Kirk Brothers, President, Heritage Christian University in Florence, AL. HCU.edu

TJI: Let’s start by talking about what encouraged you to preach:

Doug B: For me, it was watching the godly examples of men, including my father, who loved to preach the Word more than anything else. I also gained great encouragement from the feedback that Christian leaders gave me as I learned more about preaching through internships and preaching camps as well.

Justin R: Doug, I had much the same experience. My father and grandfather were preachers, so I was sort of “born” into it. While I never felt the pressure to preach, my first invitation came just one week after my baptism. Through Western Kentucky Youth Camp and our (mostly older) congregation, I received a lot of encouragement to become a minister.

BJC: Two things stand out: First I too had the example of a father (T.J. Clarke), who was so passionate when he preached. His thirst for knowledge of God’s Word, and his genuine conviction in living it, and preaching it, fired me up to want to do the same! But I’d have to add that the encouraging brothers and sisters who went out of their way to encourage me as a young preacher, after I had preached some of my first sermons! Their words infused me with confidence that I could do it!

Denny P: BJ, I’d have to agree, encouragement from the leaders of the church, encouragement from my mother, and encouragement from the youth minister.

Steve L: I was encouraged by other preachers’ support of my decision to go to school.

Brian K: Knowing that I knew God exists and the Bible is His inspired word; that people are lost in sin; that the Bible contains the way of forgiveness; and that people must hear and obey God’s word for forgiveness and a better life (now and eternally).

Kirk B: Three main contributors encouraged me to preach. One was my parents, Joe and Dorothy Brothers. Mom and Dad believed in and practiced evangelism. My dad started taking me on Bible studies when I was young, and they both encouraged me to be involved in the church. The second influence would be training. Our congregation in Lebanon Junction, KY had a class on leading in worship and putting devotionals together. That gave me more confidence that I could do it. I later attended the Future Preachers Training Camp in Nashville, TN and the Future Church Leaders Workshop in Henderson, TN. I made the decision to preach at the Preachers Camp in Nashville. Finally, I was encouraged and trained by all the small congregations in central Kentucky that let me preach for them while I was in high school.

TJI: We are all motivated by many things. But for this group, you surely have some verses you have applied to preaching that inspire you. What is one of those for you?

Justin R: Of course, 2 Timothy 4:2ff. is the tried and true, go-to passage, but Colossians 1:28 is also one of my favorites. The first phrase, “whom we preach,” reminds me that my main mission is to preach Christ! The next phrase “warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom,” reminds me of my responsibility to preach to every man, without partiality. It also reminds me that preaching Christ requires a balanced approach. At times, preaching Christ necessitates “warning” every man, while “teaching” that same man “in all wisdom.” Finally, the passage keeps me focused on the ultimate goal of preaching—“to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” What a privilege it is to preach the unsearchable riches of the gospel!

Denny P: 2 Timothy 2:2. It is God's plan for the faithful word to be passed on. I had an elder in the church say, "and you are one who we need to pass this on to. You can be the next faithful generation!" That motivated me!

Todd B: The verses that inspire me the most are Colossians 1:28-29: “It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me” (NRSV). I think these verses serve as a good "mission statement" for a preacher. Our goal should be to share the message with everyone so that they can be saved and grow into mature Christians.

Doug B: Ephesians 4:11-16 is my favorite passage about ministry in general, but I think also applies to preaching as we should all desire to equip the saints for the purpose of serving others also. We should always be about equipping others more than promoting ourselves.

Kirk B: Doug, it’s my go to verse as well. Anyone who has taken a homiletics or leadership class with me know that Ephesians 4:11-16 is very important to me. It lays out the purpose of leaders/teachers in the Lord’s church. Our goals are as follows:

1) Teach for Unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God (4:13).

2) Mentor for Maturity into the likeness of Christ: Know/speak truth in love (4:14-15).

