The Gospel Preacher - Centerville Road

1 The Gospel PreacherA Practical Look at Preachers and Preaching Compiled byGene Taylor-1-PrefaceHaving been blessed to be able to preach the Gospel on a full-time basis for fortyyears, I have had the opportunity to read about and experience what it is like to be agospel have been a part of or witnessed many good things in those forty years. On the otherhand, I have also seen abuses by both preachers and congregations which havedamaged the cause of addition to doing located work, I have also had the opportunity to be involved inthree Preacher training programs presented by local churches. I have always beeninterested in such programs because I started in full-time work in such a programthat was conducted by the church in Downers Grove, Illinois.

2 Under the leadership oftwo capable elders, Leon Boyd and Bob Hewlett, and under the tutelage of , Jr., I was able to establish a solid foundation to begin my preaching which hasremained with me all these was recently asked by a young man who has been preaching and teaching byappointment and has an interest in full-time work, if I would inform him as to whatis involved in preaching on a full-time basis. His request has provided the impetus forthe publication of this developed this study for the first Preacher training program we conducted at theCenterville Road congregation in Tallahassee, Florida, some twenty years ago.

3 Over theyears I have shared it with several young men who had a desire to preach or who werein the very early years of their purpose in this study is three-fold: describe and define scriptural preaching and the one who does it. illustrate the importance of Gospel preaching. give some practical advice on all aspects of life for the man who would preachand for others who want to understand the work of have tried to honestly present both the positive and negative aspects of being a full-time Preacher . The negative observations are not intended to discourage one frompreaching but rather to alert him to some abuses which could take place.

4 They are alsoincluded so that brethren who have such ideas might correct all of us, whether preachers or not, do all things to the glory of God and for thebetterment of the cause of TaylorFebruary 2015-2-Table Of ContentsPreface ..1 Table of Contents ..2 Lesson One: The Need for Preachers ..3 Lesson Two: Scriptural Designations of the Work ..5 Lesson Three: The Importance of Preaching ..7 Lesson Four: Man s Qualifications for Five: Scriptural Qualifications for Preaching ..13 Lesson Six: The Preacher s Work ..16 Lesson Seven: The Needs of Preachers ..18 Lesson Eight: Prophets: An Example to Preachers.

5 20 Lesson Nine: The Preacher s Family ..22 Lesson Ten: Advice to Young Preachers ..25 Gene Taylor, 2015. All Rights Need for PreachersI. The Essential Nature of This Study is a neglected area in the teaching of most are hesitant to deal with it because their motives might be see no need to study concepts about the work and erroneous practices, of both churches andpreachers, need to be and those who preach are to encourage and equip men to preach thegospel (2 Tim. 2:2). equip them for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). encourage them to give diligence to study and development (2 Tim. 2:15).

6 Word is to be preached by those who feel compelled to do the work (1 :16). desire to preach, by itself, is not enough to assure must possess some inherent abilities and he must work to develop themand acquire new The Worth of Preaching an essential work of the church, the word is to be preached in its purity (2 Tim. 4:1-5). carry out the responsibility to the great commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark16:15-16). equip and edify the members of the church (Acts 20:32). placed this work in the church (Eph. 4:11-16). who preach are considered worthy of heaven s praise (Rom. 10:14-15).III. The Shortage of Quality factors which contribute to this many who could preach are too many churches fail to give proper consideration to adequate financialsupport for many preachers are subjected to unjust many churches have too many many parents discourage their sons from becoming preachers and theirdaughters from marrying to this must encourage and impress able men to undertake the must convince the church to encourage men to become Gospel PreacherLesson must convince parents to provide encouragement and opportunity fortheir sons who would must set a good example by treating

7 Preachers fairly and making sure allcriticism of them is must use our resources to equip those who desire to preach so that theycan acquire and develop the knowledge and skills needed to be Gospel PreacherLesson 1-5-Scriptural Designations of the WorkI. Evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5; Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8) Lit. a messenger of good, denotes a Preacher of the Gospel ( Vine,Expository Dictionary of NT Words, 44).2. A bringer of good tidings, an evangelist. This name is given in the tothose heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles (JosephHenry Thayer, Thayer s Greek-English Lexicon of NT Words, 257).

8 Is a form of euangelion, glad tidings or good news. It is used in theNew Testament with reference to the news or tidings having to do withChrist and His kingdom and all blessings Gospel is the thing brought, the evangelist is the messenger who brings length of time a man stays in one place is not inherent in the word. It doesnot mean transient or think an evangelist cannot preach the Gospel to the church since it is not news to left Timothy at Ephesus to teach and instruct brethren (I Tim. 1:3; 4:6; 2 Tim. 4:5). was ready to preach the Gospel at Rome to those who were saints (Rom. 1:7-8, 15).

9 II. Preacher (1 Tim. 2:7; Rom. 10:14) A of the Preacher of the Gospel ; (b) of Noah, as a Preacher ofrighteousness, 2 Pet. 2:5 (Vine, 202).2. The herald or proclaimer of the divine word (Thayer, 346). : to be a herald, to officiate as herald; to proclaim after the manner ofa herald; always with a suggestion of formality, gravity, and an authoritywhich must be listened to and obeyed;.. (Thayer). : a proclamation by a herald, denotes a message, a preaching (thesubstance of what is preached as distinct from the act of preaching). 1 :21; 2:4; 15:14; 2 Tim. 4:17; Tit. 1:3" (Vine).III. Minister (Eph.)

10 3:7; 1 Tim. 4:6) A servant, attendant, minister, deacon (Vine, 72).The Gospel PreacherLesson 2-6-2. One who executes the commands of another, esp. Of a master, a servant,attendant, univ. Of the servant of a one who promotesthe welfare and prosperity of the church, Col. 1 of the Christianreligion, I Cor. 3:5; 2 Cor. 6:4; I Thes. 3:2 (Thayer, 138). particular work in which he serves is that of teaching the Teacher or (1 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 4:11): To give instruction (Vine, 111). (2 Tim. 2:25): To train children, , correcting, 2 Tim. 2:25 (Vine, 264). (Gal. 6:6): 2. to teach orally, to instruct (Thayer, 340).