BEING AN EFFECTIVE PREACHER
                                              II TIMOTHY 4:1-5

INTRODUCTION

Every pulpit needs an effective preacher an effective preacher is a very scarce and rare
commodity in the Church today. .An effective preacher is like one begger telling another
where to find bread.  Jesus Christ our Lord went from the carpenter's shop to preaching;
Today some brethren go from preaching to a carpenter's shop.  Some preachers just
give up and cease preaching the gospel.

How many preachers are criticized for not answering the questions people are asking,
when in reality the people are not asking the questions that God would have them ask!

The effective preacher will crack the shell from God's word and deliver the kernal of knowledge
to the hearer.  Preaching needs to grip the heart, stab the conscience of the hearer and bring
them to where they spiritually stand before God.

Power preaching stabs and pierces the heart of man.

Acts 2:37

Before people can be blessed with the gospel they must bleed and let the sword of
God's word cut away the sinfulness that controls ones life.

Heb. 4:12

Preaching that costs nopthing will accomplish nothing.  The Lord always wanted one
to count the cost and make the committment of life to his cause and kingdom.

A preacher must know the Lord of whom he preaches.  The way we can tell people of the
"rock of ages", is by "turning the pages" of the word of God.  An effective preacher
saturates himself in the word of God.
 

II Tim. 2:15

To free the soul in sins bondage we must  let the gospel  into the ears of the hearers.

Jhn. 8:32
 

An effective preacher will stand for the truth of God's word and oppose error, publically and privately.

Phil. 1:17

The most effective preachers I have ever known were not afraid to stand and defend the
gospel against denominationalism, hobbies and any sort of error.  A faithful preascher
will preach to please God not man.

Gal. 1:10

The effective preacher will be an example of the faith he proclaims.

Gal. 2:20

The measuring standard for an effective preacher is how much he gives of his time, talent
and treasure in the service of the master.  The effective preacher will preach for the lord
and not for a paycheck.  God examines the motives of the preacher and so must we all.
A congregation in many ways will never rise above the example set in the preacher's life.

How evangelistic a preacher is can be how evangelistic the church is.
How generous in giving to the collection by the preacher can influence the congregation.
How prayerful a preacher is can set a tone for a praying church.
The way a preacher works in harmony and unity can determine how united a congregation will be.
The respect for an eldership from a preacher influences the respect the congrgation has for her leaders.
 

                                        THE POWER OF EFFECTIVE PREACHING
 

The most powerful force on earth is the power of the gospel over the soul.  Effective gospel
preaching when obeyed will bring a spiritually dead sinner to life.  The power of the gospel
preached can save a marriage.  The power of the gospel can make parents and children
better/  The power of the preached word can and must not be underestimated.
 

Rom. 1:16

Jude 20

The powerful effective preached word brings great joy to heaven and congregations.

Luke 15:

Acts 8
 

The effective preached word when obeyed is a joy that money can't match.  The
joy of salvation is the greatest of all thrills and experiences this life holds.  The joy
of the Christian cannot be hidden.

Psalms 51:10
 
 

THE ENEMY TO EFFECTIVE PREACHING

Satan is opposed to the gospel being preached faithfully and effectively.
The devil is devious in his designs to supplant and overturn the preaching of the gospel.

we must be aware of his devices!

Eph. 6:10

Realize the devil wants compromise and friendship at the expense of the gospel.

James 4:4

The devil has a desire to lull us into sleep and lukewarmness when we are not guarding
our faith.  He is intent on opposing the preacher and his work.
 

I Peter 5:8

The Devil makes us feel that we cannot evangelize nor ake a difference in people
lives and we become complacent and ashamed of the gospel.

Rom. 1:16
 

The Gospel must be preached for souls to be saved no matter what the devil tries
to make us believe.  Some want to stop preaching and give dramatic plays, some
want philosophy and comedic witt rather than the gospel that saves.  Unfortunately
many preachers cease to become effective for the Lord when they begin to
preach to tickle ears and water down the gospel.
 
 

EFFECTIVE PREACHING IS A MATTER OF ETHICS
 

I must be ethical and true to the Lord to be effective in the pulpit.  To appease our religious
friends do we tone down the truth so we can be their friend.  Are we more concerned
with developing friendship or saving the soul?

Does the pulpit radiate the sins of society or is it silent in opposing sin like gambling, social
drinking, pre-maritial sex, homosexuality, and the other evils of our nation.  Sometimes
pulpit are as silent as a tomb on these matters.
 

The church is distict and unique and not a denomination and this must be proclaimed.
 

Matt. 16:18

Acts 2:47

Eph. 1:22-23

I Cor. 12:13

Many sermons preached in our pulpits can be delivered in the aisles of the
athiest or the dens of the denominations.

Sermons served without conviction will never be effective.
 

Our duties as a preacher are too challenge the mind of man.

Woo the heart from evil to rightousness.

Probe the conscience.

Care for the soul and be plain and clear on man's options.  A heaven to gain and a hell to shun!

The effective preacher will have a newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other blending
the timely with the timeless.

Effective preachers don't have time to wory about being replaced.  The fresh inventive concerned
mind of a thinking preachewr is all the security he needs.

Don't be afraid of brethren who scrutinize, criticize and ostracize.  Sometimes criticism is bette
for us than compliments.

The effective preacher will not give up, let up or shut up but will preach until he is taken up
to glory when this life is no more.