When congregations look for Gospel preachers they ask a ton of questions. Some questions like:
1. Do you do personal work?…And on the questions go. Somewhere down the line of the questions they may ask what his doctrinal positions are, but only after they find out if he has ever written in such and such brotherhood publications. Certainly congregations should be concerned that they get a man that preaches truth and concentrates on evangelism. However, is it fair to expect out of a preacher what a member of the church will not do, does not do, and is not ever going to do? Is that not hypocrisy? Is that somewhat like what the Scribes and Pharisees where like (Matthew 23:1-4)?
2. Does your wife teach ladies classes?
3. Are your children in perfect health?
4. How many books have you written?
5. Have you ever done foreign work?
6. What college degrees do you have?
7. Do you study at least 30 hours per week?
I. We Need to Examine Ourselves
A. II Corinthians 13:5
B. Examine ourselves using:1. The word. Hebrews 4:12-13C. If our examination shows us we are wrong, we need to be honest and fix that area of our lives (Luke 13:3; 5).
2. Jesus. I Peter 2:21
3. The Apostles. Philippians 3:17
4. Faithful Brethren. I Thessalonians 1:7
II. Things Members
of the Church Expect of Preachers, But Not Themselves
A. Attendance. They expect the preacher to be at every service, but not themselves – Hebrews 10:25.1. When we fail to attend we fail to:B. Teaching. We expect the preacher to teach, but when teaching needs done members run.a. Put God first (Matthew 6:33 and Colossians 3:1-3).
b. Edify our brethren. Ephesians 4:15-16
c. Be taught, learn, and grow. I Peter 2:2
d. Worship, give praise and glory to God. (Psalms 148)1. What about the “Great Commission” – Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15-16.C. We expect the preacher to be prepared for sermons, classes, etc. but how about everyone else?
2. What about the children’s classes that need teachers? Deuteronomy 6:6-71. Do members study (John 5:39, Acts 17:10-11, and II Timothy 2:15).D. Prayer. What if you ate with the preacher and had to interrupt his 4th bite to remind him to give thanks?1. I Thessalonians 5:18E. Giving. What if the preacher stuck put his hand up and said no. I Corinthians 16:1-2 and II Corinthians 9:7.
2. We need to pray often I Thessalonians 5:17.
3. Consider David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), and his prayer habits. Psalms 55:17
F. We expect the preacher to stick around and shake hands, but we expect the members to form a sort of “after services rush hour” to beat the crowd out the back door and down to the restaurant.1. What ever happened to brethren and communication with each other? Is this how we show the world we are Christ’s disciples? John 13:34-35G. Hospitable. We expect the preacher to be cordial, have company, take care of brethren, have the open door policy, and be generous to all. Yet, we expect members to be the opposite. Hebrews 13:1-21. See: Matthew 25:31-46H. A walking billboard of salvation and an open example to the lost. But, are members of the church placing that on themselves as well (Matthew 5:14-16)?
2. Brethren are not having the fellowship with each other Acts 2:42-46.
I. The preacher is to fellowship faithful brethren, but members worship at liberal churches, fellowship unfaithful brethren, and even extend the “right hand of fellowship” to the divisive and erring. (Ephesians 5:11, II John 9-11, Romans 16:17-18, and I Corinthians 5:9-11).
***The list could go on, but
the point should have been made!***
III. What Will I Do
With This Lesson
A. Apply it. Matthew 13:23Conclusion:
B. Be pricked in my heart and hate the messenger. Acts 7:51-60
C. Stomp my feet and close my ears. Acts 28:26-27
Brethren, we cannot be hypocrites. We must apply the rules we put on other Christians to ourselves. The rules we make need to be from God’s word (I Peter 4:11). We are all preachers, and our lives are an open book before the lost. What you expect of your preacher, apply to your life!
2002
by Brian Yeager may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost
to others.