Becoming A Mature Christian

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Table of Contents
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BECOMING A MATURE CHRISTIAN
AM I STILL A SPIRITUAL BABY?
By Donald W. French

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface…………………………………………………………
Acknowledgements…………………………………………….
Foreword……………………………………………………….

SECTION 1:
The Benefits of the Worship Service in Christian Growth

Section Introduction…………………………...…

Chapter 1: The Blessings of Preaching.
Chapter 2: The Blessings of Singing.
Chapter 3: The Blessings of Prayer.
Chapter 4:The Blessings Partaking of the Communion.
Chapter 5:The Blessings Associated with the Contribution .

Section Summary ……………………………………………….

SECTION 2:
The Importance of Submission

Section Introduction……………………..
Chapter 1: Submission to God.
Chapter 2 : Submission to the Leadership in the Local Congregation.
Chapter 3: Submission to the Other Members of the Local Congregation.
Chapter 4: Submission to the Government.
Chapter 5: Submission to the Family.
Section Summary……….

SECTION 3:
Putting on The Armour of God

Section Introduction…………….………………
Chapter 1: Having Your Lions Girt About With Truth.
Chapter 2: The Breastplate of Righteousness.
Chapter 3: Feet Shod With The Preparation of the Gospel of Peace.
Chapter 4: The Shield of Faith.
Chapter 5: The Helmet of Salvation.
Chapter 6: The Sword of the Spirit.
Section Summary………..………………………………

SECTION 4:
Christian Growth

Section Introduction……………………………
Chapter 1: Faith.
Chapter 2: Virtue.
Chapter 3: Knowledge.
Chapter 4: Temperance.
Chapter 5: Patience.
Chapter 6: Godliness.
Chapter 7: Brotherly Kindness.
Chapter 8: Charity.
Section Summary………………………………..........

SECTION 5:
Am I still a Babe in Christ?

Section Introduction……………………………….
Chapter 1: Am I still Carnally Minded.
Chapter 2: Do I Possess the Fruits of the Spirit.
Chapter 3: Do I Understand and Teach the
First Principles of the Doctrine of Christ?.
Chapter 4: Do I know my Function in the Body of Christ?
Section Summary...................

SECTION 6:
Book Summary
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Thursday, July 23, 2009

Becoming A Mature Christian Menu

Becoming a Mature Cristian
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Please Note: The entire book is on this blog-site. Please leave me a comment about anything to improve this site, or to request a hard-copy of this book [$20 - paperback $25 - hardcover/limited availability]. Thanks, pdc
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BECOMING A MATURE CHRISTIAN
AM I STILL A SPIRITUAL BABY?
By Donald W. French

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface…………………………………………………………
Acknowledgements…………………………………………….
Forward……………………………………………………….

SECTION 1:
The Benefits of the Worship Service in Christian Growth

Section Introduction…………………………...…
Chapter 1: The Blessings of Preaching.
Chapter 2: The Blessings of Singing.
Chapter 3: The Blessings of Prayer.
Chapter 4: The Blessings Partaking of the Communion.
Chapter 5: The Blessings Associated with the Contribution.
Section 1 Summary ……………………………………………….

SECTION 2:
The Importance of Submission

Section Introduction……………………..
Chapter 1: Submission to God.
Chapter 2 : Submission to the Leadership in the Local Congregation.
Chapter 3: Submission to the Other Members of the Local Congregation.
Chapter 4: Submission to the Government.
Chapter 5: Submission to the Family.
Section 2 Summary……….

SECTION 3:
Putting on The Armour of God

Section Introduction…………….………………
Chapter 1: Having Your Loins Girt About With Truth.
Chapter 2: The Breastplate of Righteousness.
Chapter 3: Feet Shod With The Preparation of the Gospel of Peace.
Chapter 4: The Shield of Faith.
Chapter 5: The Helmet of Salvation.
Chapter 6: The Sword of the Spirit.
Section 3 Summary………..………………………………

SECTION 4:
Christian Growth

Section Introduction……………………………
Chapter 1: Faith.
Chapter 2: Virtue.
Chapter 3: Knowledge.
Chapter 4: Temperance.
Chapter 5: Patience.
Chapter 6: Godliness.
Chapter 7: Brotherly Kindness.
Chapter 8: Charity.
Section 4 Summary………………………………..........

SECTION 5:
Am I still a Babe in Christ?

Section Introduction……………………………….
Chapter 1: Am I still Carnally Minded.
Chapter 2: Do I Possess the Fruits of the Spirit?.
Chapter 3: Do I Understand and Teach the First Principlesof the Doctrine of Christ?.
Chapter 4: Do I know my Function in the Body of Christ?
Section 5 Summary...................

SECTION 6:
Book Summary

Return to Main Menu -- Home
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Am I Still A Spiritual Baby?

