A Easter Pep Talk For Gospel PreachersThis Easter

The pulpit at Hodges Chapel of Beeson Divinity and the world's best D.Min program.  I am a grateful alumni.  

Preacher you have a mission to complete this Sunday.

This is Easter week.

This is what I as a preacher, and also a member of a congregation, suggest to help preachers to think about to get it going.

1.) Preachers Do Not Be Smirky Or Rude To People Who Need The Gospel.

You know the C&E people( Chrismas and Easter only)

Preacher do not say Merry Christmas and Happy Easter or refer in a snarky way to people who need to hear the gospel.

Many mothers, fathers and friends have prayed fervently that

they could get who they can in the family and in their friendships to hear the gospel.

Jesus told Peter to "feed my sheep."

If you feed the sheep they will return.

Peopel need the spiritual Word to eat.

Preach the gospel!

2.) Do Not Abandon Your Pulpit For Any Reason - PREACH THE GOSPEL!

Once on Easter I was not preaching or had a ministry position.

While  on the road I attended six church services including a main Easter morning service.

No Word or gospel message.

Music dominated.

I was driving from church to church that Holy Week and it was like the day of young Samuel.

1 Samuel 3:1 (NASB) "... And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent."

When I go to recitals, schools, businesses or art performances I have never had the event stopped and someone say "And now the gospel will be preached and the mystery of the atoning salvation of Jesus Christ will be delivered to convert your soul and change your eternal destiny."

This is our time and our mission.

This Sunday preach the gospel.

3.) God Had One Son And He Made Him A Preacher.

I heard R.C. Sproul say that once.

God places high value on the preached Word.

You should too.

In the gospels carpenter tools were long ago put away.

Jesus had a three year itinerant preaching ministry that changed the world.

I once started a lively discussion in seminary pointing out that Jesus was a preacher.

Gasps and disproving responses followed this perceived slight of our Lord by who? Prospective ministers.

This shows you what my seminary really thought of gospel preaching.

As a matter of fact Jesus was not only a gospel preacher He was a expository (basing the gospel message on the Scripture read) preacher.

Matthew 4:14-17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

"14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

15 “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,

BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—

16 “THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,

AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,

UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

4.) Remember God Ordained And Established Preaching To Share The Gospel To Save This Lost World.

The LORD believes in the power of preaching - you do it.

1 Corinthians 1:21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

"21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."

5.) Remember Saint Francis Was A Fireball Gospel Preacher.

Saint Francis never said the silly statement attributed to him.

"Preach the gospel always, when necessary use words."

People who say that hate or do not understand gospel preaching.

Lives depend on the preached Word.

Why would he not say such a stupid statement?

Francis believed Holy Scripture and PREACHED THE GOSPEL!

Check this link to Christianity Today's Mark Galli's article putting that lie to rest.

"Speak the Gospel, Use deeds when necessary."

Mark Galli | posted 5/21/2009

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/mayweb-only/120-42.0.html

Preacher, yes you can sing songs on Easter, art work can be displayed by the kiddies, and yes you can do a lot of special things this Sunday.

Do not forget to make the main thing the main thing.

6)Make the Gospel clear

Jesus through His perfect life, death, burial and resurrection will pardon sins, make peace with God and all who repent and confess Him as Lord will be saved and be welcomed into the kingdom.

Preacher, you cannot forget and not verbally explain humanity's sin, the need for a Savior, Jesus Christ and His perfect life lived, His sacrificial death as He took the wrath of God on the cross intended for sinners, He was the perfect sinless Lamb of God sacrificed for sinners like me, that we are commanded to repent and turn from our sins and to Christ for forgiveness of sins, peace with God, salvation for the unworthy like us, and eternal life and citizenship in Heaven for those who believe.

Preacher you can do it.

This Sunday smile, say hello to all, walk to the pulpit, turn your back on the fluff and many non-essentials and as Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said take your Biblical text and "make a beeline to the cross."

1 Corinthians 1:17 (NASB)

"17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void."