Are elders responsible for the employment of preachers?

Question: I enjoyed and appreciated your article on the work of the evangelist.  I find it quite different from many by what you might consider institutional churches of Christ. I am concerned about the final paragraph on the selection of the minister.  As I understand first-century history,  many preachers were involved in the establishing, building up,…

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Don’t Muzzle the Ox

by Sam Stinson “For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the…

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Does I Corinthians 16:1-2 Apply to Us Today?

by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 25, June 20, 2008. Let us first note what the passage says: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by…

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How do I deal with an arrogant leader?

Question: I have a “leader” in our church who always explains that he is not arrogant because he does not hold himself in a higher value than others; however, his actions say otherwise. He will take any chance he gets to show off his biblical knowledge, he will constantly tell people they are wrong, he…

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What is the difference between a preacher and a teacher?

Question: I’ve been wondering about this one for some time now, but still can’t quite figure it. For all the similarities that one can see between “preaching” and “teaching” (and besides things like audience involvement), what is the real difference between the two? Focus? Delivery? Approach? I’m always thankful to God for your help. Answer:…

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Paying Uninspired Gospel Preachers

by Terry W. Benton In discussing the right and expectation preachers ought to have for adequate financial support, I appealed to Paul’s statements in I Corinthians 9:4-14 for the proof of that rightful expectation. A man of the house-church persuasion responded, and I think the exchange hits on some very needed points of scriptural understanding…

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What Is the Proper Way to Refer to a Preacher?

Adapted from an article by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 34, Aug. 21, 2009. Question: My denominational friends refer to their preacher as “Pastor” or “Reverend.” What is the proper way to address the preacher, or how do you refer to him as you speak of him to others? Answer: For me,…

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Is it wrong to question your pastor about what is in the Bible?

Question: If your pastor is wrong about what’s in the Bible, is it wrong to question him about it or openly disagree with him? Answer: A part of the answer to this question must be how you approach the disagreement. “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on…

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How should a congregation go about selecting another preacher?

Question: I was wondering if I could get your advice on selecting a pulpit minister. Our minister stepped down due to fleshly and worldly desires, like Demas “having loved this present world.” We have an interim minister at this time. We have other ministers who sent resumes but didn’t have a chance to hear them…

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Preacher Pitfalls: An Article for Young Preachers

by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. The Reflector – August 2009 via Ed’s Sermons and Things Paul references Isaiah in declaring that the feet of those that preach the gospel are beautiful (Romans 10:15; Isaiah 52:7). I know of no higher calling for a young man to pursue than that of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. While…

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The article on being a preacher’s wife was just what I needed

Question: Recently I read your article on “The Blessings of Being a Preacher’s Wife” and I just want to tell you that I have been so blessed by it. In two months I am getting married to a preacher myself, so I was going through the internet such articles. All that you mentioned in the…

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What questions should brethren ask of a man wanting to preach for them?

Question: We have a couple of other men here who fill in with the preaching service occasionally and have asked me for suggestions that might help them improve.  One of them has expressed an interest in possibly looking for a preaching job.  So, I believe a “preacher training class” would be in order. The question I want…

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How much autonomy does a church have when its evangelist is receiving outside support?

Question: How much congregational autonomy does a young church, without elders and deacons, and its evangelist is supported by an overseas congregation? Answer: It remains autonomous. Your evangelist is supported, I assume in part, by one or more congregations. “For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities” (Philippians 4:16). That…

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An Astonishing and Horrible Thing

by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. “An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” (Jeremiah 5:30-31) God’s people were on the brink of a “great…

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Do you know of a book on being a preacher’s wife?

Question: I was looking for on becoming a preacher’s wife. Would you be able to tell me if there is such a book out there? Answer: I don’t know of a book on that subject directly; however, I would like to recommend a book on the life of a woman who was a well-known and…

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Does a preacher’s wife have to attend the same church as her husband?