Am I Still a Spiritual Baby? BECOMING A MATURE CHRISTIAN
Am I Still A Spiritual Baby?
By Donald W. French

PREFACE The focus of this book is to provide a step by step process starting with the first step a person takes in their Christian growth and continues until an individual reaches maturity. These steps are in Sections (chapters).

As each step is considered, you will notice emphasis is placed upon internalizing each principal taught. For instances, in singing in worship services, we sing with such fervor and thought, as if, "to pluck, twang the strings of our hearts," as we make melody (music) to the Lord. In every facet and principal covered in this book, this is stressed.

The sincerity of Don is indicated throughout in his deep conviction in "saving souls." Although hindered greatly with "Parkinson's Disease", with help and assistance of brethren in the church, he continues to conduct Bible studies with those he can find that are willing to study with him, and has realized a conversion rate of well over fifty percent. This inter-conviction is seen as he stresses the importance of each child of God being a soul winner for Christ.

This book should be a source of encouragement and strength as each individual endeavors to live the Christian life.

Jack A. Cutter
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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements BECOMING A MATURE CHRISTIAN
By Donald W. French

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to acknowledge the help of many people in the shaping of the mindset that formed in my character over the 56 years of my life. First of all, I want to acknowledge my indebtedness to my parents, Jesse and Lena French, who raised me to believe in, to love, and to obey the Lord above all else. I disagreed with them about many things while I was a youngster at home, but it is amazing how much wiser they have become as I grew older. After having done not so good a job in raising three kids, I am truly amazed and filled with respect after looking back and seeing how good a job they did with seven.

I also want to acknowledge the tremendous aid I received in my younger years, studying with preachers of the caliber of Jack Cutter and Ervin Waters. From Jack Cutter, I learned about preparing sermons, studying topics and how to understand the Bible and the basic doctrines that differentiate the Church of Christ from the many religious organizations that exist. Additionally Jack has been a tremendous help to me in helping edit this book, without his help, it would not have been nearly as readable. From Ervin Waters, I learned compassion and an enthusiasm for personal work. To both of these men, I want to express my appreciation and love for taking the time to encourage a naïve young kid.

Additionally, I want to thank Steve DeWitt of the Yuba City, California congregation, who put a bug in my ear one evening in March of 2007. He is the one who first put the idea into my head about writing a book of some of my sermons. At the time, I just laughed, but then my brother, Ken French, of the Norco, California congregation agreed with him and said he thought I had a unique perspective and ability to tie verses in the Bible together.

So if there is anyone to blame for my undertaking this task of assembling this book of some of the sermons I have given over the years, it is these two men. I appreciate their encouragement very much.

For those of you who do not know me, I possess no superior knowledge or training and have held only one weekend meeting in my entire life and that was at the Winters congregation in California around 1980 give or take a year or two. I do not even classify myself as a preacher, but am proud to have been a teacher of the gospel in a number of congregations, such as the 64th Street Church of Christ in Sacramento, California where I have studied privately and taught publicly for the last seventeen years, two years at the Yuba City Congregation in Yuba City, California, and for one year at the Fair Oaks congregation, in the Sacramento area. I also owe a special thanks to the North Area congregation, where I taught and worked for approximately ten years. The congregation there gave me the opportunity to teach and supported me part time, while I was attending College.

I also want to give a special acknowledgement to my very special Aunt, Flora Helvey, who passed away in November of 2005, after having been in a convalescent hospital for ten years suffering from Alzheimer’s. When I first came to Sacramento from Redding, in 1973, at the young age of 21, she was the first to encourage me to teach and work for the Lord. She sold Watkins’ Products in order to give me the money to eat, to pay for gas for my 1966 Ford Mustang. She is also the one who got me the job working at the Crestwood Manor Convalescent and Psychiatric Hospital where I met the woman I have been married to for 31 years, my wife, Jeannette. I owe everything to Jeannette, She has laughed at either me or my jokes, put up with me telling everyone I had to go to a mental institution in order to find someone that was crazy enough to marry me, and encouraged me and been there for me through thick and thin. Without her, I do not believe I could have stayed the course and fought the good fight. Thank You, Jeannette, my sweet loving bride of 31 years.
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Forward

Forward FOREWORD I have chosen to write this my first book and entitle it, “Becoming A Mature Christian”, because this is the area in my opinion is the most needed in the Church of Christ. This has been the area I have tried to concentrate on in my 39 years of teaching and conducting Bible studies. This is also the area I have found the least amount of writing that exists within our brotherhood. While there has been no lack of men with knowledge to preach and conduct Bible studies within the brotherhood, I have found there is a surprising lack of these studies put down for others to study and learn from. This was the niche I have devoted my life to, developing studies and sermons and putting them down on paper, so others could use them, if they so desired.

