Preaching Ministry 101

1 Corinthians 1:22–23 (KJV 1900)

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

What is preaching?

Ideas, thoughts…

“Preaching is the communication of divine truth through human personality.”

Phillips Brooks

“A manifestation of the Incarnate Word, from the written Word, by the spoken word.”

Bernard Manning

Why do you want to preach?

Preaching is:

…is a hard choice!

1,500 pastors leave ministry/month - 18,000/yr - 49/day!

I have had saints

Lie to me, lie about me, attack me, my family, steal from me

I’ve has saints tell me that I was the greatest pastor that ever lived and the worst pastor that ever lived all in the same week! THE SAME PERSON!

I have worked with

habitual liers, thieves, adultors, child abusers, rapists, homosexuals, murders, drug addicts, drug dealers, child molesters, sex traffickers, extreme violent, mentally ill, incestuous families

I’ve had to protect my children from things that no parent should have to worry about!

WHY WOULD I WANT TO PREACH?

The consequences if I mess up are overwhelming!

…the most serious buisness

1Cor1.21 - saved by preaching

Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Amos, Matthew all warn of ministers who do not fulfill their callings and the judgments on them.

James 3:1 (ESV)

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Why would I do this?

Because I am called!

Because I am called, it is the greatest joy and sense of purpose I have in this world!

How do I start down this path?

Heb 12.1 lay aside every weight and sin that easily besets us.

That means that every person has something that they struggle with or a trap they easily fall into.

So every family has something that they struggle with or a trap they easily fall into.

Ministers as individuals and as a whole have things that struggle with or a trap they easily fall into.

Three sins preachers normally fall into:

Morality

Money

Management of time

How to identify a preacher:

Proper focus and commitment

to family, church

Morals and character

Spiritual disciplines

fasting

prayer

sacrificial giving

Life and family are in order

Proper example to the believers

98% of ministry is OUTSIDE the pulpit!

Here are some things that I look for in a new minister:

Availability

Teachability

Responsibility

Accountability

Here are some ways you are measured and should measure yourself:

Can I be counted on?

Do I honor God in giving?

Am I a godly example?

Know why you do what you do!

Ana: why didn’t the priest tell me?