‍Preach or Teach

‍“Preaching to the Choir” is an expression that implies wasting your time and message on those already in agreement with your message.

‍I contend that pastors have wasted decades and centuries “preaching to the choir” when the focus ought to have been on teaching.

‍While attending Bible College, I recall suggesting that this college should represent a local body of believers, a local church, not a unique college. By that, I meant that every church should, on a normal basis, offer this level of teaching in the same interactive manner evident in the classroom, not as a mind-numbing monologue.

‍Some may argue that preaching and teaching overlap, yet they differ in purpose, style, method, and intended outcome.

‍Basic Differences

• Teaching is dialogue, interactive, asking for thoughts and opinions, prompting them to think, adjust, and apply what they learn. The goal is cognitive growth, critical thinking, and retention.
• Preaching is a monologue: talking to people and giving information. The message (often moral, spiritual, or ideological) calls for a response and aims to inspire belief, conviction, or action. It is more exhortative than explanatory.
• A teacher leads and guides a discussion of the historical context, literary structure, and theological arguments of a Bible passage so that students understand it thoroughly.
• A preacher proclaims the same passage as God's living word, urging listeners to repent, believe, and obey it immediately.
• Teaching equips the mind.
• Preaching stirs the heart and will.

‍Preaching is primarily evangelistic, to make converts. It's conversion-focused; teaching makes disciples. It's growth-focused. After responding to a message preached, the hearer is encouraged to grow as a disciple by coming under the tutelage of a pastor/teacher.

‍When the pastor/teacher encourages dialogue through interaction, he motivates his audience to think, organize their thoughts, and challenge them—to grow in knowledge and experience, to own the material taught.

‍The early church was composed of believers who met together, “each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 (NASB)

‍Stop wasting time, lives, and progress by continually ‘preaching to the choir.’ Start teaching and growing disciples!

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‍© 2026 Steve Bydeley.

‍All publishing rights reserved. Permission is herewith granted to reprint this article for personal use and to link or refer to it; however, no commercial re-publishing of the material in this article is permitted without prior written consent.

‍Steven is the author of *Fathered by God* and, together with his wife Dianne, co-author of *Dream Dreams* and *Dreams that Heal and Counsel*. They have appeared as guests on the Miracle Channel, Trinity Television, and Crossroads Communication, and have taught various topics around the world.

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‍Without Prejudice. © 2026, Steven., house of bij de Leij., of man.