I do not mean to sound like I think I am better at getting up studies than anyone else, or that my studies are so clear and full of wisdom, but rather almost anything is better than nothing, as long as it is from the word of God. I do not claim to have developed a new style of conducting Bible studies. At an early age, I knew I wanted to do personal work for the Lord and I found the style that suited me in the book, “From House to House” by Ivan Stewart. I had no desire to teach publicly, as I was extremely shy and was scared to death at just the thought of standing before a group, let alone talking. But I quickly learned the people I had been studying with were more likely come to the worship services of the Church to hear me if I would but speak and that is how I started teaching publicly.

The method I use to get my studies and sermons together is time consuming, but it works for me. The longest time I worked on any single sermon was approximately eight months was two sermons I worked on simultaneously, “The Establishment of the Kingdom” and “Grace”. I will use the sermon “The Establishment of the Kingdom” as an example of how I get sermons and studies together.

The first stage is what I call, “Gathering the Information Stage”. During this stage of preparing a sermon, I try to find every verse I can find on the subject. I also write down stories I think may help explain what I am trying to say, as well as any thought, poem, song, or anything I can think of. During this stage, I do not try to eliminate any verse or form any opinion or preconceived idea. My purpose is to study to learn what the Holy Spirit intended on the matter. I just try to gather information. For example, in preparing the sermon, “The Establishment of the Kingdom”, during this phase, I went through Strong’s Concordance and Young’s Concordance, just listing every verse I could find that included the words, kingdom, king, and ruler.

The second stage, I call “The Culling Stage”. During this stage, I start reading the verses for context and eliminating verses that obviously do not deal with the topic of the lesson. For example, when I was preparing my sermon, “The Establishment of the Kingdom”, during the second part of the preparation, “The Culling Stage”, I found many of the verses I had written down, dealt with different earthly kingdoms, earthly kings, and earthly rulers and I eliminated them because I was only interested in the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven. During this stage, the only verses I eliminate are verses that obviously have nothing to do with the topic.

The third stage, I call “Listing of Points Stage”. On this third pass through the sermon, I go into a more in-depth study of each verse. I will look up the Greek words and their meanings, I will read various translations and commentaries, and I begin listing the points are contained within the verse or group of verses. I may also eliminate verses that upon a closer examination do not deal with the topic. During this stage, I actually try to list every point I can find in a verse, whether or not I may end up using the point or not.

The fourth stage, I call “Arranging by Topic Stage”. During this stage, I begin grouping verses together by the points I have listed and by topics or rather subtopics, since by this point in the process most of the verses all deal with one topic. During this stage, I still do not eliminate verses based on anything other than the fact it is obvious they have nothing to do with the subject of the sermon. As I go through the verses and again studying them carefully I begin tying verses together based on the points I have previously listed.

The fifth stage, which I call “The Elimination Stage” I normally go through the entire sermon again for the purpose of eliminating verses. Since by this stage, I have already eliminated verses that do not have anything to do with the topic, I am concentrating on eliminating verses that say the same thing. During this stage of the sermon, I probably do the most praying for the help of God and for understanding. If I have several verses that say the same things, I will try to find the verse that uses words I can explain the easiest or a verse that covers several points simultaneously. I then eliminate the other verses as long as I am sure I am not eliminating any important point.

The sixth and usually the final stage is one I refer to as “The Final Stage”. This part of getting the sermon together is normally the least time consuming since I have already studied the verses within their context and in depth. What I am doing during this final step is simply going through and checking for spelling errors and reading the sermon aloud as I am writing down or since I have began using a computer, keyboarding the final points into the sermon or study. As you can tell, I have no magic potion which enables me to get up and teach, but rather, I have worked out a process which even though it is time consuming seems to work for me. It involves a lot of in-depth studying but I have come to realize that is how God intended it to be.

Isaiah 28:13 "But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."

In Isaiah, God reveals through the Holy Spirit, one of the reasons God has chosen the way he has to deliver the word of God is to cull out those who are lazy or who want to believe what they want. Putting the sense of these verses in my words, what God is saying here is he has chosen to give the Bible a little here and a little there so it takes effort to find everything God has given on a subject. In simple plain English, God has set the Bible up in the way he has to filter out those who will not study to see what God wants them to do.

I hope this is helpful to some in understanding and studying the Word of God and preparing sermons and studies. During the writing of this book, I have had to use the same type of procedures I do in getting up my sermons. I have done my fair share of producing scrap paper in the many rewrites I have done and according to modern scientists I have probably done more than my fair share of contributing to global warming. But I trust in God all things will work together for good to them that love him and look forward to his appearing.
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Sunday, April 26, 2009

SECTION 1: The Benefits of the Worship Service in Christian Growth

Section 1:The benefits of the Worship Service in Chritstian Growth Section Introduction
In my experience, the most important factor in whether or not a newborn babe in Christ grows into a mature Christian or whether they die spiritually is their attendance at the Public Worship Services. If you want to grow as a Christian and succeed in being pleasing to your Lord and Master Jesus Christ the righteous King, then you will put attending the worship services of His Church first. By this I mean, you will plan everything else around the scheduled worship services of the local congregation. You do not plan vacations unless you have checked ahead of time to make sure you can be at the worship services of a faithful congregation of the Church. You will not accept work which may interfere with being able to partake of the Communion every Lord’s Day with Brothers and Sisters of like precious faith.

