Those who Preach
Discovering the Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 41:10
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· 249 viewsThose entrusted with the task of preaching must ensure that their lives are in line with their message. They must be of good character and conduct, be consistent in all they teach and do and be accountable to others.
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17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Introduction: Paul does something here in Jerusalem that allows us to consider, “Those Who Preach”. As we have been “Discovering the Church”, we learn more about those who Preach and what they do.
Let’s time the next few minutes to consider, “Those Who Preach”...
Preachers must be of good character
Preachers must be of good character
In a letter from Paul to Timothy who many call Paul’s apprentice, we have this inspired word for our consideration...
12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
See also 1 Th 2:9–10; 1 Ti 4:16; 2 Ti 2:20–26; Tt 2:7–8; Jas 3:1 That the judgment is based on character, and not just on teaching, seems clear from the references to guarding the tongue which follow.
Those who preach should work diligently for the Lord and His Church...
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
Those who preach should watch their character that they might save many souls...
16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Check out the list of things mentioned by Paul to Timothy in this next passage, which would be good for those who would preach...
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.
21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Integrity, dignity, good works are hallmarks of good preachers...
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Preachers ought to watch their character because they will enter into greater strictness...
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
Certainly in this world there is much hypocrisy, even among those who preach...
Preachers must practise what they preach
Preachers must practise what they preach
A means for measure and to self maintenance, is to practice what you preach. Listen to Jesus harsh criticism...
2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,
3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
Preaching is diluted, even destroyed by the hypocrite...
21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
Practicing what you preach is so important scripture records one Apostle rebuking another...
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.
13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Those who preach are accountable to the Body of Christ and accountable to God...
Preachers must be accountable to others and to God
Preachers must be accountable to others and to God
Apostles constantly reported to Jesus their activities of preaching and teaching...
30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.
Paul keep the brethren informed of his work in the Lord and it kept him informed as well, making sure those efforts were fruitful...
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.
2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
Those who preach must not get the big head, this can be a tricky proposition...
Preachers must not look for honour for themselves
Preachers must not look for honour for themselves
There are things preachers can do to shield themselves from the big head disease...
38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces
39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,
40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
It is not a wise practice to elevate the preacher over the pew...
11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,
15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
Those who preach are vessels of the Lord...
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
Money can certainly be a snare for those who preach...
Preachers must not look for personal gain
Preachers must not look for personal gain
You can tell what motivates a servant of God, the money or the cause...
17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Servants should not be shaking down the masters house...
33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.
34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Those who serve need to live by the blessedness of giving more than receiving. God does use the rich and they have a place in the Kingdom but He does call the servant to make him materially wealthy off of His Word...
7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?
8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.
9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
Those who serve should be blameless and upright and they have faith in the truth...
Preachers must be people of integrity
Preachers must be people of integrity
There is no need for the servant to be underhanded or disgraceful. However many have succumb to just this way of operating...
Put More In
H. G. Wells sensed the challenge of living with integrity when he declared that a “gentleman” is one who puts more into life than he takes out. What a viable test!
Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (p. 193). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
Why should the servant practice deceit or operate in the unseemly???
3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.
6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
The truth is enough for “Those who Preach” and by that Serve. He should be faithful in delivering God’s message of reconciliation...
God’s Plan of Salvation - What men must do in order to be saved
God’s Plan of Salvation - What men must do in order to be saved
Salvation begins by Hearing the Word of God
Salvation begins by Hearing the Word of God
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Hearing must give way to Faith which is Belief
Hearing must give way to Faith which is Belief
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Belief is manifested in Repentance
Belief is manifested in Repentance
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
Belief is manifested in Confession
Belief is manifested in Confession
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
God’s Plan of Salvation Commands Baptism
God’s Plan of Salvation Commands Baptism
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Faith must be reinforced continually through Steadfastness
Faith must be reinforced continually through Steadfastness
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.