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Two Preachers View Their Work

By Bill Hall

Two preachers vary greatly in their attitudes toward their work. The first preacher feels that he should be in the pulpit whenever the church assembles for "worship periods" and should teach a class during every Bible study period, while the second preacher encourages others to speak and frequently sits in Bible classes taught by others. Their differing actions grow out of two different philosophies as to how churches develop.

The first preacher believes that the greatest development comes from having the "best" to preach and teach. He has studied hard and is truly the best‑informed man in the congregation; he is paid to preach; he must, therefore, be the best‑qualified for the work; consequently, he should do the preaching and teaching. He guards his "position" in the pulpit and classroom very carefully. Surrender of either comes with great reluctance. "After all, why should the church be forced to listen to men of inferior ability when I could be doing the instructing?" he asks himself.

The second preacher believes the greatest development of the whole comes when each individual is given the opportunity to develop, It is his goal to bring the congregation to less dependence on "the full‑time preacher" rather than to greater dependence on him; to develop abilities within others rather than to stifle their development. He recognizes, too, that he is not the only one who has thoughts that the congregation needs to hear; that a different approach can be instructive and refreshing, and especially when it comes from the lips of one who may relate to the congregation better than "the full‑time preacher. " It is not that he is lazy and does not want to teach. He has spent his life trying to become an effective teacher, and, frankly, it is easier for him to teach than not to teach, to preach than not to preach; but he sits, sometimes agonizingly, while others are given a chance to develop and instruct. He does so because he is persuaded that the overall strength of the church will be served by bringing others into the teaching program.

It may "boil down" to a question of judgment, but we agree with the second preacher's philosophy. We would not turn the worship periods of the church into mere training sessions (training classes should be provided for beginners), but as men develop in their abilities to edify the church, they should be allowed to speak and to share their thoughts with the congregation. And it ought to be the goal of preachers and elders to bring men to be able to edify. Further, the church should be brought to acceptance of such men in the pulpit and classroom. Churches do not become strong by one man doing all the preaching and teaching.

Good leadership develops leadership in others. Effective preaching develops others who are capable of preaching (2 Timothy 2:2). And we are persuaded that it is the second preacher who will accomplish these purposes, not the first.  

 Other Articles by Bill Hall
Two Churches Want to Grow
Ruthless Tactics of False Teachers
Two Men Disagree With the Preacher