I have noticed a pattern of success or failure in Christian growth, in the 40 years since I first began teaching the gospel. If the newborn babe in Christ does not understand the importance of the spiritual meal that is the Sunday morning worship of the Church, within a year, they have left the Church and fallen by the wayside. I have also noticed the habits a newborn Christian develops after they were baptized into Christ stays with them for the rest of their lives. If you do not make serving God the very highest priority when you begin serving him, you will find it extremely difficult to change. I have seen many newborn babes fall into a dangerous pattern of worship. They fall away, come back, repent, confess their sins before the brethren and God, and have the brethren pray for them then they turn right around and go back to their old ways. They repeat this pattern time and again. I am reminded of the verse in 2 Peter 2:22 where it says “The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” Why do they continue in this destructive pattern? I believe it stems from the patterns and habits they set when they first obeyed the gospel. It appears to be very difficult for people to change later. This is not a Biblical fact I am stating, but I have seen it happen over and over again.

Steadfast and heartfelt worship is the food on which our spirits live. A good spiritual diet is necessary to keep one strong and healthy. If an infant does not receive a steady diet of nutritious foods, it not only affect the child’s physical growth, but their mental growth as well. They also develop poor eating habits which may last the rest of their lives. In the same way, a spiritual newborn that is not fed properly in the beginning of their Christian life may suffer as a result and never grow to be a strong, healthy, and mature Christian.

The public worship service was designed by an all-knowing God to be a well-balanced spiritual meal. It is designed to feed babes in Christ who have just obeyed the gospel. They need spiritual milk. It is also designed to feed the mature Christian who loves to gnaw on spiritual meat. However, unlike a physical meal, where it does not really matter what you are thinking about or the effort you put into it, the spiritual meal that is the worship service depends quite heavily upon the thought and effort Christians put into it. There are a multitude of spiritual benefits and spiritual blessings which are available in the public worship services. God has planned for you to receive these benefits and blessings, but it ultimately depends upon the effort you put into the worship service.

Whenever I hear someone complaining about how they did not get anything from the public worship service, I am reminded of a story I read many years ago. In this story by Edgar Rice Burroughs, this man, John Carter, is transported to the planet Mars and several books are dictated supposedly by John Carter recounting the stories of his adventures to Mr. Burroughs. In one of these books, John Carter recounts a story about this culture on Mars where they executed their prisoners by putting them in “The Pit of Plenty.” The prisoner was lowered into the dark pit and after they were safely at the bottom, the lights would come on and they would find themselves surrounded by tables covered with the most delicious food and drink. But whenever someone reached for the food to partake of it, they would find an invisible barrier in the way. The horror of this means of execution was that surrounded by mountains of food and drink, the prisoner would slowly starve to death. This is what happens to many Christians. When they are surrounded by an immense amount of spiritual food, they slowly starve to death spiritually because they either are not taught properly to recognize these spiritual foods or they simply refuse to reach out, pick up the spiritual food, and feast. In essence what they are admitting is they did not put any effort into the worship service if they did not get anything out of it.

God has placed a big responsibility upon the leadership and teachers in a congregation to make an effort to ensure the needs of both the individual members and those of the entire congregation are met by making sure a well-balanced spiritual meal is provided. But ultimately it is the responsibility of each member of the congregation including teachers and leaders to make sure they are putting their whole heart into each part of the worship service in order to strengthen the other members of the body of Christ and in turn each member is fed. Christ did not come down from Heaven to get anything for himself. He came to give his life for our sins and to provide for our needs. As Christians, we are to follow Christ’s example and to be more concerned about what we can put into the worship service to strengthen others than what we can get for ourselves from the public worship service. But this in turn causes us to be strengthened. So in reality being unselfish benefits one more than being selfish. So it could be said the unselfish person is actually being more selfish, since they are receiving more blessings.

Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

The writer of Hebrews teaches us the same thing, Christianity is not a selfish religion. We are not to be as concerned about what we can get out of the worship service as what we need to put into it in order to strengthen our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. This is one of the reasons we as Christians should not forsake the assembly of the Church because how can I exhort or strengthen you, if I am not at the assembly with you? How can I know how to provoke you to grow in love and good works, if I do not know you what your strengths and weakness are? What your needs are?

1 Corinthians 12:11-26 "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it."

Another important fact is the worship service was designed by God to be the means a congregation uses to strengthen one another, sometimes referred to as “the one another principle.” Contrast that with today’s culture of instant gratification in which people have come to look upon the worship service as Entertainment. If they have not been entertained they do not believe they have been spiritually uplifted and spiritually fed. If you have ever visited one of these “so-called” churches, you will see nothing like the simple, but elegant design you find in the Bible. Each part of the worship service is designed by God for each Christian to encourage and strengthen each other by using the talents God has given each of us, as members of His Son’s body. Each of our talents work together to bring out the best in each of us and to strengthen us.

