Comparing Preaching in Acts and Contemporary Preaching in Kumasi-Ghana

Abstract

Kumasi is saturated with preachers preaching all manner of messages. The media space, along major streets, the church space, as well as the market centres have all witnessed an insurgence of many different preachers. The preaching of the Gospel occupies a major place in the Christian church. Both Jesus and the Apostles as revealed in scripture made preaching and teaching an important part of their ministries. This paper examines the nature of Christian preaching in contemporary times in the city of Kumasi, Ghana. The nature of contemporary preaching is compared to that of preaching in the Book of Acts. Qualitative data was gathered through the preacher’s visits to six churches; sixty listeners and 22 preachers were interviewed in Kumasi. One of the major findings was that some preachers in the city of Kumasi today have turned the preaching of the gospel into a business venture. This study advocates the urgent need to guide preaching in the world today with a biblical motif. Sound biblical preaching is significant for the advancement of the Christian faith. It recommends that preaching must result in societal transformation so contemporary preachers must prioritize relating sermons that shoot down the growing ills in the Ghanaian society. The study adds to knowledge in biblical preaching and brings to bear how useful the guiding mirror of scripture could protect contemporary Christian ministry from destructive messages. Keywords: Contemporary Preaching, Book of Acts, Christian Ministry.