A little while ago, I jotted down a few of my thoughts about preaching the Gospel as a young preacher. You can find pt. 1 of this series here. I began as a young preacher, in my early twenties, and have been preaching for over 14 years now. I have had my share of ups and downs, which have led to me learning many lessons to help me as I go forward and to share with others. If you are a young person who believes you are called to preach the Gospel, please see my thoughts below.
Preaching the Gospel requires great responsibility
In the same spirit that JESUS said, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required…” (Luke 12:48) so is the responsibility of preaching the gospel.
James warns, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness (James 3:1). This is not to scare you away, but rather an opportunity for you to “count the cost” as JESUS stated in Luke 14:25-33.
Preaching the Gospel requires study
2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
We have a responsibility to “rightly handle” the word of truth. That will require study. It is not wrapped up in a feeling or what we think. The word preach means “to proclaim.” So as a preacher you are proclaiming what GOD has said and is saying—therefore we must study to know what HE has said and is saying.
Study can happen in various ways, including, reading, meditating, fellowship, and prayer.
