How to be a great preacher

DON'T:

1) Play politics (local or brotherhood)

2) Ride hobby horses

3) Forget your family

4) Look for the perfect church

5) Saddle yourself with debt

6) Be a slave to your passions

7) Be lazy

8) Be cliquish

9) Move into a glass house

10) Allow indiscretions with the opposite sex

11) Be satisfied with your level of competence

12) Cater to your audience's desires or weaknesses

 

DO:

1) Be genuine

2) Be balanced

3) Be responsible

4) Be content

5) Be sensible

6) Be disciplined

7) Be productive

8) Be friendly

9) Be yourself

10) Be pure

11) Be hungry

12) Be convicted

 

THE EFFECTIVE PREACHER SHOULD:

1) Pray fervently!

2) Encourage (Acts 4:36)

3) Visit

4) Be organized

5) Study with diligence

6) Learn to love people

7) Be patient--it takes time

8) Do the work of an evangelist

9) Have hobbies

10) Take family vacations

11) Keep his heart right

12) Always be God's man!!

 

"But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5).

[This is the last week of my first time teaching Preacher And His Work in the Bear Valley Bible Institute.  As I wind down that class, the above, which was published in the POWER publication, Southaven, Mississippi, several years ago, seems a fitting summary of what seems to me a proper philosophy for the gospel preacher.  Hope you find it helpful]

 

--Neal Pollard