As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“The question of whether to mention the latest blockbuster from the pulpit requires wisdom. When are pop culture references from the pulpit distracting? When are they appropriate?” - TGC
Read the series.
It’s always a great privilege to speak in a new church, but it’s a privilege that also requires precise preparation!
As I have written previously in this series, I strive to ask the following questions before I go into a church to speak for the first time:
“Using his normal means of research, the pastor of Madison Baptist Church…had trouble narrowing down the ways the 12 apostles died. So he opened ChatGPT and asked the artificial intelligence (AI) application.” - Lifeway
Read the series.
Being a guest speaker in a local church congregation is a great honor, but there can also be some very real complexities that accompany such an opportunity. How should we as preachers handle these challenges?
I shared in the first installment that I always try to ask the following questions before I go into a church to speak:
I’ve had the privilege of speaking in many different churches—not only in these nearly five years of serving as a church ministries representative for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, but also for a number of years in which I did a great deal of pulpit supply. This includes ministering for more than 13 years with a home missions board, IMI/SOS International.
Pastors should be constantly learning. Thankfully, in this day and age, there are a number of ways to continue learning. From conferences held by larger organizations and seminaries to online tools provided to continue sharpening your abilities, pastors have a wealth of resources available to them.
“You could, hypothetically, have four different pastors preach the same text four Sundays in a row and have a variety of applications and illustrations while still remaining faithful to its original meaning.” - 9 Marks
“When asked what they liked about being a pastor, respondents overwhelmingly highlight preaching and teaching…in a distant second place is discipling believers, with 8 percent.” - Barna
“…if you’ve ever led as much as a single Bible study, then I expect you know the temptation. I expect you have longed to make much of Jesus, but have also felt the desire to have people make much of you.” - Challies
Discussion