Life is a gift. We can’t create it; we can only receive it. Life comes to us through God’s power. This is true in the physical realm, but it is also true in the spiritual realm.
Churches can do a lot of things. They can gather for worship, run ministries, show God’s love to people in their communities. All of this can and should be done.
But here’s what a church can’t do. It can’t live on its own. It can’t create life independently of God. And a church that isn’t spiritually alive will eventually cease to matter and then finally to exist.
Only God gives life. And He has gone on record to state that His life-giving power to His people comes through the proclamation of His Word. What every church needs on a weekly basis is preaching that gives life.
In Ezekiel 37, the prophet has a vision of a valley that is marked by death and despair. When you read—and please do read it—you are profoundly impressed with a sense that this valley is beyond hope of renewal.
For the valley is full of bones, and they are very dry (v.2). Where there were once life and function and productivity, Ezekiel saw only death. And the bones represented the people of God in captivity (v.11)
End of story, right?
Not so. God instructed the prophet to “preach” to these bones and to the breath of life they needed (vv.4,9). And the result was that this preaching gave life to God’s people who had been dead and dormant.
A church can do lots of things. It can be known by its activity and busyness. But apart from biblical and Spirit-filled preaching, all our activities will basically just be the rattling of bones, noise without life.
This is why Oklahoma Baptists value preaching. And beyond that, they value equipping opportunities that helps pastors preach in a way that gives life. So, every year in February, preachers from across the state gather for the Priority of Preaching Conference. Since 2012, this annual event is designed to help pastors make progress in their preaching ministries.
This year’s theme is Preaching That Gives Life, and the conference will be held on February 2, 2026 from 10 am to 4 pm at Moore, First, located at 301 NE 27th Street.
Our instructors/speakers this year will be Greg Gilbert, senior pastor of Third Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville, KY, and author of multiple books, including “What Is The Gospel?” and “Preach: Theology Meets Practice” with Mark Dever. We will also hear from Ben Panner, Director of Workshops for the Charles Simeon Trust, a ministry designed to raise up the next generation of expositional preachers.
There is no cost for the event, but those who register by December 31 will receive a free copy of Greg Gilbert’s book, “The Epic Story of the Bible.” You can register online at oklahomabaptists.org/pop.