3) Equip for Ministry in the name of Christ (4:12, 16). Every sermon, class, personal Bible study, and aspect of my daily ministry as a preacher is to be aimed at those three goals.

Steve L: I don’t know if there is one verse. It is studying the OT prophets and reading through Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus that inspires me.

Brian K: I’d have to say Romans 10;14, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” This verse gives us both our purpose and our mission.

Justin R: I’d have to add to this good list my favorite, 1 Corinthians 9:16, “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”

TJI: There are folks pulling the fire alarm and saying we are losing preachers at an alarming rate. The statistics do not seem to back this up and there have been people for years who have tried to convince us that we wouldn’t have preachers in the future if we didn’t do what they suggested. The first time I heard it was about 25 years ago. But, even if they are not correct, we do need more men who are passionate about preaching the Gospel. What can the preachers reading this do to encourage young men to consider preaching?

BJ Clark: Those of us who preach have to exemplify the joy of preaching!

Demonstrate to young men how no other profession on earth offers the opportunities of making a lasting and eternal difference in the lives of mankind. No other profession can touch eternity like preaching can!

Brian K: That’s absolutely right. We must show them, by example first and direct teaching, that preaching is one of the most challenging, rewarding, and (mostly) fun vocations any man can have!

Denny P: Yes, we can talk about the joys of preaching. There is so much negativity out there that preachers need to counteract the negativity. But if we are going to really impact them we have to provide opportunities to preach. Maybe start with small devotional talks, then move to longer venues. And, as they grow we can provide coaching when a young man is willing to give a lesson. I was in 7th grade when I preached my first sermon. It was a complete train wreck! But the reaction/ encouragement I received made you feel like it was the best sermon ever preached. It motivated me to continue.

Doug B: But, we need to be intentional about taking the time to show others how we do what we do. We also need to be humble enough to acknowledge that there may be more than one way to preach effectively and that we should never try to be someone else, including our preaching heroes.

Kirk B: And in the process we need to model godliness and dedication and passion for proclaiming God’s word in front of others. We often imitate what we see. Seeing passion and commitment in others inspires us. Also, words of encouragement can go a long way. When Jesus encountered Simon in John 1, He nicknamed him “the rock” (Peter, Cephas). Every time He called him “the rock,” Jesus was sending a message. Peter became a rock because Jesus envisioned it and encouraged it. Preachers need to be identifying and encouraging younger men to preach and teach God’s word. For this to happen, they need to be spending large amounts of time with young people.

Todd B: I certainly agree, and It is vitally important that preachers present the ministry of preaching as something worth aspiring to. Yes, there are struggles that preachers face, and these should not be ignored or minimized. But a preacher should not be emphasizing these or constantly talking about them in the pulpit where young men could hear. Instead, the value and importance of preaching should be what is emphasized. 1 Corinthians 1:21 states that it was God's wisdom to save those who believe through the ministry of preaching. Doug is right, preachers should take an active mentoring role in bringing up young preachers. They should identify young men who can speak well and who evidence other skills that make for good preachers. And, yes, Denny, preachers should make opportunities for these men to preach in front of the congregation on a regular basis. If the congregation is not involved in a program like Lads to Leaders or Leadership Training for Christ, the preacher should encourage either participation in one of these organizations or developing something similar. The preacher should also make time to provide constructive feedback to such young men to help them grow and develop their skills. Steve L: A lot of this is about us setting the right example in temperament in and out of the pulpit.

Justin R: Can I wrap this part up and pull in a few other thoughts? First, I think what we are all saying is be positive, especially around young men. Preachers should never perpetuate the myth that ministry is martyrdom. Ministry is service, and service isn’t always comfortable, but a lot of young men have heard the preacher criticize the church and/or eldership, or lament their salary, and it turns them off to ministry.