Question: Is it wrong for a wife of a preacher (who is not a pastor and does not have his own church) to attend a different church, even though they both believe in the same faith (Jesus the Christ)? I don’t believe it’s dividing kingdoms because that means believing in two different faiths and that’s…

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Pastors and Preachers

by James R. Cope via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 3, Jan. 1952. The word “pastors” occurs only one time in our English version of the New Testament. More often the original is rendered “shepherd” or “shepherds.” By implication, the pastoral work is identified with the office of bishops or elders. Since this office is…

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How tight of a reign should elders have over a preacher?

Question: I am a minister in the Lord’s church and want to get your understanding of what authority elders have over the minister.  I guess I am interested in how detailed can they be in managing the preacher?   I am told I must do a weekly report and email it to the elders and I…

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Why are congregations requiring preachers to be married?

Question: I have noticed on some web sites where congregations list qualifications for their new preachers. Most of them require their preachers to be married, which is absurd! Where in the Bible does it say that a preacher must be married to preach? I can’t find it and I’ve searched. What about I Corinthians 7:8 when Paul is…

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When Looking for a Preacher

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (II Corinthians 10:12). Paul had many frustrations with false teachers in his day. The focus was taken off the accuracy of what Paul…

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What should be done when a foreign preacher asks for money?

Question: Regarding the article “The Corruption of Money”: What is the proper and scriptural way to support the work of preachers overseas? How should we approach situations where people write asking for money for individual health care or building buildings? I ask about these in particular because I have seen those often (and you’ve seen…

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Don’t you feel guilty telling young people they have sinned?

Question: When you look over these posts and see how miserable and guilty the children that you advise feel about their “sins,” don’t you regret the way you teach? God loves us all no matter what mistakes we make and it would be nice to find some Christians who teach the love and not the…

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How do we decide what offices in Ephesians 4:11 remain?

Question: Ephesians 4:11 (King James Version): “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” Question: Since all offices were given for the same reason according to verse 12, how do we decide which offices still remain? Answer: By the qualifications for the offices. Apostles were selected by…

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What is the function of a pastor?

Question: What is the function of a pastor? Answer: The denominational world uses the term “pastor” in a way that you do not find in the Bible. Among the denominations, a pastor is a person who preaches and runs a local congregation. It is a blend of the duties the Bible assigns to preachers and…

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Does a preacher need to give?

Question: Instead of me giving a certain amount of my support each week, if I was a gospel preacher asked the church to reduce what they give me for support in accordance with the amount I have been giving each week the past few months and not manually give, do you think that would be…

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Do the elders and preachers constitute the church in decisions?

Question: I have been a member of the church of Christ for some time now. My family and I moved to another congregation to help out because they were very small. My wife and I began to have difficulties in our marriage. She decided to take our problems to the elders and the preacher of…

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What do I need to know to become a preacher’s wife?

Question: I know that I could become a preacher’s wife. I want to be a good virtuous wife because I have, well, kind of seeing a preacher. I want to do the right things in God eyes and not my eyes. I don’t want to mess it up. I have been praying and seeking God’s…

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Is it wrong to pay a preacher?

Question: Is it a sin to pay a preacher? Personally I don’t think it is, but some of our brethren in the church think it is. Can you give me some scripture for this, either not to pay or pay the preacher? Answer: “My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have…

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Can a woman be a pastor?

Question: Can a woman be ordained as a Christian pastor? Answer: The word “pastor” is used very loosely in the denominations. Generally, in a denomination a pastor is a preacher. Women are not able to be preachers since God through Paul stated, “And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority…

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Is a preacher an employee of the church?

Question: Your web page is one of the very best. It demonstrates a superior grasp on 21st-century problems facing brethren today. It also displays wisdom in addressing the matters. Your Answers: Preacher is on target. I am in urgent need for something addressing whether or not a preacher is an employee of the church. Can you…

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Does a congregation have the right to mandate what is preached?

Question: Thank you for your excellent response – It covers the subject well. The congregation’s abuse of this is precisely the issue. Does this give the brethren the right to mandate or demand what he is to preach and teach? I am not talking about suggestions or a curriculum. I started a new Wednesday class…

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Should a repeated adulterer be dismissed from the ministry?

Question: I would like to know what God’s view is on this matter. A pastor in our town who is over a church is committing adultery over and over again. The church keeps taking him from the pulpit but after awhile lets him come back to the pulpit. My opinion this is the blind leading…

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