SEARCHING FOR A PREACHER
Intro.
1. Gospel preaching has always either been held in respect or contempt:
Illus. - When asked what he was going to do with his life, the young man said, "Well,
if I can't do anything else I can always preach!"
2. Too many churches search for an employee (hireling, hired servant) instead of a
"servant of the Lord" (2 Tim. 2:24) …And too many preachers are willing to
accommodate them!! - 2 Tim. 4:3-4
3. Recently received a letter & email ad from a nearby church of Christ.
4. Let us put this "preacher search" to the test of scripture - 1 Jno. 4:1; 1
Ths. 4:21-22.
I. UNSCRIPTURAL & DENOMINATIONAL THINKING & LANGUAGE.
A. The Language Of Ashdod: Unscriptural Terms & The Concepts Behind Them (Neh.
13:23-25; 1 Pet. 4:11).
1. "Sister Congregations" --
a. NT speaks of churches in regions - Acts 9:31; 2 Cor.
8:1; Gal. 1:2; Rev. 1:11. Never called "sister churches"!!
b. If there are "sister churches" -- which one is
the "mother church?" (shades of Roman Catholicism!) [Sponsoring church?!]
c. NT: Independent, autonomous churches - Acts 14:23; 1
Pet. 5:2.
d. NT form of organization has broken down among many
churches of Christ. Others blur the lines of distinction by such terminology!
2. "Preacher Search Team" --
a. cf. "Worship teams," "praise teams,"
etc. What is their Supervisory? Authoritative? With oversight & decision-making?
b. The elders' work is that of oversight - Acts 20:28-31; 1
Pet. 5:2. (Yes, elders may assign work to a person or group of people, but they cannot
delegate the oversight to anyone else!)
c. G.H.P. Showalter, The Firm Foundation (March 6, 1951)
quoted a deacon of a church…
d. "The New Testament church can & did perform its
full mission without 'committees,' (or 'teams,' jrp) and it can do so now. All such are
innovations in the local organization of the church." (H. E. Phillips, Scriptural
Elders and Deacons, p. 10).
B. The Professional Preacher Syndrome (business world thinking) -
1. Looking to fill a "full time preaching position" -
a. Acts 13:1-2 - Preachers "ministered" to the
Lord - Not as a "position", but as a service to the Lord, the lost & the
saved!
b. Is that what Paul had in Corinth? - Acts 18:1-5
c. 1 Tim. 6:20-21 - What is committed to a preacher's trust
is not a "church," but "the gospel"!
2. Resume (for consideration) -
a. It is good to seek worthy recommendations of a man's
character, diligence & what he teaches - Phil. 2:19-23; Rev. 2:2 (2 Jno. 10).
b. When such "resumes" are used to bind
unbiblical qualifications on men before they can preach - they are wrong!
3. Formal preaching education…required -
a. Would the apostles qualify? - Acts 4:13
b. What qualified Apollos to preach? - Acts 18:24-25, 26-28
c. "Formal" - Regarded as such by whom?
d. "Preaching education" - Educated by whom? How?
e. "Required" - What scripture, please?
4. Prior experience in established congregation "required"
("developed communication skills & proven leadership ability") -
a. Would Saul be accepted? - Acts 9:20; Gal. 1:16-18
b. Would Timothy be considered? 1 Tim. 4:12
c. Where else will a preacher gain such experience?! - 1
Tim. 4:15
5. Must be married -
a. Paul could not preach at some churches by their own
"requirements!" - 1 Cor. 9:5 (7:7)
b. A purely man-made requirement!
II. THE GOSPEL PREACHER & PREACHING.
A. His Work (one of service / ministry) - 2 Tim. 4:5 (2:24).
1. Divinely appointed / charged - 2 Tim. 4:1.
-The church does not authorize his preaching.
2. Preach the word - 2 Tim. 4:2-5; Titus 2:15.
a. Watchful endurance - 2 Tim. 4:5; 1 Tim. 6:20.
b. Study, exhortation & teaching - 1 Tim. 4:13.
B. His Character - 2 Tim. 2:24-25.
1. Faith & a good conscience (1 Tim. 1:18-19), godliness (1 Tim.
4:7), see 1 Tim. 4:12-15.
2. Attitudes - 2 Tim. 2:24-25.
C. His Conduct - 1 Tim. 4:16 (obedient, example, 1 Tim. 4:12).
D. His Ability - 2 Tim. 2:15 (1 Tim. 4:13); 1 Tim. 4:15; 2 Tim. 4:2.
-{Sample of what to look for in an
evangelist…}
Conclusion
1. A church & a preacher are fellow-workers, fellow-servants -- Not the
world's "employer - employee" relationship - Eph. 4:11-13.
2. We respect those who faithfully do their work. We cannot fellowship those who do not.