“[Jesus] said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.'” Luke 24:46-47
Followers of Jesus have been sent on a mission to preach. Our word “preach” now mostly conveys what a paid minister does on Sunday morning from behind a pulpit (or, in some cases, a music stand). But the original word was much broader and simpler than that – it simply meant “to announce” or “declare.” Preachers were called “heralds” and were like first century news-men. They would enter a public place and shout out tidings for all to hear. When the news was good, they were called “evangelists.”
We have the best news in all the world to announce – and all believers are called to preach in this sense. Our mission is to proclaim the Gospel that forgiveness is available through Jesus. For a detailed analysis of the New Testament use of the word “proclaim” (kyrusso in the Greek), click here. The point is that we are heralds – we are announcers – declaring, as loud, as clear and as often as we can, the amazing grace of God that “today is the time of His favor!”