs “… to get the message straight and to speak it clearly.”

Why expository preaching?
For the most part, expository preaching at Christ’s Church of Tucson focuses on the verse by verse preaching of a single book of the Bible until that book is completely preached. The advantages of such preaching are many.

1. Demonstrates a total dependence upon God to change the hearts of His people.
2. Ensures the pulpit ministry is infused with the power of God.
3. Better allows God to rule over what is being spoken from His pulpit. This allows God to be the Lord of His church and to hold authority over the souls of His children.
4. Better allows the preacher and the church to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
5. Prevents the preacher from having a favorite point of theology (i.e. favoring eschatology, or soteriology, or ecclesiology).
6. Prevents the preacher from repeatedly preaching on his favorite topic of theological point.
7. Increases a passion for the word of God in the hearts of the people of God.
8. Increases biblical knowledge among the people of God.
9. Helps to train the people of God to be better students of the Bible.
10. Better allows the preacher and the church to grow in their understanding of doctrine, to grow in Christlikeness, and to be able to better discern truth from error. While at the same time, creating greater love among the members of the church and causing the church to grow. (Ephesians 4:11–16).

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]