As we will notice further on in this section of the book, God has designed each part of the public worship service to be a combined effort of each member rising up as sweet incense before him. In my mind’s eye, I picture the public worship service as a symphony with Jesus as the conductor. In the same way it takes every member and their instruments playing at their best to do the musical piece justice, so each and every member of the congregation putting their emotions and mind into each item of worship is necessary to provide the spiritual meal that is first and foremost pleasing to God as well as uplifting to each member of the congregation.
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Chapter 1: The Blessings of Preaching

Chapter 1: The blessings of preaching Chapter Introduction
WHAT IS PREACHING: The word in the Greek which is translated preaching is uangelizoo which means to bring good news, to announce glad tidings, to tell thoroughly, to talk, to discourse, to make full.

Preaching is a lot more than just talking. Anyone can get up before an audience and talk. Comedians do it all of the time. But being a good comedian does not mean one is a preacher. To be a preacher of the gospel is to be a forth-teller of the good news about Jesus Christ, to proclaim His salvation to others. In order for one to be preaching, they must first be speaking the good news about Jesus Christ, who came down to this world of sin and sorrow and died on the cross to become the author of eternal salvation.

Is it enough to just teach and say Jesus Christ should be the Lord of one’s life in order for one to be preaching? NO!!! A preacher must also fully inform others of God’s will. To be a servant of the most-high God, one must be willing to teach all of the will of God. The style and eloquence of the preacher is not the point of preaching, but rather the content and the message being delivered is what determines if one is a preacher of the gospel or not. While the eloquence of a speaker or his charisma might help the listener in enjoying the speaker, it has nothing to do with the truth of his message. Truth is necessary for one as a preacher of the gospel to be pleasing to God. Preaching the truth is the element that truly makes one a preacher of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 14:6-12 "Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church."

To be able to preach or teach means I have the ability to not only understand what I am reading, but to understand it well enough so I can explain it to the listeners in such a way they will understand also. What Paul is saying is, “What good does it do to understand something if you can not explain the topic in such a way as to edify the audience.” Therefore it is important to use language the audience understands as well as to use words the audience can understand also. The entire purpose of preaching in the worship service is the edification (building up) of others. We need as teachers to make sure the purpose for our teaching is not showing the audience how smart we are and how many big words we know.

So from a Biblical perspective, the things that make you a good teacher or preacher of the gospel also depend on your audience. If you can communicate your knowledge of spiritual matters in such a way the audience will understand and grow spiritually, then you may be a successful preacher. I personally enjoy a very in-depth study where the teacher goes into detail regarding the Greek words and their meanings, but it is possible to go too deep into the lesson and to lose the attention of the audience. If they do not understand what you are saying, you might as well be speaking in an unknown foreign language.

1 Corinthians 14:21-22 "In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe."

Another important part of preaching is letting God speak though you. The most important factor is to make sure you are speaking the oracles of God. The only way I know how to do this is to let the Bible develop the points I am trying to make by using Bible verses. I do not claim to be a great orator, so I tend to use a fair number of verses in my sermons. I am not trying to say others can not teach a scriptural lesson without using a lot of scripture, but I just know it works out better in most cases, in my experience, if the teacher uses more verses and less opinion.

I Corinthians 14:34-36 "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?"

We see the Bible teaches that for the teaching to be satisfactory in the sight of God, it must be done by men only. We all recognize many people and religions do not want to accept this Biblical truth and today it is not considered politically correct, but it is still what the word of God teaches. In the public worship service, the only time a woman may speak is when God has directly commanded her to, for example, all Christians are commanded by God to sing as a congregation. It is not pleasing in the sight of God if women teach publicly.

The commands of God are not given to be applied in one congregation, but not in another congregation. The commands given are to be applied to everyone. This does not mean everyone is identical and so you must deliver the message exactly the same in every congregation. But it does mean while God has left in many cases the exact words the teacher uses to the speaker, He still expects the same doctrine to be taught everywhere in every congregation of the Lord’s Church. God does not send different commands to different congregations. Every command applies universally

WHY WE PREACH
Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Many different reasons could be given as to why we need preachers and teachers. The first one is: to spread the gospel (good news) to as many as possible, in order to give the lost a chance to be saved. How can they obey the gospel if they have not heard it? We preach to make believers of non-believers. This is a very important work and one we need men to feel very fervent about. There are more non-believers than there are men who are capable teachers. In Matthew 28:20, after baptizing non-believers and making them into disciples, Jesus taught we need to “Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” This is when the real work begins. It is the responsibility primarily of the teachers in a local congregation to teach Christians to observe all the commands Jesus has given. Sometimes it appears we understand the first part of the Great Commission, but do not realize there is more to it. Baptism is not the end of our work, but it is only the beginning.

