HoHum:
The minister’s sermon on this particular Sunday was considerably longer than normal. However, it was so well prepared and inspiring that he just knew it would be a big hit with the congregation. At the end of the service he stood shaking hands with the people as they exited. One man paused and said, “Preacher, your sermon was so invigorating and inspiring and refreshing.” As the minister broke out in a big smile, the man completed his comment by adding, “Why I felt like a new man when I woke up!”
Preaching is considered of little importance by many today.
WBTU:
The National Missionary Convention (http://www.nationalmissionaryconvention.org/) is at the end of this week in Lexington, Kentucky. In connection with this gathering, many leaders of the Christian Churches/ Churches of Christ are calling for a 10 year emphasis on praying, recruiting, training and sending church planters to all corners of the globe. During the 90’s there was a movement among our brotherhood to try to reach as many people as possible with the gospel by the new Millennium. During this emphasis Some strides were made to plant churches, to work on meeting the needs of missionaries, and to recruit enough missionaries to make up for those who would retire. During the time of this emphasis, the National Missionary Convention seemed to grow as well. Today there is a call to go beyond what was done during the 90’s and to not just recruit enough missionaries to replace those retiring, but to send out even more missionaries to go into new fields. This emphasis is being called Restoration Revolution. (http://www.restorationrevolution.com/)
What can we do to help in this effort? Pray. To help facilitate prayer in this regard, all of the Bible college/ university and seminary Presidents of our brotherhood have joined together and are initiating the Just One Challenge (http://www.justonechallenge.org/). The Just One Challenge is to pray for one more worker for the harvest field. But not just one more worker, one more preacher/ evangelist/ missionary from our midst that will lead the charge to plant churches to reach the world for Christ.
We might expect leaders of Bible colleges to be in the forefront of this challenge. “We have heard this for years for them so we are not going to take this seriously.” Let me say this, these Presidents are concerned because there are fewer and fewer students who are interested in being preachers/ missionaries/ church planters who are enrolled at their colleges. This concerns them and it should also concern us. All of these colleges were formed to train preachers but students now are not interested.
Now Davon what we need are more Christians, we don’t really need more preachers? Yes, we do need more people who claim the name of Christ and actually strive to live for Him. However, who is going to lead the charge to see that this happens? Romans 10:14-15: How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Thesis: Let’s talk about the hardships, the joys and the rewards of being a preacher.
For instances:
The hardships
There are some who think that being a preacher is an easy life. There are some who think being a preacher is a hard life. At different times and seasons one is more true than the other. I want to give an honest picture. It is not pie in the sky. Every career has its down side.
Sometimes the hardships are from spiritual sources. We are talking about persecution.
In one sense the persecution is the same as everyone else. 2 Timothy 3:12 says everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. I don’t want to belly ache about the persecution I have experienced, because all of us have experienced in some form.
In another sense the persecution is worse for those in Christian leadership, of whom the preacher is a part. Looking at the book of Acts we see that those in Christian leadership were singled out- the apostles, the missionaries, the elders and deacons- to make an example of them. In the Civil War, the officers were singled out. The enemy soldiers fixed their sights upon them. Same way it is with the devil and his tactics. Strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered, Jesus said. IMportant for the congregation to pray for leadership
There is a level of sacrifice that is required to be a preacher/ evangelist/ missionary. Wayne Smith preached at a large church in Kentucky for many years. From the outside it appears that he lived an easy life. I don’t know. I heard a talk by him at the National Youth Leaders Convention on “Playing Hurt.” “What does he know about that topic?” Seems like a lot because it was a powerful lesson and many times he showed great emotion.
Napolean Hill said, “Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.”
Twins are double trouble but also double joy.
The joys
There are many joys. A preacher does have easy access into many areas. What is considered meddling by some people is considered ministry when it concerns the preacher. The preacher is blessed with benefits that others do not have like food and gifts. Always provided for.
More important than this, we have the joy of presenting Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ can transform the worst of sinners. What a joy to witness the transforming power of the gospel.
To have someone say to you, “That message was such a help to me.” I was having a struggle and you help me. Just to play a small part.
To see how the gospel lives on in the lives of people. 3 John 4- I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
To have my children say, “Daddy, I want to be a preacher.” Everyone is not equipped or gifted to be a preacher/ missionary/ evangelist but those statements fill me with joy.
The rewards
We are dealing with eternal matters. Doug Jones on the EMS squad used to tell me, “Anyone saved today?” He saves them physically, the Lord uses the preacher to save people spiritually.
On one hand it fills one with dread because might have steered them wrong and judgement for that, but on the other hand it fills one with joy because there will be people in heaven because the Lord used me as His instrument.
1 Thessalonians 2:19: For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am so glad you gave.
So what?
What can we do as a church to encourage young men to go into the preaching ministry?
1. Already mentioned one, pray for preachers, laborers.
2. Hold those in ministry in high esteem. From this church we have had some go into the preaching ministry. In years past (probably more) there was Oscar Potter. Currently there is Donald Potter in Odessa, Texas. There is David Fogle in Dillsboro. One church had their Timothy’s on their bulletin board like a Hall of Fame. Honored with pride. Should have more.
3. Parents and Grandparents- encourage your children to go into the ministry. “You’ll make a good preacher some day.” Some shouldn’t do this because they need to work on point #1. They don’t hold the preacher in high esteem. Having roast preacher. Others want to brag on their children’s accomplishments and to have one be a preacher is not that prestigious so need to work on #1. Others don’t want to encourage their children to be preachers because they believe they can do so much more. What is more important than eternal matters? Since when do we give the Lord the left overs. Need to encourage the best and the brightest to be missionaries. WE have stopped doing that. Don’t want them to go overseas because we will not see them very much. Need to sacrifice ourselves.
4. Send children and youth to Christian church camp, National Missionary Convention, North American Christian Convention, ICYC, take a trip to a Christian or Bible College.
5. Church budget should contain scholarship money for Bible college students. My church did and without that I don’t know if I would have finished. Part of my package is to get a Master’s Degree. I pray that we will do the same for a young man (or woman) who want to go prepare for ministry. My home church has supported me through thick and thin. Last year my old youth minister (now preaching minister) came to visit me and encourage me during a tough time. What really stuck with me is that an elder from my home church came with him. I didn’t know him but the church sent him to encourage me. Not just a personal mission but the whole church supporting and praying for me.
In 1955 at Camp Northward, Wayne Smith met a young high school graduate named Jack. He had sensed a call to ministry, but after winning an agricultural scholarship, Jack was planning to enroll at the University of Kentucky. He reflects back, “After lights out one night, Wayne talked to me for a couple of hours, tellings me all the reasons why I should stick to my original intention to study for the ministry?” Jack turned down the agricultural scholarship, enrolled at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, and discovered that Wayne had already paid for half his school bill. Jack Cottrell went on to become a professor at Cincinnati Christian University, where he has taught for more than 40 years, influencing thousands through his teaching and writing.
