by John W. Boyd<\/p>\n
I love gospel preachers. I admire men who devote their full vocational lives to ministry, and I am grateful for the sacrifices they make for the kingdom. This article is not an argument against full-time preachers in any way. Instead, it is simply a reflection on why I am personally thankful to be a bi-vocational preacher…and why others may find blessings in this path as well.<\/p>\n
At different times throughout my childhood, I watched my dad work full-time in secular work while also serving as a preacher. To be honest, at the time, I often asked myself, ‘Why?’ He is a great preacher! Why would he not just do that!?<\/p>\n
I think that I now understand why…<\/p>\n
For the past few years, I have worked in retail management while preaching regularly. Holding both roles has stretched me, humbled me, and strengthened my faith. It has also given me a perspective that has blessed my preaching and many of my relationships.<\/p>\n
Here are some reasons I am thankful to serve as a bi-vocational preacher.<\/p>\n
For over 15 years, I have worked in retail management. I’ve been the person who had to make difficult decisions about scheduling, hiring, promotions, and job performance. I’ve worked late nights, early mornings, holidays, and unexpected emergencies…just like many in the pews have to do at their jobs.<\/p>\n
Because of this, I understand firsthand the pressures that Christians face in secular workplaces:<\/p>\n
When I preach about perseverance, integrity, stress, or temptation, I am preaching as someone(and at someone) who feels those realities each week. I believe that shared experiences have helped me speak more practically and realistically to the everyday struggles of God’s people.<\/p>\n
One of the greatest blessings of being bivocational is that my family’s financial survival does not depend on whether people like my sermon or stand for the truth that I have a duty to make.<\/p>\n
Simply put…I can not be bought<\/p>\n
Paul said to preach the word “in season and out of season<\/em>” (II Timothy 4:2). Sometimes preaching out of season means saying things that are needed but unpopular.<\/p>\n When a preacher’s livelihood depends on a congregation’s approval, the temptation to soften or avoid certain subjects is understandable.\u00a0Working outside the church alleviates that pressure from my heart. I do not feel “owned” by anyone but the Lord. I can teach plainly, lovingly, and boldly, because I know that God, not human approval, is my source of security. I hope all preachers can feel this way, but for me, bivocational work makes that easier.<\/p>\n Scripture fully backs up preachers being supported by the church:<\/p>\n Preachers being supported by the church are right, good, and biblical!<\/p>\n However, Scripture also supports the decision of some preachers not to rely on the church for financial stability. Paul was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). In several cities-Corinth and Thessalonica -he chose to work with his hands to avoid placing a burden on young congregations or to maintain his gospel influence (Acts 20:33-35; I Thessalonians 2:9; II Thessalonians 3:8).<\/p>\n Both paths are biblical. Both serve the Lord. And both can be powerful tools for Christ’s church.<\/p>\n One unexpected blessing has come from coworkers discovering I preach.<\/p>\n I don’t announce it, but people find out. Someone sees a sermon online, a conversation occurs during a break, or a coworker asks a spiritual question on their way to lunch. This has created opportunities for conversations about faith, Scripture, suffering, forgiveness, and eternity.<\/p>\n Some of the best spiritual discussions I have had took place during a series of ten-minute work breaks. I believe that when people see a Christian’s faith in a secular environment, it can soften hearts and create openings that many full-time preachers may not get.<\/p>\n Being a bivocational preacher is not superior to full-time ministry… It is different. It brings its own challenges: time management, fatigue, and divided responsibilities. But it also brings the unique blessings that I’ve mentioned here<\/p>\n I am thankful God has allowed me to serve this way. If you are considering preaching, consider that bivocational preaching may not only be possible but may also become a great blessing in your life.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by John W. Boyd I love gospel preachers. I admire men who devote their full vocational lives to ministry, and I am grateful for the sacrifices they make for the kingdom. This article is not an argument against full-time preachers in any way. Instead, it is simply a reflection on why I am personally thankful…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1511],"class_list":["post-92203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-preachers"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":51459,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-churches-should-rethink-their-preachers-salary\/","url_meta":{"origin":92203,"position":0},"title":"Why Churches Should Rethink Their Preacher’s Salary","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 22, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"by Wes McAdams via\u00a0Radically 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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":69205,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thankful-for-the-no-names\/","url_meta":{"origin":92203,"position":1},"title":"Thankful for the No-Names","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Kyle Ellison I am thankful for the no-names. In many preacher circles some may be well known, who may have a name, who keep the calendar full with speaking engagements, who do great work among the brethren! This is not to take away from the great work brethren do,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20581,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/professional-preachers\/","url_meta":{"origin":92203,"position":2},"title":"Professional Preachers","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"by Edward O. Bragwell via\u00a0Biblical 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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/preacher-231x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":92221,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/advice-to-younger-preachers-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":92203,"position":3},"title":"Advice to Younger Preachers (McDonald)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Robert L. McDonald via Expository Review, April 1983 When I first began preaching, in the late 40s or early 50s, I looked to older preachers for any help they could give me. I was delighted to hear them reminisce about their many experiences and problems encountered. Over the years,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93183,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-dont-preachers-follow-pauls-example-and-not-accept-pay-for-preaching\/","url_meta":{"origin":92203,"position":4},"title":"Why don’t preachers follow Paul’s example and not accept pay for preaching?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In I Corinthians 11:1, we are commanded to follow the example of the Bible, so why don't preachers today follow Paul's example and not take money for preaching so as not to hinder the Gospel of Christ? Reason I ask this question is because from 1950s-1970s preachers were ranked\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2802,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-a-preachers-wife-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":92203,"position":5},"title":"What does a preacher’s wife do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 5, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am getting married soon and my future husband will be looking for a church at which to preach.\u00a0 While I've grown up in the church, I've never really been around for the \"behind the scenes\" look at what a preacher's wife does and what position she holds.\u00a0 Any\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92203"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92203\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Both Full Support and Tentmaking Reflect a Biblical Pattern:<\/h2>\n
\n
It Opens Doors for Evangelism That I Never Expected<\/h2>\n