Another reason we need preachers and teachers is to help Christians mature, to grow and to study to understand the word of God so they can in turn help other Christians mature and grow. Often we baptize many people in a congregation, and we rejoice with each baptism, but after a short time, how many are still faithful to the Lord?

Something is wrong Brethren. In my ministry, I personally have baptized approximately 35 people, not to mention those I was involved in studying with, but others baptized. Most of them are out of duty. Most of whom over the years I have lost contact with and have no idea how to get in touch with them. They are most likely lost.

Why? Part of the fault was my inexperience in understanding how to help others to mature as Christians over the years, and part of the fault lies with brethren striving against each other, rather than striving together, and there are probably many other reasons. However, all we can do is learn from our mistakes. Let us repent and bring forth “works that show our change of life.” We need to be ready to “Teach the word, in season and out of season” Let us strive to teach the word of God together and pray together and work together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

We also want to notice our responsibility, both individually and collectively as a congregation of believers and as the Church of Christ does not end after 10 or 20 years. Brethren, preachers and teachers, we have a responsibility to be teaching about Jesus and his reason for coming to this world until the time comes for him to return in the air. We need to realize we are in this for the long haul. We need to learn to run and not grow weary, lest when Jesus returns, he find us resting on our laurels. He may find us out of duty.

Acts 8:35-36 "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?"

We see the purpose for teaching is to reveal Jesus. Brethren, we need to learn to start where people are at and learn to preach Jesus unto them. I imagine if Phillip were alive today and the Ethiopian Eunuch said to him, I am reading from Isaiah the prophet, could you help me to understand what I am reading, if he were like many of us, he would have said, “That is the Old Testament, we will have to wait till you get to the New Testament, then I can help." The point is we need to realize Jesus came to seek and save the sinner. If we are too busy to preach to sinners, then brethren, who do we preach to and who do we baptize?

We want to notice preaching Jesus includes teaching about everything Jesus taught and commanded, from baptism to dying, from the new birth to how to be ready to face God on the Day of Judgment. Teaching is a serious responsibility, one we need to take seriously. Either we take it serious here or the consequences will be serious on the final day.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

The main reason for preaching and teaching is to reveal the gospel plan of salvation. If a person claims to be an evangelist, a preacher or a teacher of the gospel and they do not reveal the full plan of salvation, they have either fooled themselves or they know they are liars. In order for someone to be a true teacher, they must study the Holy Scriptures to come to a full understanding of the gospel plan of salvation, otherwise they are not wise, they do not understand the things of God. They have never allowed God to speak to them through the Holy Scriptures when they study to prove what they already believe, rather than studying to learn what God actually wants.

Another reason for preaching is to reveal the complete doctrine of Jesus. Jesus told the apostles in the Great Commission, “…Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” To do the work of the Lord, one must be willing at times to do the unpopular thing and stand for the truth.

Sometimes preaching is necessary to reprove those who have not been living right. A teacher of the gospel must be careful and differentiate between reproving those who have sinned and reproving those who do not live up to their expectations. Preaching is sometimes necessary to correct sin in the congregation and in the lives of individual Christians. A teacher MUST be tolerant in matters of opinion and intolerant in matters of sin. It is essential the teacher also knows the difference.

Another purpose for preaching is to instruct the congregation in the ways of righteousness. This was clearly stated in the Great Commission. Too many times when someone has been studied with and converted, after they have been baptized, they are expected to survive on their own. The main reason and purpose of preaching after one has been baptized is to provide spiritual food which will help encourage Christians to mature and to grow. After all, most preaching and teaching on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and at mid-week services is to baptized believers.

1 Corinthians 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

The purpose of all teaching and preaching whether to unbelievers or to believers is to get people to heaven. God uses us and the preaching of the gospel to begat spiritual sons and daughters. If our preaching is not fulfilling that need, then we need to re-examine our priorities. For example, one time, years ago, I attended services at a congregation on Sunday morning only to hear a speech about why it was so important for Christians to vote. Even then the speaker did not use a single verse to show what he was trying to teach. When the speaker was done, who had been fed spiritually? The Church is not a political entity. How liberal or conservative one is politically has nothing to do with one’s salvation or growth as a Christian.

HOW WE ARE TO PREACH?
WHAT ARE THE BIBLICAL GUIDELINES FOR PREACHING?
Acts 20:7 "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."

The Bible clearly teaches preaching is to be part of the worship service, especially on the first day of the week, on the service that normally now falls on Sunday morning. To be scriptural and pleasing to God preaching MUST be done to an undivided assembly, all disciples are to be gathered together to sing, pray, partake of the communion, to give of their means and to be involved in the teaching of the gospel. One other comment on a pet peeve of mine, while I do not believe it serves the best interest of the congregation for a preacher or a teacher to continue speaking long after he has lost the attention of the audience, lately it seems a preacher is judged good or bad based solely on how short his sermon is. I believe while it is one of the responsibilities of a teacher to have studied and prepared his lesson with the idea in mind to keep the attention of the audience, the audience also has a responsibility to listen and pay attention in order to be edified.

