The Apostle Paul was a great cheerleader for prayer. When reading his letters written to the various churches as found in the New Testament, he regularly underscores the importance of prayer. He tells the Philippian believers that when anxiety abounds that they “not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil. 4:6). He instructs the Ephesian church to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions …” (Eph. 6:18). Paul tells Timothy to instruct the believers in Ephesus “that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority …” (1 Tim. 2:1).

Among the instructions on prayer is a request for intercession the Apostle makes concerning preaching. In the closing words of his letter to the Colossians, Pastor Paul encourages the Colossians to “devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2). He further asks that the Colossians might pray for him and his fellow workers to have the opportunity to share Christ with more people (Col. 4:3). Then, interestingly, Preacher Paul makes this personal request: “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Col. 4:4). The “it” to which Paul is referring is the gospel, the “mystery of Christ” (Col. 4:3).

Is not “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” a relevant, needed, powerful prayer that can be made on the behalf of any preacher today? What might be the applications of this prayer to those of us who preach today?

The Prayers of Others for Our Preaching Are Essential

No matter how the passage is translated, praying for clear (open, public, clear) preaching is indispensable for effective preaching, and is a requirement: “that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak” (ESV); “That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” (KJV); “that I may make it clear in the way that I ought to proclaim it” (NASB).

Paul had no hesitation to enlist the assistance of the Colossian Christians to become a part of his preaching platform—even if he was in prison. He asked the Roman believers to pray for him in the struggle to reach gentiles for Christ. Paul thanked the Corinthian saints for their prayer support (2 Cor. 1:11). He asked bluntly the Thessalonian church, “Brothers, pray for us!” (1 Thess. 5:25). The Apostle considered prayer essential in the ministry the Lord gave to him, and especially in the preaching of the gospel.

We Can Enlist Others to Pray for Us

A powerful factor in preaching is having others pray for us as we preach. We don’t want to dismiss the place of prayer in its relation to preaching. Like Paul, we can enlist others to pray for us as we preach.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was asked about the source of the power of his preaching. Spurgeon said, “My people pray for me.” One of the most practical and powerful steps pastors can take is to give opportunity for their congregation to pray for the preaching of the gospel. Granted, there are already men and women who are praying for the pastor, but enlisting pray-ers for the purpose of preaching can become a mark of a preacher’s effectiveness and involve others in the ministry of preaching.

A preaching prayer team can be formed instructing those who pray to commit themselves to praying for the preacher on a regular schedule. Another possible way to serve in praying for preaching is to establish a band of praying believers during the worship service, asking the Lord for power, strength, and clarity for the preacher. This was a practice of Spurgeon, too. He considered it important. Paul thought it was necessary. And we do, too.

Preaching Is to be Clear

Paul requested the Colossians to “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly” (Col. 4:4). He enlisted their help to pray for him. Yet at the same time he communicated the essence of good preaching—clarity. One does not want to mishandle the Word of God and communicate it with obscurity, but with clarity.

Too often preachers are unclear because of unpreparedness, minimal (if any) or hurried study, lack of education, winging it (thinking that they are “depending on the Spirit”), or an inability to develop a logical sermon. Sometimes one’s personality gets in the way, or there is a disrespect for the noble task of handing well the Word of God. The list could go on here.

As a professor of preaching, one of the most troubling aspects of preaching that causes me discomfort and disappointment is a lack of clarity in the sermons I hear or watch. If I may be so bold, I join Paul and ask God to have all followers of Christ to pray that preachers be clear!

Clarity in Preaching Is Necessary

The phrase that dangles at the end of verse four reflects the requirement for preachers to be clear. Paul asks the Colossians, “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” The words, “as I should” underscore the essential thrust of preaching clearly. We are obligated to preach clearly. We do not want to obfuscate the gospel. We don’t want to get in the way of the truth of Christ. We want to be able to lay out in a distinct way the message of God for all to understand.

We want to carefully consider the fact that clarity in preaching is necessary. After requesting the Colossians to pray for clarity, Paul says that this is something that he “should” do. Literally, to preach clearly is a necessity. It is required. Paul knew it. Preachers know it.

For us to communicate the mystery of Christ, we must speak with clarity. This means clarity about the gospel, clarity in explanation, in our speech, in logic—that this preaching is comprehensible to one’s listeners. Clarity is required in preaching on all its various levels and is an area where we, as preachers, have a responsibility to excel. No preacher is exempt from the responsibility of being clear. As Don Sunukjian from Talbot School of Theology underscores, “Be clear, be clear, be clear!”

Conclusion

This prayer for preaching clarity is not to be overlooked by the reader of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Nor do we as preachers want to ignore it either. Tucked away in the final section of his missive to these struggling believers, the Apostle Paul makes a significant prayer request, “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” Clear preaching is necessary. Supportive prayer from others for clear preaching is essential.

Scott M. Gibson is the Professor of Preaching and holder of the David E. Garland Chair of Preaching at Baylor University/Truett Seminary in Waco, Texas. He also served as the Haddon W. Robinson Professor of Preaching and Ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, where he was on faculty for twenty-seven years.