Booster Banquet, October 17, 2002

We want all our supporters to know of our plans to recognize the ladies who have served as secretaries and bookkeepers for the school at this year’s banquet.

The banquet will be at the church fellowship room. A permanent record in the form of a plaque will be placed with those we have honored in the past.

Office assistance is as important as any area of service given the school. Those singled out on this occasion for special recognition are:

By
Jackie M. Stearsman

For several years it has been my privilege and responsibility to be a part of the Florida School of Preaching. Having preached for a number of years helped me to understand some of the duties and responsibilities of preaching.

Working with congregations under elders enabled me to understand some of the problems and frustrations that come to those who oversee congregations and those who serve as evangelists.

However, there is no experience, either in college training or in personal experience while preaching full-time, that will prepare a person to understanding the role of preaching as will the study of the Life of the Apostle Paul.

I am convinced there is a great need for brethren, especially elders and preachers, to understand the importance of the local congregation in evangelism. Most lessons on church growth that I have heard and read lack an appreciation for the importance of the local congregation.

Each graduate of the Florida School of Preaching is required to study the Life of Paul. Class notes are required and the students will be tested over the material. We do this that the student might better understand and appreciate the place of the local congregation, and the place of a preacher in the establishment, and stabilizing development of the local congregation.

In the notes we begin by providing a general philosophy of the class. Consider what we emphasize in the study:

1. We can not evangelize the world more rapidly than we can establish and stabilize congregations.
2. We can not establish and stabilize congregations without faithful preaching and teaching.
3. Faithful preachers and/or teachers are not born, they must be trained.
4. Therefore, it is imperative that preachers understand the local congregation, and their need for preparation to function as a preacher in that local congregation.

It has been said, “We are born an original, But we die a copy.”

Questions:
Do we have a model in developing Christian Character? Do the following passages indicate the mind of God on the subject?

“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my names’ sake” (Acts 9:15-16).

“But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee” (Acts 26:16).

“I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me” (I Cor. 4:16).

“Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample” (Philip. 3:17).

The Apostle Paul, that universal person, commissioned with the universal gospel–what blessings await the diligent study of the life of this great preacher (1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11). Paul, born of Jewish parents and a Roman citizen; reared in the culture of the Greek and in the most strict sect of first century Judaism. Paul, more than any other first century person, represents what Christian fidelity demands. To understand the life of Paul is to better understand Christianity. (continued, page 4)

Pointed Reflections

When we study the life of Paul, we will become acutely aware of the need to change our life when it is not in harmony with the will of God.

Paul exemplifies the committed child of God. If we are to imitate him, we must be willing to make every sacrifice required.

The stability/instability of the local congregation contributes to the stability/instability of the brotherhood. We can not study the Book of Acts nor Paul’s Epistles without being impressed with the need to establish and stabilize local congregations.

Stable preachers do not just happen, the local congregation must do more to secure stable men to feed the flock under faithful elders. An understanding of the life of Paul should be motivation enough for faithful brethren to take seriously this duty.

Conclusion

When we have stable teaching in the pulpit, we are more likely to have stable leadership. When we have stable leadership and stable pulpits, we provide a stable environment for maturing souls.

When we have stable congregations, we will have men and women in the church who understand the need for preaching and evangelizing the world.

How many congregations do you know that are greatly influenced by the pulpit? How many congregations do you know that lack an understanding of the proper role of evangelism and congregational development?

Some would have us think of the church as being made up of mini denominations. If a congregation advocates false doctrine and promotes false teachers, they would warn us to keep a distance lest we disturb local autonomy.

Let us do all we can to prepare faithful men to develop faithful congregations. When we do, it will be far easier to encourage men and congregations to preach the gospel and to make the necessary sacrifices to evangelize the world. Does the congregation where you worship understand the life of Paul?