Reading: Proclaiming the News

In the last post we began a series of reflections on different kinds of sermons.  We’ve looked at what it means to admonish well in that post.  Proclaiming the news is another kind of sermon.

Proclamation the News Described

I live near Holland, MI, which is the place that many Dutch immigrants settled when they came to the United States, many as members of congregations that came here to escape government interference in the home country.  The greatest celebration of the year in this West Michigan City is, unarguably, the Tulip Festival, which takes place in early May.  Many thousands of people crowd in to see the myriad tulip fields, and to take in the various entertainments offered.   One of the traditions of Tulip Time is the Town Crier.  The man who has held this position for forty years is retiring.  Here’s a newscast video of him talking about retirement, as well as describing what he does as a proclaimer of news.

Proclamation Defined

Kerusso is a Greek word that translators render as “preach” in the New Testament.  Here’s the definition:

to proclaim after the manner of a herald
always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed;
to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done;
used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers

New American Standard Version Word Usage – Total: 61
made proclamation 1, preach 16, preached 10, preacher 1, preaches 2, preaching 11, proclaim 8, proclaimed 6, proclaiming 6

John the Baptist as a Proclaimer of New

The herald in ancient times held several different roles, including the announcements done at tournaments, but the most frequent task announcing the news, proclaiming what had happened or what must be done.   Maybe the best example in the Bible is John the Baptist.  In Matthew 3:1-3 he is introduced in his role:

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”    (NIV)

In other words, he made an announcement.  He was proclaiming the news that originated in heaven: “The Messiah is coming!  God has not forgotten us!”

I’m a proclaimer of news?

You have a great opportunity to proclaim news from heaven.

There is good news!  Proclaim it!

I remember the Sunday after the Stock Market crash here in the US, when many people in my  congregation lost their retirement savings.  I proclaimed that we find security in Jesus Christ, not in our stocks or bank accounts.

The men to whom I preach occasionally at the Rescue Mission near me need to hear good news.  These people are addicts of one sort or another who have lost everything; they are homeless, and in many cases hopeless.  I announce to them that there is a God who can heal them and restore to them the lost years of their lives.

Uppermost in my mind, when I think of proclaiming the news, is my mother.  When she was dying, she dreamt that Jesus rejected her when she approached heaven.  She had committed a great sin in her youth, and now, as she was about to meet the judge of all, the Enemy used that opportunity to attack her faith.  I and my brothers and sister were able to proclaim to her again that the sacrifice of Jesus is enough to cover any sin!

Outside the Walls

When most people think of the Kerusso style of preaching, they think of taking the gospel out of the church and into the streets.    Here’s a reflection on engaging more fully in street preaching.

I hope you’re feeling as excited as I am about this task of the preacher, because proclaiming the News is basic to what we do.  Do it well!  Do it joyfully!  The world needs this news proclaimed!