Second, be realistic. I have heard more times than I can count, “If you can do anything else, then do it.” I think this advice is intended to stoke that “fire-in-thebones” call to preach, but it sounds to younger men like, “If you are such a complete loser that the only thing you can do is preach, then do it, I guess.” I want talented, smart, driven, optimistic, and (most importantly) faithful men filling pulpits, and I fear that we have created a notion that the only people who can preach are those who have no other options.

Third, most of us mentioned being mentors to guys. And, the younger the better. Some preachers my age (including me) have received the “wait your turn” dismissal from older ministers. Maybe things are changing, but many older ministers feel they are competing with younger ones. But we all need one another. Younger ministers can benefit from experienced advice, and older ministers can learn from fresh ideas and youthful energy. Mentorship is a learning experience for both. Embrace it.

TJI: This is rich stuff. What can we encourage the local church to do to build more preachers, and while we’re at it, what are some things to they need to avoid?

Brian K: The starting point has to be how we treat the preachers we have. Treat preachers more like members of the family rather than a “hired hand.” Take care of him and his family financially to the best of their ability. Encourage him with acts of appreciation (e.g., give him and his family a weekend in the mountains, send them to Disney or a football game, etc.). And, certainly support him when he preaches the truth, especially after those difficult sermons where he has to “step on toes.”

Doug B: Yep, congregations encourage as they take care of the preachers they have now, while also allowing him to have the time and resources to be intentional about training others to do the same. We have some great programs in the brotherhood that can prepare others to preach more effectively, but congregations need to do more to become a place where preachers and loved, supported, and equipped with the skills they need.

Kirk B: It all starts with the parents. My dissertation focused on “Factors Motivating Church of Christ Ministry Students to Enter Ministry.” I discovered that the people who most influence the decisions of Bible majors to enter ministry were family members, especially parents. The second most influential person was the youth minister. If parents value preaching and challenge their sons to preach, there is a good chance that is what they will do. My concern is that because of a concern for how much money their son will make and a fear that their son might move away, many parents encourage other paths. It is time we stopped trying so hard to get our sons into jobs that put them in million-dollar mansions right next to their parents and we started giving them up to the Messiah! Youth ministers, many will choose ministry because of you. Yet, most (according to my research) will choose youth ministry, not preaching. Why? Because that is the minister that they spend the most time with. Let me be clear, I believe in youth ministry. Yet, we desperately need preachers. We need youth ministers who promote preaching and who create opportunities for the young people to spend real, quality time with the preacher.

One other thing I would say is start training programs within the congregation and look for future preacher training camps and ministry leadership camps to send them to. Budget funds to enable them to be able to attend these camps. Also, start preaching internships in your congregations. My research revealed that the fifth most important factor in Bible majors’ decisions to enter ministry was previous experience in ministry of I was in charge of many of the summer student internships when I was a full-time professor. That’s fifth of 29 possible answers! I found that many congregations had youth minister internships, but few had preaching internships.

Denny P: I”d say that every congregation needs to have a "young lion's" class that provides an atmosphere to learn without much pressure. Then provide opportunities for young men to give short talks (Sunday nights, Wednesday nights). I also want to mention Preacher Training Camps like several of us have. These are proving very valuable.

Todd B: I mentioned before being involved in activities like Lads to Leaders or Leadership Training for Christ. If they don’t like these, develop a homegrown program that does something similar to provide opportunities to identify potential new preachers. And I’d add to the thoughts about encouraging the preachers we have that we need to treat preaching like the worthwhile vocation it is. Congregations, elders, and even parents can easily dissuade young men from pursuing preaching. By treating it as a burden or as a lesser pursuit, they can discourage young from pursuing preaching. Congregations should have high expectations of their preachers while also being extremely gracious to the human failings that everyone, including preachers, have. Congregations can destroy preachers. By creating an atmosphere of desired excellence alongside graciousness, congregations can create environments where young men and their families can see that preaching does not necessarily equate to being constantly under attack.

