Comments on: Preacher-Onlys Aren't Good Preachers http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Monday News & Links (Nov 30) « The Biz Insider News Bulletin http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/#comment-2469 Monday News & Links (Nov 30) « The Biz Insider News Bulletin Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:10:53 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=704#comment-2469 [...] Tim Keller on “Preacher-Onlys” [...] [...] Tim Keller on “Preacher-Onlys” [...]

]]> By: Brance http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/#comment-845 Brance Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:37:44 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=704#comment-845 Ryan - "I want to plant churches and preach badly." Why would you want to do these things "badly"? Do them well brother! :-) I would advise spending time with people. Get to know them and their struggles. Be honest about your own struggles, don't try to be superchristian. Think deeply about how the Gospel should be applied to real life problems. Fill your mind with the gospel, which will give rise to joy, which will overflow as love for others, and pray. Ask God to fill your heart with love for his people. If your heart is full of love for people, you're passion for Scripture, for study, for theology...will spill over into passion to see that theology at work in people's lives, to give them joy in the Lord. Ryan - "I want to plant churches and preach badly."

Why would you want to do these things "badly"? Do them well brother! :-)

I would advise spending time with people. Get to know them and their struggles. Be honest about your own struggles, don't try to be superchristian. Think deeply about how the Gospel should be applied to real life problems. Fill your mind with the gospel, which will give rise to joy, which will overflow as love for others, and pray. Ask God to fill your heart with love for his people. If your heart is full of love for people, you're passion for Scripture, for study, for theology...will spill over into passion to see that theology at work in people's lives, to give them joy in the Lord.

]]> By: Ryan http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/#comment-813 Ryan Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:51:21 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=704#comment-813 I work at a church. It's a new church - almost a year and half old. I lead worship and I administrate small groups/adult education. I'm 24, married with a one year old son. I want to plant churches and preach badly. I'm doing the former, but not the latter and I'm terribly anxious to go for it. This post was a tremendous relief and encouragement to me. It was like breathing fresh air after being smothered with blankets, losing oxygen and the temperature growing more uncomfortable with every breath taken. Other than the practical go out and do the work advice given so well here, Tim, would you (or anyone else) advise weekly practices or books that would inform the young and young at heart regarding how to do the non-preaching activities well and with the same fervor as some of us do sermon preparation? I work at a church. It's a new church - almost a year and half old. I lead worship and I administrate small groups/adult education. I'm 24, married with a one year old son. I want to plant churches and preach badly. I'm doing the former, but not the latter and I'm terribly anxious to go for it.

This post was a tremendous relief and encouragement to me. It was like breathing fresh air after being smothered with blankets, losing oxygen and the temperature growing more uncomfortable with every breath taken.

Other than the practical go out and do the work advice given so well here, Tim, would you (or anyone else) advise weekly practices or books that would inform the young and young at heart regarding how to do the non-preaching activities well and with the same fervor as some of us do sermon preparation?

]]> By: Eric http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/#comment-796 Eric Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:57:23 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=704#comment-796 Exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you, Tim! Exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you, Tim!

]]> By: Show and Tell for the Week of 10/18/09 | thejakers http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/#comment-467 Show and Tell for the Week of 10/18/09 | thejakers Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:10:41 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=704#comment-467 [...] Keller reminds us that being a good preacher also means being a good [...] [...] Keller reminds us that being a good preacher also means being a good [...]

]]> By: Recommended Resource – Tim Keller on Preaching « Project 2 Pillars http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/#comment-407 Recommended Resource – Tim Keller on Preaching « Project 2 Pillars Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:06:46 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=704#comment-407 [...] from every text.  Keller recently wrote a piece on preaching on The Gospel Coalition Blog titled Preachers-Only Aren’t Good Preachers.  Below is a quote from the [...] [...] from every text.  Keller recently wrote a piece on preaching on The Gospel Coalition Blog titled Preachers-Only Aren’t Good Preachers.  Below is a quote from the [...]

]]> By: Albert Kooy http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/#comment-328 Albert Kooy Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:10:08 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=704#comment-328 What is at the heart of the desire to be a preacher more than a pastor? It seems to me that Tim Keller's comments are exposing the besetting sin of the ministry, pride. Being the preacher upfront brings with it accolades and further speaking requests, which can so easily feed our pride. Being the pastor in the midst of the hurting is messy, difficult, and humbling. I turn to John the Baptist's words in response to those who brought to John's attention that "everyone is going to him (Jesus)". He said, "He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30. More of Him, less of me. What is at the heart of the desire to be a preacher more than a pastor? It seems to me that Tim Keller's comments are exposing the besetting sin of the ministry, pride. Being the preacher upfront brings with it accolades and further speaking requests, which can so easily feed our pride. Being the pastor in the midst of the hurting is messy, difficult, and humbling. I turn to John the Baptist's words in response to those who brought to John's attention that "everyone is going to him (Jesus)". He said, "He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30. More of Him, less of me.

