I think that it is relatively safe to say that in many of our churches there is no real difference between the act of teaching and preaching. Sure, we tend to regard teaching as more interactive and preaching as less so, but otherwise they are pretty much the same. Whether someone is teaching or preaching they are typically trying to impart knowledge and encouragement. In essence what we have is just teaching in slightly different modes.
Biblically speaking teaching and preaching are actually two different things. They are translated from two different Greek words that aren't even related to each other. Teaching comes from the word didasko and preaching from the word kerygma. This tidbit of Greek should help us think about these two activities as different, even though in our culture preaching and teaching have become synonymous.
So what's the difference between preaching and teaching? Well, teaching is about instruction and building up the knowledge of a student. This is where learning doctrine, understanding scripture, and being guided into a fuller understanding of the truth happens. Someone who is gifted as a teacher is able to help those being taught to understand and think about the topics they teach. Preaching is a different activity.
Preaching is about proclaiming the Gospel. It is not primarily about education and instruction but about sounding out the story of Jesus Christ and what he has done. Preaching is about calling people to repentance and obedience to Christ by announcing the Good News. Someone who is a gifted preacher, in the true sense of the word, is able to proclaim Jesus clearly and decisively.
Teaching and preaching, as I have just described, are not the same thing. They are related only insofar as they both involve a speaker and listeners and that they both discuss Jesus. Aside from that, however, the goals are different. The goal of preaching is to confront people with Jesus and to make known the Gospel. The goal of teaching is to instruct people about scripture, theology, and other things by building up their knowledge.
Typically speaking, preaching comes first. We hear the Gospel proclaimed, be it via a sermon or through the actions and life of people we encounter, and come to faith in Jesus. Then we are taught how to live, what to believe, and why such things matter. Though we already have come to faith, we all need to hear the Gospel proclamation again and again as an encouragement and reminder of what has been done. We also need to continually be taught and educated in the faith.
When was the last time you heard "preaching" that was simply a declaration of the Gospel? It's been a long time for me. Normally the preaching I hear is really teaching done in the form of a lecture. There are points explaining a biblical text and instructions on how to live it out. That isn't to say that this sort of sermon is bad, far from it, but I think we need to be honest about what is going on. These people are teaching, not necessarily preaching.
On the flip side I think there are people out there that excel at preaching, at simply laying out who Jesus is and what he has done, but can't actually teach. They can proclaim the Gospel but can't effectively lead people into instruction on theology, scripture, and spiritual development. Everything remains at that simple, invitational level and never goes deeper. The proclamation of the Gospel is foundational, but we are called to mature and build on that foundation repeatedly throughout scripture.
We need both excellent teaching and preaching in our churches. Christians need to be instructed and taught so that we may grow strong in the faith. Christians also need to hear the Gospel proclaimed just as badly as anyone else. Good teaching helps us mature in the faith by letting our roots grow deep so that we may weather the storms of doubt and life. Good preaching continually waters us by confronting us again and again with the reason for our faith.
Teaching prevents our faith from becoming based solely on emotional responses and whims that is tossed to and fro by storms of life. Preaching prevents our faith from becoming a dry, intellectualized affair with no connection to the source of our salvation. We need both, along with all the other gifts granted to the church by the Spirit.
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