1 Corinthians 14:29-33 "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."

Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, had to chastise and correct them, because they were not following the doctrine as it had been delivered unto them. Apparently they were allowing more than one man to speak or to teach at the same time. Paul starts off by reminding them the number of men who should teach in the worship service was two or three and then only if they were speaking one at a time. Additionally he reminds them it was the responsibility of the teacher to teach in such a way the audience could understand and they could receive comfort from the word of God. Not only is it the responsibility of the teacher to edify the congregation, but they have a responsibility to teach in such a way as to bring peace and harmony in the congregation.

The pulpit stand is not the place to bicker and fight over petty things. If I think I have learned a truth from God’s word that is new or if I have a disagreement with another teacher, as a teacher of the gospel, I have a responsibility to go privately to the other teachers and study the matter and reach an agreement privately before teaching it publicly. Think of all of the troubles that would have been avoided in the past, if this had been followed.

1 Corinthians 14:34 "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law."

We see to be a preacher or a teacher or even to hold an office in the Church one must be a baptized, believing faithful man. No where does the Bible teach this is because the woman is not as bright as a man or not as good as a man. Rather it is the will of God as revealed through the Holy Spirit. God does not permit women to teach or to speak in the public worship service of the Church, instead they are to be under obedience. I do not claim to understand all the reasons for this or any other command of God. It should be sufficient the word of God commands it.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."

Paul in writing to Timothy repeats the command about women learning in silence and being under subjection. Paul, again very clearly states a woman is not to hold an office in church, or to even speak, the difference being Paul gives two reasons God wants this, first Adam was created before Eve and the Eve was deceived when she partook of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but the man knew what he was doing was wrong. These are the only reasons given. I do not claim to understand how these reasons even apply, but these are the reasons given through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God said it, and that is enough for a child of God.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PREACHER?
2 Timothy 2:15-16 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."

One of the first responsibilities of a Christian teacher is to study to make sure he understands what he is teaching. This should be of primary importance, starting from the first lesson he ever attempts. It is also the responsibility of the leadership of the congregation to make sure this takes place. If the leadership of a congregation fulfilled their responsibility in regard to training the young men to study and to be prepared before they become regular teachers in the congregation, a lot of problems and false doctrines that have sprang up, would have been handled long before they became big problems.

So, we see it is the responsibility of the teacher and leadership of the congregation to make sure what is being taught is first scriptural, secondly it is being taught in such a way as to be understandable to everyone. I believe, this means preachers and teachers should as much as possible avoid speculations and opinions, because the opinions of men are ungodly and once they are allowed and tolerated in a congregation, they will bring in much more ungodliness, heresies, and problems within the congregation.

Proverbs 26:20-21 "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife."

The wise man, Solomon, uses a law of nature to teach a spiritual truth. He says, “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” How true this is. According to Solomon, every congregation that has strife and wishes to put an end to the strife, in order to solve their problem first needs to silence those who are stroking the fire through tale bearing. This also means teachers within the congregation must use extreme caution that they do not either intentionally or accidentally become guilty of the sin of tale bearing.

1 Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

The Apostle Peter gives a number of important guidelines to follow if a preacher or teacher of the gospel wants to be pleasing to God. First and foremost, they must make sure the things they teach are the oracles or commands of God. I would hate to stand before God in the Day of Judgment and hear the proclamation, “Depart from me, I never authorized the things you taught.

It is essential a teacher humble themselves and recognize the fact he is just a tool being used by God. God is owed all of the glory and honor, the teacher is owed none, just as a carpenter who uses a hammer to build a beautiful house, the carpenter is the one who possess the talent, not the hammer. It is very important the teacher avoid all appearances of bragging about what a good speaker they are or how good their lesson is.

Every teacher and preacher must realize also the fact that while God has given them the speaking ability they possess, God still expects us to use our talent or ability in order first of all; glory and honor will be given unto Him. This is so His word will not return unto Him void, but rather we can be used as a tool to lead others unto Him.

2 Timothy 4:2-5 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

It is the responsibility of the teacher or preacher to be ready to preach the word whenever the opportunity arises. This means the teacher needs to be well-versed in a wide variety of subjects and while some of us do not have great memories, we can still use a concordance or write a sermon or a study and save it for later. It is still the responsibility of these offices and men to be able to defend the truth and to be able to give answers to every one who asks a reasonable intelligent question.

The preacher may have to reprove at times, rebuke at times, and exhort at times and to comfort at other times, which means he must take his responsibility very seriously. Sometimes the audience may not want to hear the truth, it may not be popular, but he must still teach and be ready to give an answer. This is how the preacher does the work of an evangelist and makes full proof of his ministry.

