There are several young preachers that I pray for and try to encourage regularly. For today I thought I’d pass this along for contemplation by more than just the P.I.T guys (Preachers In Training). CLICK HERE for “Young Preachers (Part 1)”
This quote is from a book I’m reading, “Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea For Preaching.” Dr. Al Mohler writes the following in regard to the proclamation of The Word (From the Kindle edition):
Furthermore, this line of work has a nasty way of getting you into trouble. It seems that the more faithful one is in preaching, the more trouble one encounters. Why? You did not come up with the Word. This is not your opinion. It is not something you are saying in order to offend people. You are simply preaching it. After all, that is your assignment. So you preach the truth, and the next thing you know you are on the front page of the papers. You are the subject of gossip for the deacons and their wives; even the youth group is up in arms over what you said. Conflict and controversy are always hard, and they tend to be correlated to faithfulness in preaching. The harder you work at it, the greater the risk.
One of the things I press upon younger men going into the ministry (Especially those who will preach) is this… “You have been called to a life of suffering. You have been called by God to endure hardship and difficulty. You signed up for it. Therefore do not be surprised when you are maligned… misunderstood… given a rough time… and at times persecuted. It WILL happen… and it is God’s will that it happens.” In closing consider the words of Paul from 2 Timothy 1…
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling… 11 … I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.