Justin R: I think someone already hinted at this, but start early. Don’t wait until a young man becomes a Christian; offer encouragement and opportunity even to elementary-age children to speak publically. And, they can have a specific night set aside for young men to lead the service. Denny is right about the preacher training camps. Churches can encourage these more. Finally, I’d add send them to FreedHardeman or a solid Christian university or preacher training school.

BJ Clark: There’s not a lot to add to all of this but we need to remember when we let a young man speak in the services, it helps the young men conquer their fears.

Elderships can also approach talented young men and offer to finance/support their schooling and further training.

Todd B: I want to jump back in on this for one more thing, if I may. Congregations should do what they can to fully financially support the preacher. Obviously, there are some situations where a congregation cannot provide enough financial support to fully cover a preacher’s expenses, but they should do what they can to provide their preacher with a good salary package that minimizes the need for the preacher to find secular employment as much as possible. Yes, Paul worked as a tentmaker, but that was when he had to. When he received enough financial support, he devoted himself fully to preaching. Working in ministry should not be a path to wealth, but congregations should not have an attitude of keeping a preacher in poverty. This will help convince parents and young men that they don’t need to worry about a preacher being financially destitute.

TJI: Let’s address this from the negative too. What are some things congregations need to avoid if they are trying to develop preachers?

BJ Clark: Preachers are certainly not perfect, but if young men hear constant criticisms and negative comments about the preacher/preaching, it will dampen their desire to want to become a preacher. Preachers should not be worshipped, but their work should be lifted up, not belittled.

Steve L: I think they need to avoid wrong thinking about the role of a preacher, as a case in point, they should not nurture the notion that they will be “the star of the show.” That is not a helpful metaphor. On the other hand, metaphors Paul uses: a good soldier, an athlete and hardworking farmer (2 Tim. 2:1ff) are accurate.

Justin R: Avoid complaining about preachers around young men. Younger people do not want to be the targets of criticism when they grow up. Don’t overpraise them. Humility seems to be one of the minister’s greatest struggles. I think one explanation is that people in the church are constantly reminding them, from a very young age, of how great they are. Encourage, but encourage the 13 year-old as you would a 30 year-old preaching his first lesson.

Brain K: While not putting him on a pedestal they also must not treat him as if he were a common commodity that can be tossed aside with “no skin off our backs.” When a congregation mistreats his family it is a killer.

Doug B: Congregations should never suggest (by message or example) that there is only one model for effective preaching. They should also model how church leadership can thrive when elders shepherd the flock and, therefore better equip the preacher to rightly divide the Word while loving people.

Denny P: I’d add two comments to this. Don’t give a guy just starting too large of an assignment immediately (a 30-minute sermon, or teaching a full Bible class, etc). The other “should” be obvious: Don’t allow the "negative Nancys" to discourage.

Todd B: Congregations should have high expectations of their preachers while also being extremely gracious to the human failings that everyone, including preachers, have. Congregations can destroy preachers. By creating an atmosphere of desired excellence alongside graciousness, congregations can create environments where young men and their families can see that preaching does not necessarily equate to being constantly under attack.

TJI: This has been good, thank you guys for the time. One more thing, what can our schools do to encourage attention to excellence in preaching? If you have a list, just give it.

Doug B: There are a lot of great ways to serve in the church, but none of them are as near to the heart of God as preaching. I am thankful that youth & family ministry programs continue to thrive, but we need to develop a generation of leaders who know the Word or God and have a fire in their bones to preach in season and out of season.

Todd B: There are a couple of things that schools can do to encourage excellence in preaching:

1. Preaching programs should be academically rigorous. It should not be a major that someone undertakes when they can’t do well in other programs.

2. Schools that have a broad array of programs should frequently highlight the preaching program in their media and even among other students. While preaching programs may not be the largest in the university, highlighting it and its importance reminds various university constituencies of the importance of what is being done.