2 Timothy 2:14 "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers."

The preacher has a responsibility to bring the words of God to the remembrance of the audience and then to remind them of their responsibility in spreading of the gospel. The preacher also has a responsibility to not be nit picking about words which serve no purpose and to make sure the listeners know they have the same responsibility. While I personally think in general, the attitudes of the members of the Church has improved in this manner, I have in the past seen congregations split up over the striving of words not for the profit but for the subverting of the hearer.

1 Corinthians 14:32-33 "And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."

Another reason why it is so important for teachers and preachers to study and be prepared, is because from my experience if a teacher has not studied and they get up and teach expecting to be delivered a message from God or the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit must have been asleep, because I have never heard someone get up and not be prepared that it did not show in their delivery.

The phrase “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” means the preacher always has control of what he says and is always responsible for what he says. The offices of the Church are all about responsibility and the same thing is true of the offices of the evangelist and the teacher. They have a responsibility to study so they preach the truth and they do not use the pulpit stand to bring strife and confusion to the congregation. Thus if one teacher comes to an understanding of a subject that is different than another teacher’s understand, the pulpit stand is not the place to argue it out, the teachers need to study the subject privately and reach an understanding of the truth.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AUDIENCE?
Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

We can see very clearly from this verse the opinion of God is not the opinion of most people today, especially in the religious world. Today, so many people expect the preacher to entertain them. Over the course of your life, how many times have you heard someone complain at the end of a sermon, “Well, I never got anything out of the services!!” God does not put all of the responsibility on the preacher. The listener has a responsibility to listen with an open mind and then to go study for themselves in order to make sure the things taught by the preacher are true. Then lastly they have the responsibility to apply the things they have learned to their lives.

Acts 20:7-9 "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead."

The audience has a responsibility to listen and to pay attention, no matter how long the sermon is. As I had mentioned early, it is not the preacher’s responsibility to entertain the audience, but to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is part of the responsibility of the audience to pay attention, even though the speaker may be a boring, long-winded speaker. Therefore at times, perhaps the listeners need to take notes or find some means of helping them to keep their mind centered upon the sermon.

Hebrews 5:12-14 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Even though the preacher has a responsibility to study and to learn to teach in a way to edify the congregation, the audience also has a responsibility to listen, to study themselves, to apply what they learn to their lives and to grow spiritually. According to the writer of the Hebrew letter, the audience has a responsibility to grow to the point they can eat strong meat spiritually. This means one of the responsibilities of the audience is to become skillful in the word of righteousness. Every Christian has a responsibility to grow to the point where they can become teachers, in the case of men either publicly or privately and in the case of women privately.

1 Corinthians 14:20-22 "Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe."

Paul, in I Corinthians, teaches some important facts in regard to the listeners: First-The listener has the responsibility to be a mature audience and listen objectively; Second-The listener has a responsibility to apply the teachings to themselves; Third-The listener has a responsibility to not become angry when the lesson applies to them, but to gain wisdom. These are the responsibility of being men versus being children.

1 Corinthians 14:25 "And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth."

We see the listener has a responsibility to apply the lesson to their own lives in a mature fashion. This means if the preacher accidentally steps on your toes by his preaching, first of all, you need to realize he probably was not thinking of you when getting the lesson together and instead you should thank him and God for revealing something you needed to know

1 Corinthians 14:37 "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."

The listener has the responsibility to listen with an open mind, then to study for themselves and after studying for themselves, to acknowledge the things taught from the Bible are from God and if it applies to them, then they need to add it to their lives.

Romans 10:15 "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

We see here the listener has a responsibility to respect the preacher, to pay attention to the preacher, to learn from the preacher, and in turn to support the gospel through giving of their means.

How the World has changed Preaching
The religious world has changed preaching by making it into entertainment as they have everything else given by God. They have done this in a variety of ways. One of these is the preacher is expected to teach only nice feel good lessons. Many of the religious organizations have taken their guidance from the political scene rather than from God. Many religious organizations take polls to see what the community wants from their church and that is what they are given. Preachers preach in singsong voices for entertainment and charismatic effect rather than for a thus saith the Lord.

Additionally instead of preaching the word, many churches have started enacting plays and/or having everything from weightlifting champions lift weights or break boards while they talk and think they are doing a service for God rather than take the time to teach the truth from the word of God. Entertainment has replaced the almighty creator of the universe as God in the religious world. If you watch any television or radio program from the religious world, you will see nothing like the beautiful simplicity the Bible shows of simply preaching the word of God, which means at times teaching the simple doctrine of God’s word, at times having to reprove sin, at other times having to teach on how to correct sin and at times simply instructing the listeners in the commands of Jesus. Let us make sure and always stick to the simple teaching of the gospel as shown in the Holy Scriptures.

Chapter Summary
Blessings that come if all do their part properly in the preaching service:

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Becoming A Mature Christian

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