]]> By: Joel Wood http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/#comment-323 Joel Wood Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:16:28 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=704#comment-323 Joel, That time is already here. Take a few moments to peruse the typical "evangelical" church website. In fact, it is the modern pastor's dream to stock his office wing with specialty "pastors." Thank you, Pastor Keller, for this point. In my recent change in posts in the kingdom, I've been renewed in my understanding that God calls us to be undershepherds, not cowboys. We must live with, smell like, feed, nurse, and tend the sheep with selfless vigor... not drive them along sending our specialized dogs to nip their heals into directional submission. Blessings. Joel,

That time is already here. Take a few moments to peruse the typical "evangelical" church website. In fact, it is the modern pastor's dream to stock his office wing with specialty "pastors."

Thank you, Pastor Keller, for this point. In my recent change in posts in the kingdom, I've been renewed in my understanding that God calls us to be undershepherds, not cowboys. We must live with, smell like, feed, nurse, and tend the sheep with selfless vigor... not drive them along sending our specialized dogs to nip their heals into directional submission.

Blessings.

]]> By: Joel A Montes http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/#comment-314 Joel A Montes Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:24:55 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=704#comment-314 Perhaps you are using the "Preachers-only" analogy to make a point of the importance of pastoral care and leadership development in pastoral profession. However, I believe the assertion that there exists either "preachers-only" or preachers and "something else" is a false dichotomy, in general. When has it ever been the case in Church History when there have been only "Preachers"? For certain, it's not Biblical. Though Paul said in I Cor.2:2, "I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified", the Book of Acts informs us of his exhaustive work in pastoral care and leadership. Perhaps its a new phenomenon coming our way, pastoral preachers only on the one hand and a sleigh of other "specialized" pastors and leaders on the other. I wouldn't be surprised. Since many American Churches have assumed market strategies and new cultural paradigms as their god (Acts 2:47, And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved), she has fallen off the deep end in making distinctions about herself where logically or biblically it doesn't exist- false dichotomies. It was as if I was reading a Proverbs 31 list of the perfect wife, except it's a list of the perfect Pastor. One capable of doing everything and anything, without the aid of decades of specialized degrees and training, or better yet, the help and assistance of a professional staff. So I am guilty! Guilty of trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to change the lives of both sinner and saint by simply "heralding" God's Word, the "foolishness of preaching". And I am guilty of not having all the skills necessary to be all the other things the Church in America expects me to be with no Scriptural foundation to support these demands. God bless you brother. Perhaps you are using the "Preachers-only" analogy to make a point of the importance of pastoral care and leadership development in pastoral profession. However, I believe the assertion that there exists either "preachers-only" or preachers and "something else" is a false dichotomy, in general. When has it ever been the case in Church History when there have been only "Preachers"? For certain, it's not Biblical. Though Paul said in I Cor.2:2, "I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified", the Book of Acts informs us of his exhaustive work in pastoral care and leadership. Perhaps its a new phenomenon coming our way, pastoral preachers only on the one hand and a sleigh of other "specialized" pastors and leaders on the other. I wouldn't be surprised. Since many American Churches have assumed market strategies and new cultural paradigms as their god (Acts 2:47, And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved), she has fallen off the deep end in making distinctions about herself where logically or biblically it doesn't exist- false dichotomies. It was as if I was reading a Proverbs 31 list of the perfect wife, except it's a list of the perfect Pastor. One capable of doing everything and anything, without the aid of decades of specialized degrees and training, or better yet, the help and assistance of a professional staff. So I am guilty! Guilty of trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to change the lives of both sinner and saint by simply "heralding" God's Word, the "foolishness of preaching". And I am guilty of not having all the skills necessary to be all the other things the Church in America expects me to be with no Scriptural foundation to support these demands. God bless you brother.

]]> By: Mike Pohlman http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2009/10/19/preacher-onlys-arent-good-preachers/#comment-308 Mike Pohlman Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:56:54 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=704#comment-308 Thank you, Dan, for participating in the conversation at The Gospel Coalition blog. Please do your best to keep your comments on a particular blog post focused on the topic of the blog post itself. Thanks, Mike Pohlman Executive Editor, The Gospel Coalition Thank you, Dan, for participating in the conversation at The Gospel Coalition blog. Please do your best to keep your comments on a particular blog post focused on the topic of the blog post itself.

Thanks,
Mike Pohlman
Executive Editor, The Gospel Coalition

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