3. As part of their programs, schools should have either a course or part of a course that emphasizes the importance of excellence, professionalism, and other traits that preachers should embody. Mediocrity is not a virtue, and preachers should be encouraged to pursue excellence in every aspect of their ministry. Professionalism should be encouraged as well. While the preacher does not need to be a “professional,” they should exhibit professionalism in their interactions with elders and other members of the congregation, in their work habits, and in the pulpit. Faculty should help students understand what that should look like and how to cultivate those habits if students do not already possess them.

4. Schools should develop resources for ministers (especially alumni) to continue to develop excellence. Lectureships and other professional development opportunities can fill this need, but schools and faculty should consider what other materials—print or online—they could create that would help preachers have access to information about new methods, study materials, or issues ministers might face (like legal developments or tax changes).

Brian K: 1. Emphasize the seriousness of it, which is why Scriptural accuracy, correct grammar, public speaking skills, etc. are important to have, cultivate, and constantly improve.

2. Teach students, as BC Carr taught us, develop “a tough hide and a tender heart.”

3. Teach students it is okay, even necessary, to adapt culturally without compromising truth so they can reach more people with the gospel (1 Cor. 9:19-23).

Justin R: 1. The key to excellence in most things is repetition. Offer more opportunities for students to preach.

2. Teach them how to plan their preaching. I learned this from Jeff (Jenkins), and I wish I had been taught it earlier.

3. Offer more opportunities for engagement with veteran preachers who can share wisdom in informal ways.

4. We can generally be better at communicating the “so what” in some of the more academic classes, like Greek/Hebrew. These are important and helpful, but teachers (like me) don’t always connect exegetical insights to practical preaching points. BJ Clark: 1. Hire instructors who are excellent men first, as well as excellent preachers.

2. Emphasize that we truly are dying men, speaking to dying men and women. Souls are at stake! Eternity hangs in the balance! Our words may help someone go to heaven. We are not training men to give little talks! We are training men to preach the Word that is able to save men’s souls (2 Tim. 4:2; Jam. 1:18-21).

3. God cared enough to send His very best, and this ought to motivate us to give our very best effort in preparing and presenting sermons to a lost and dying world.

4. Our schools should teach preachers to imitate the same balance in their preaching as Jesus and Paul demonstrated in their preaching.

5. Finally, we should emphasize the sweet reward that awaits the devoted preacher of the gospel. Won’t it be grand to hear him say, “Well done!”

Denny P:

1. Have numerous homiletics classes

2. Require students to preach in chapel frequently, with evaluation from faculty.

3. Record their sermons where they can watch themselves.

4. Provide preaching out opportunities in the community

5. Have local preachers be mentors that give feedback when the student preaches for their congregation.

6. Play sermons from "old time" gospel preachers. This shows them what good sermons are like!

Kirk B: First of all, we need to build programs that require them to take more than one class on how to prepare a sermon before they graduate. Secondly, we need to teach them to dig deep in Bible study. Simple and light motivational sermons are not going to build strong, healthy, serving, and enduring Christians. I fear that the habit of going online and downloading someone else’s sermon is a spiritual pandemic in the brotherhood right now. I am not saying that we cannot learn from others, but we must dig for ourselves. If all we do is share someone else’s thoughts, then we are nothing more than puppets. It is like swallowing food someone else chewed and then throwing it back up for our audiences. Powerful, life-changing, disciple-making sermons grow out of deep personal encounters between preachers and God through his Word. This must be the backbone of our colleges. We must also make personal evangelism a key focus in our schools. We cannot reduce the preaching of God’s word to a pulpit in a church building. God’s word needs to be shared in the living room as well as the auditorium. The preacher often knows the word of God as well as anyone in a congregation. He also has been trained in how to communicate that message. To whom much is given, much is required. The preacher must lead the way in personal evangelism, not be a bystander. Members will be passionate about what the preacher is passionate about.

TJI: Once again, thank you all for your help with this. Let’s always try to encourage the good that we can do working together for the Lord to increase His Kingdom. We are thankful for the good work you are all doing.