Effective Broadcasting – Part 1 Series

Turn Your Bibles to Acts 6:4 and then verse 7

Title: Effective Broadcasting – Part 1

Theme: Planting the Word of God

Series: Essentials for Church Growth

Listen as I read Acts 6:4 and then verse 7, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to ministry of the word.” “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” (ESV) Let us pray!

Introduction: At different times in the Word of God there are references to farming. These metaphors deal with the teaching of God’s Word and the different effects it has on the heart of mankind. Back in the 1960’s in rural Northwest Kansas, a farmer could make a good living for his family on only 80 to 100 acres of farm ground. Many of these farmers raised a garden and different crops such as wheat, corn or other crops. Not only did these farmers raise crops, they raised different types of livestock, providing not only for themselves, but for other Americans as well as for people in different parts of the world.

Today, in Northwest Kansas a farmer needs far more than 100 acres if he wants to provide for a family. Even small gardens are being replaced for the most part with large produce farms. The fact is, farmers do not even plant their crops like they once did – they use a whole new method in preparing the fields, planting the seeds and harvesting their crops.

Like it or not, if you want to make a living for your family in the farming industry, you will change the way you broadcast your seed and harvest your crops. Farmers who update their methods will produce food for people around the world.

Proposition: I would propose to you that the Body of Christ that God will use to evangelize the next generation has members who are specialized in different methods of broadcasting the seed of God’s Word in the fields of the world. The church that has a lasting effect on the present and future generation will be efficient in using modern day tools to broadcast the life giving written Word of God. The cutting edge church will be committed to the foundational truths in this message, while applying modern tools to getting the Word of God outside the church walls.

Interrogative Sentence: Just what is the priority of the Bible believing, preaching, teaching church? Just what seed is the church of Jesus Christ to broadcast? Where is it to be broadcast? In this message you will discover powerful truths that must not be ignored. In the second message we will look at the charge to the soldier of Christ and the fertilizer that ensures a healthy harvest of souls for the Lord.

Transitional Sentence: The first step to effective broadcasting of God’s Word is to have a Body of Christ that has Biblical priorities. The Holy Spirit led, anointed and empowered church birthed forth from Pentecost had men of God who knew their priorities. Acts 6:2 says, “So the twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the Word of God in order to wait on tables.’” Our key text says, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.” (Acts 6:4)

These passages of Scripture came forth at a time when the New Testament church was growing and the people of God needed Divine instructions. God in His mercy and grace sent forth His Holy Spirit to give the Body of Christ administrative direction in regard to proclaiming the Word of God.

In order for the conviction of sin, the conversion of sinners, and the edification of the Body of Christ, there must be men and women of God who devote their time, strength, and gifting to the proclaiming and teaching of God’s Word. No one is denying the importance of tongues, miracles, and supernatural healings. However, these are not enjoyed unless there are those who employ themselves in the service of preaching and teaching the written Word of God undergirded with prayer.

The word “devote” (proskarteréō) means to occupy oneself diligently, to pay persistent attention to, (Analytical Lexicon of the Greek Language) to persist, keep on with devotion, (Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains) or to give constant attention to. (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament)

Every preaching and teaching ministry used of the Lord has someone who takes seriously 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” True modern day preachers and teachers of God’s Word spend much time privately in prayerful study of the sword of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) so they can be effective in the cause of Christ and God. The truth is, faithful prayerful students of God’s Word become servants whom the Lord uses long after their physical death, just like the writings of those the Holy Spirit used to bring us the written Word of God.