Who appoints men to be preachers?

Question: Thank you very much for helping not just me but also the churches where there is a slight misunderstanding on this Evangelist subject. Please bear with me in coming to you again, for I want to understand clearly. You said in Preachers: Ordination The idea of ordination is to choose or appoint a man for…

Read More

Do preachers struggle with sin?

Question: Hey Jeffrey, I know as a Christian, we are to do our best to abstain from sin at all costs. I also realize no man, except Jesus, is perfect. I have befriended my preacher, and he speaks as if he and his family are living in a glass house, all eyes are on them,…

Read More

Is it wrong to have a Preacher Appreciation Day?

Question: Is it wrong to have a day to show the preacher appreciation and call it “preacher’s appreciation day”? Answer: “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in…

Read More

Why am I having financial struggles, even though I serve God through ministry?

Question: Why am I having financial struggles, even after I chose God first and serve Him through ministry rather than a secular job? Answer: True preaching has never been known to pay well. While there were times Paul received enough financial support to focus completely on the preaching of the Gospel, there were many times…

Read More

The Purpose of Preaching

Text: Nehemiah 8:1-8   I.         In the past, we have talked about various positions or duties in the church (elders, teachers)             A.        Today, I would like to address the purpose of preaching.             B.        There seems to be much confusion about what a preacher’s duty is                         1.         Many denominations refer to their ministers as pastor, but that title is suppose…

Read More

Why Churches Should Rethink Their Preacher’s Salary

by Wes McAdams via Radically Christian The job a preacher does and the money he takes home seems pretty cut-and-dry to most church members, “Our preacher ‘ministers’ to this congregation – he visits the sick, he counsels, he evangelizes, he preaches, he teaches, he writes bulletin articles, and does whatever else we ask of him – and we…

Read More

The Organization of the Church

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/OrganizationOfTheChurch.mp3 Text: Hebrews 8:1-5   I.         We give God glory when we teach His doctrine and execute it accordingly – I Peter 4:11             A.        Thus we are to follow the pattern set for us – Philippians 3:17             B.        Warnings abound not to change the message – Galatians 1:6-10             C.        Any change would give glory to man and no longer…

Read More

I found your advice to aspiring preachers useful

Question: Hello. I read your article on advice to aspiring preachers and found it useful. Thanks a lot. Grace to you! Answer: I’m glad you found the website useful. You might also be interested in the other articles on preaching.

Read More

Passing the Torch

by Ethan R. Longhenry Almost two thousand years ago the Gospel of Jesus Christ began to be proclaimed: God became Incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth, went about doing good, was crucified and buried, but God raised Him from the dead; He ascended to the Father, received all authority and everlasting dominion, and will return one…

Read More

Augustus H. F. Payne

by Earl Kimbrough via Biblical Insights When the dark and angry clouds of war gathered over the nation in 1860, some pacifist gospel preachers in Missouri drew up a document pleading with their brethren to refuse to take up arms in the conflict. Entitled Circular from Preachers in Missouri, the paper was intended for brethren in all…

Read More

I got a girl pregnant. Have I ruined my career as a preacher?

Question: I have been seeking counseling over an issue, but I realized that the counselor was euphemizing the ignominy of my action. Recently, my pastor advised me to consider marriage. Prior to giving me this advice, I messed up and impregnated a girl. I have been supporting her secretively, not wanting my pastor or even…

Read More

The Work of an Evangelist

by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. I got to thinking about evangelists and evangelism in general. An evangelist (Gr. euaggelistes) is a preacher of good news (the gospel – Gr. euaggelion) and evangelism is what an evangelist does – preaches that good news. An evangelist preaches the gospel to the world to save it from sin. Philip was…

Read More

Can a man who is obese be a preacher?

Question: Our church of Christ congregation employs a minister who is morbidity obese. His wife is also obese but not to the degree of the minister. The minister claims that his weight is not related to his ministry. Does the Bible have any teachings on this matter? May God bless you and the wonderful work…

Read More

You shouldn’t tell people they sinned when they admit it

Question: To whom it may concern: I have read a few of your questions and answers, as well as layouts of certain topics in worshipping God, and several sins.  Everything is very insightful and I appreciate it that you answer straight from the Bible.  However, in general, you are very judgmental and do not allow…

Read More

Professional Preachers

by Edward O. Bragwell via Biblical Insights, Vol. 13, No. 1, January 2013 The trend toward developing a “professional clergy” among churches of Christ has been in the making for some time now. More and more, both churches and preachers, have come to view gospel preachers as professionals much like the professions of this world. Churches…

Read More

Any advice for a person aspiring to preach?

Question: What is some advice you have for a person aspiring to be a preacher? Answer: First, study. You can’t preach accurately what you don’t know. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). If you need…

Read More

What do you do when the preacher is in sin and the leadership supports him?

Question: Thanks for your website, it really helps me exercise my critical thinking skills with the Scriptures. One question about withdrawal. What do you do when the offending party is the minister of the congregation? When there are only he and the deacons, and they automatically side with him on everything? The church meeting is…

Read More

What should be done about a preacher whose wife no longer attends?

Question: We have a minister whose wife no longer attends church services. We have no elders. What should we do, or what should he do? (I Timothy 3:5). Answer: A preacher is not the same duty as an elder, nor does a preacher have the same requirements on him as an elder does. I Timothy…

Read More

Should a congregation at least partially support a local preacher?

Question: Even though an away congregation is supporting an evangelist full time because the one he is preaching for is small, shouldn’t they (the congregation he is working with) still try to provide some support for him in whatever way? Answer: If another congregation is supporting a preacher fully, then the preacher doesn’t need additional funds. While…

Read More

Two Preachers: Amos and Amaziah

by Mark White The Old Testament prophet Amos was a shepherd turned preacher. The crowd to whom he preached was the upper class of Israel, including the King himself. He was not their choice of a preacher, however. They did not choose him — God chose Amos for them. His oratory was not refined eloquence.…

Read More

What Saves a Person?

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Since, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9), it would be sensible to understand that in order to get people saved, God would tell them…

Read More

Can a preacher serve as a chaplain?

Question: I was asked what I thought about a preacher serving as a chaplain for the Police Department. My stand is “no” because it leaves the impression that we are in fellowship with the denominational world (II Corinthians 6:14). I was asked to serve as a Chaplain for a hospital and refused because one of the…

Read More

Is it wrong to hire a preacher who has been divorced?

Question: There’s a congregation in town that just hired a young preacher who is divorced and it wasn’t for adultery. This was told to me by a sister who knew them well. Is it okay for them to hire a preacher who is in this circumstance? Answer: Neither you nor I know what happened. According to the…

Read More

Should churches support retired preachers?

Question: I was reading some articles on your church web site, one concerning paying preachers, written by Terry Benton. I was trying to find New Testament scripture for continuing to pay a retired preacher, I guess like retirement for years of service. I am wanting the Bible to be my guide, not my heart. Any thoughts?…

Read More

It Is Scriptural to Pay Preachers

by Billy Moore via For a Better Understanding, March / April 2010 “..the laborer is worthy of his hire… ” (Luke 10:7). “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” (I Corinthians 9:14). “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all…

Read More