INTRODUCING THE TEXAS SCHOOL OF PREACHING

Before I discuss the Texas School of Preaching, I want to consider the importance of Gospel Preaching?

2 Timothy 4:2 KJV 1900

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

This should be the battle cry for every gospel preacher.

But sadly, there are many preachers who lack courage and love for the truth.

Too many of our preachers today are “hirelings” and do not truly care for the souls of man…

John 10:12 KJV 1900

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Too much of our preaching today is “conversational” wishy-washy mush.

What has happened to the tried and true “fire and brimstone” preaching?

a. To where has dynamic book, chapter, and verse preaching disappeared?

b. I have been preaching now for 36 years, and sadly over the last several years I see weak pulpits developing all over our land.

c. Great preachers of the past like Guy N. Woods, G. K. Wallace, Johnny Ramsey, etc. would be appalled at the kind of preaching going on today.

d. But, more importantly, what would Jesus think?

e. Would He be pleased with the milquetoast preaching of today? I think not!

What is strong preaching?

Consider the example of Peter.

His method of preaching was bold and powerful.

This can be seen by noticing the sermons of Peter in the book of Acts.

In Acts 2, he sets forth the terms of redemption.

During this sermon, he said unto the Jews that they “by wicked hands have crucified and slain” the sinless Son of God (Acts 2:23).

When they heard the preaching of Peter they were pricked in their hearts (Acts 2:37).

His preaching was bold, powerful, and to the point.

Paul’s preaching was clear and plain.

He scorned the sophistries and verbal refinements of mere philosophers and orators in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2; yet he reveals a profound respect for the significance of genuine knowledge.

The depth of his words was characterized by their simplicity.

Paul studiously avoided obtuse rhetoric characteristic of those who considered themselves “somewhat.”

He was even criticized for an absence of rhetorical flair (2 Cor. 10:10).

He valued clear understanding of his message above all else (1 Cor. 14:18ff).

The stakes were too high to squander precious time and limited opportunities to preach.

He had no need to exalt himself or to indulge in silly self-promotion.

Paul’s determination was to know one thing: Christ crucified the hope of glory

1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV 1900

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Colossians 1:27 KJV 1900

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Preaching today must be bold, powerful, clear, and plain.

We are required to preach the truth

John 8:32 KJV 1900

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

2 Timothy 4:2 KJV 1900

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Ephesians 4:15 KJV 1900

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

We are required to preach the truth to the whole world

Matthew 28:19–20 KJV 1900

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We must preach without adding to or taking away from the truth of the Gospel

Revelation 22:18–19 KJV 1900

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Our preaching must be without self-glory

1 Corinthians 9:16 KJV 1900

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

It is our duty to preach the whole counsel of God

Acts 20:20 KJV 1900

20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

Acts 20:27 KJV 1900

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

“Thus saith the Lord” must fill our preaching (the book of Amos).

Strong preaching is needed because we must keep the church free from every false way.

1 Timothy 1:3–4 KJV 1900

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Jude 3 ASV 1901

3 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.

The church needs strong preaching because souls are at stake.

Mark 16:15–16 KJV 1900

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Romans 10:14–15 KJV 1900

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

If I were to ask you what would be worse, to give your children cotton candy or poison, what would you say?

In answer to this question most people would very quickly say that poison would be the worse thing to give our children.

But consider this, what if all we gave our children to eat was cotton candy?

What if cotton candy was their favorite food and that was all they wanted, and any time they received anything else they would throw a fit?

Would we only give them cotton candy?

Would we be loving and concerned parents if we only fed our children this cottony pile of sugar?

Most assuredly not! We understand that our children could not survive only on sugar, for they would soon grow weak and sick, and would soon die.

So, what is worse for us to give our children, only cotton candy or poison? The truth is that both will eventually kill our children.

Now let us make a spiritual application.

Is it worse to teach in the Lord’s church false doctrine or to teach only simple pleasant truths from God’s word?

In answer to this question most people would quickly say that false doctrine would be the worst thing of all to teach.

But consider this, what if we only taught concerning the loving story of Ruth, or about benevolence, or about the need for loving families, or about the need to feel good about ourselves?

Now these are topics that we should be concerned about and are issues of interest and should be taught.

But can a Christian survive spiritually solely on this kind of diet? Can a child of God mature and be grounded in the faith solely on these kinds of meals? The answer is no!

There are many preachers and teachers in the Lord’s church who are not teaching error, but neither are they being distinct in their preaching and teaching.

Many are given more to proclaim what the brethren want to hear than what they need to hear. Concerning the people of Isaiah’s day, the Lord declared…

Isaiah 30:9–10 KJV 1900

9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, Children that will not hear the law of the Lord: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; And to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, Speak unto us smooth things, Prophesy deceits:

Many today are clamoring for the same things as the Israel of old – smooth things, and sweet and pleasant words.

And what is even more disturbing are the preachers and teachers who are giving into their cry with sermons and lessons filled with nothing but “lovey-dovey mush.”

Many preach to please men and tickle their ears with what they like to hear.

Galatians 1:10 KJV 1900

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 KJV 1900

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Acts 20:26–27 KJV 1900

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

You will notice that good gospel preaching demands positive and negative proclamation of truth. But as already mentioned, some will not endure the sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

But we must not allow this attitude to influence us away from preaching the whole counsel of God.

We have too many “cotton candy preachers and teachers” in the brotherhood who are “sugar coating” the brethren into spiritual decay!

Tell me, which are worse, false teachers or cotton candy preachers? The truth is they both will cause the spiritual demise of their listeners.

Beloved, our preaching and teaching must be true to the Book, straight forward without apologies, address the spiritual needs of the people, encourage the faint hearted, rebuke sin, and loving set forth the whole counsel of God.

This is what the Texas School of Preaching is all about.

1. The Texas School of Preaching is an intense 2-year Preacher training school

2. The school is just for men who want to preach the unadulterated word of God

a. This is not a Bible School – it is a preaching school

b. It is men who want to preach – not just gaining Bible knowledge

3. The school is under the over site of the BCS church of Christ in College Station

4. During this two-year program we will study every book of the Bible.

5. There will also be such courses as the work of the Preacher, Greek, Homiletics, Hermeneutics, and Logic

6. We also have an internship program

7. Our instructors are all sound experienced Gospel Preachers

Here is what we need

First, and foremost we need your prayers

Secondly, we need students

We need financial support

Monthly support for the school itself

Staff…

Lump sum