The Problems of Preachers
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon Outlines Tags: Sermons on PreachersDate written: March 25th, 2006
Scripture ref: 2 Corinthians 4:5-7
SUBJECT: Preaching, Problems
TITLE: The Problems of Preachers
PROPOSITION: To look at preachers and some of their problems and understand how the Bible distinguishes between the preacher and the message he preaches.
OBJECTIVE: That members place their faith and trust in God and His word and not in any man.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: 2 Corinthians 4:5-7
2. About the Text:
1) In the book of 2 Corinthians Paul defends himself against some who have questioned his apostleship.
2) This leads to a discussion in chapter four of what it meant for him to be a minister of the gospel.
3) He says that we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus.
4) He also says that preachers are merely servants of Christ.
5) He then points out that it is the gospel of Christ that is glorious.
6) This gospel we have as a treasure in an earthen vessel.
7) The earthen vessel is the preacher/minister of the gospel.
8) Why? So that the excellency and power may be of God and not of the preacher, the vessel.
3. Comment about recent news events related to the Winkler family.
1) If you have not heard…
2) These events are tragic and this family needs our prayers.
3) Because of this situation, I thought it would be appropriate to say a few words about the problems of preachers.
4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: When we consider the problems of preachers, let us consider…
I. Preachers are people
1. Preacher’s aren’t “special” people.
1) Society has this idea that a preacher is a super-Christian.
2) This is largely due to the distinction that most make between “clergy” and “laity.”
3) The Bible nowhere teaches that concept or distinction.
4) The Bible teaches that all Christians, regardless of their role, are equals before God.
5) 1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
2. Just because a man becomes a preacher doesn’t mean he stops being a man.
1) Preachers are susceptible to the same fleshly desires as anyone else.
2) 2 Corinthians 11:29 “Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?”
3) Preachers eat, sleep, drink, watch TV, listen to the radio, go to the bathroom, and many other “normal” things.
4) Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:4 “Have we not power to eat and to drink?”
5) Preachers have the same feelings as everyone else: happiness, sadness, fear, worry, courage, tranquility, turmoil, etc.
6) They have hopes, desires, dreams, aspirations.
7) Some preachers also have secular work.
8) Paul was a tentmaker according to Acts 18:3.
9) Preacher’s need prayers.
10) 1 Thessalonians 5:25 “Brethren, pray for us.”
3. Preachers get married and have families.
1) Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:5 “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”
2) Preachers’ wives aren’t any different than anyone else’s wife.
3) They eat, sleep, and do domestic work; sometimes work outside the home.
4) Preacher’s children often times don’t even know that they are a “preacher’s kid” though they are stereotyped that way often.
5) Their children eat, sleep, play, go to school, learn, study, and etc.
6) Preachers’ families aren’t really any different from other people’s families.
4. Consider the example of Peter.
1) Matthew 8:4 says he had a mother-in-law; that means he was married. (See also 1 Cor. 9:5).
2) Peter had children; we know this because he was an elder according to 1 Peter 5:1 and elders are required to have children (1 Timothy 3:4-5, Titus 1:6).
3) Peter was a fisherman (John 21:3).
II. Preachers, as people, have problems
1. There is an expectation in society for preachers not to have problems.
1) For that reason, many preachers live in glass houses.
2) Many think that because of these expectations they have to be flawless.
3) This puts unwarranted pressure on the preacher and on his family.
4) 2 Corinthians 12:4 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