What helps Americans grow in their faith? Most who are reading this would probably include in their answer the study of God’s Word and being involved in church. However, a recent survey by Barna Research dealt with that question. Church was not in the top 10. Over half of the respondents said attending church was “not too important” or “not important at all.”

Across denominations and age groups, unchurched people were asked, “Why don’t you attend church?” Forty percent said they “find God elsewhere,” and 35 percent said “church is not relevant to me personally.” When coupled with the recent report that skepticism toward the Bible continues to increase, the question arises, “Is biblical preaching relevant today?” My answer is, “Yes!”

All preaching or teaching is not necessarily biblical. But biblical preaching and teaching is not only relevant, it is also desperately needed. To grow as disciples of Christ, we need to read, study, understand and apply God’s Word. We need preachers and teachers who will teach us God’s truth. Jesus taught with authority, and faithful preachers and teachers of the Word today use His authority as their platform to communicate His truth.

Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote, “If there is a crisis in preaching, it is a crisis of confidence in the Word. If there is a road to recovery, it will be mapped by a return to biblical preaching.”

Robert Smith, professor at Beeson Divinity School, in his book, “Doctrine That Dances,” said that preaching is “the escorting of the hearers into the presence of God for the purpose of transformation.”

We need good and godly teachers and preachers. Romans 10:14 asks, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” Paul exhorts Timothy (and all preachers and teachers) to “preach the Word; be ready in season, and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).

How can we interpret Barna’s statistics in the light of Scripture’s mandate to preach and teach the Word? It all depends on our perspective. Many years ago, a shoe salesman went to an undeveloped country. He stayed a few weeks but sold no shoes. He telegraphed the home office that he wanted to come home because “nobody wears shoes here.” A few weeks later, a second salesman arrived at the same place. After a couple of months, he sent a telegram to the home office, “Please send shoes. Everybody here needs shoes!”

People need to hear the Word. Even in our post-Christian culture, people need to hear the Word. Today is not the time to give up in frustration but instead to give out the clear, plain teaching of God. Some will hear, and their lives will be forever changed. We are saved by grace through faith. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

During his tenure as president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Paige Patterson preached during a chapel service at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He challenged those attending by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, the people in the church you’re going to serve, wherever you go, are in a state of confusion. What is needed to speak to the confusion of our people is a generation of preachers who are Bible-teaching preachers.”

Preaching and teaching God’s Word is relevant today. In fact, it may be the only thing that is eternally relevant in an age of irrelevance. For those of you teachers and preachers who study diligently, pray fervently, and communicate God’s truth faithfully — be encouraged. What you do is relevant and greatly needed.