THE NECESSITY OF PREACHING (ROMANS 10:14-21)

REFLECTION Introduction The message of the gospel brings hope, but it can only change lives if it is shared with the world. This reflection focuses on the theme, “THE NECESSITY OF PREACHING”. In this context, “necessity” means something that is absolutely required or essential; it is not optional. “Preaching” means publicly announcing and proclaiming the…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Jul 18, 2026

3–5 minutes

REFLECTION

Introduction

The message of the gospel brings hope, but it can only change lives if it is shared with the world. This reflection focuses on the theme, “THE NECESSITY OF PREACHING”. In this context, “necessity” means something that is absolutely required or essential; it is not optional. “Preaching” means publicly announcing and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ so that others can hear it and be transformed and saved.

The key lesson in Romans 10:14-21 is that God has chosen human messengers to spread His word, and without people willingly preaching the gospel, others cannot hear, believe, or be saved.

To understand this scripture text, we must look at its historical background. The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome around AD 57. He wanted to explain how both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) are saved by faith in Jesus. Paul was deeply sad that many of his fellow Jewish people rejected Jesus. In this section of his letter, Paul explains that God’s message went out to everyone, but people can only accept it if they hear it from a messenger.

Body

The first key lesson from the scripture text is that preaching is the essential link in the chain of salvation. Paul shows us a clear, step-by-step process of how a person comes to know God. He writes: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14-15).

This scripture teaches us that salvation starts with God sending a messenger. The messenger preaches, the people hear, the listeners believe, and finally, they call on God to save them. If we remove the preacher from this chain, the whole process breaks down. For example, imagine a doctor who discovers a cure for a dangerous disease. If the doctor keeps the cure a secret and never tells the public, the sick people will never know help is available. In the same way, Christians hold the cure for sin, which is Jesus. We must speak up so that others can hear and live.

The second key lesson is that preaching creates faith, but the listener must still choose to obey the message. Paul explains that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). However, Paul also points out that not everyone who hears will accept it. He quotes the prophet Isaiah, saying, “Lord, who has believed our message?” (Romans 10:16). Later in the passage, he describes a rebellious people by saying, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people” (Romans 10:21).

This tells us that our job as Christians is simply to preach the truth faithfully. We cannot force anyone to believe, but we must give them the opportunity to hear. A practical example of this is a farmer scattering seeds in a field. The farmer cannot force the seeds to grow, but if the farmer never throws the seeds onto the ground, there will never be a harvest. We must scatter the word of God through our words and actions, leaving the results to God.

Conclusion

In summary, preaching the gospel is an absolute necessity because it is God’s chosen way to bring people to faith. We have learned that people cannot believe in Jesus if they have never heard of Him, and they cannot hear unless someone takes the time to tell them. While not everyone will accept the good news, the duty of the church is to keep sharing it.

Therefore, we are called to action today. Do not stay silent. Look for opportunities in your daily life—whether at work, school, or among your family—to share the love and truth of Jesus Christ. Let us be the beautiful feet that carry the good news to those who are lost.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending messengers into our lives so that we could hear the truth and believe. Lord, give us the courage and the desire to preach Your word to those around us. Forgive us for the times we have stayed silent when we should have spoken. Help us to be faithful witnesses, sharing Your love clearly and simply with everyone we meet. We pray for those who hear Your message today, that their hearts will be open to accept You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.