Boy-Preachers and What Is Preaching?

[Bible Believing Bill]

Originally posted by Abiyah:
Okay. So perhaps I am getting closer to
understanding. A preacher's sermon must both
teach and convict, all at the same time, and the
hearer's condition, attitude, etc., decides how the
preaching is received. One preacher, one sermon,
many jobs, many ways of receiving. So, then, my
pastors both preach and teach at the same time;
how I perceive it depends upon my condition,
attitude, etc.

If the above is correct, how, again, can a boy fill
the place of both teaching and convicting?

Ok now onto boys. By boy do you mean a 7 or 8 yr old or are you talking about a 16 - 20 yr old or what? IMO a 7 or 8 yr old has no business in the pulpit. Even if they have a good knowledge of the Word, at that age they will not understand the deeper issues involved and how it relates to the World.

Now a boy in his late teens / early twenties will have more of an understanding of how the Word applies to the World. At this point if he has been schooled by an experienced Pastor he could begin preaching. Perhaps at an evening service to begin with, as those attending evening services are generally regular attenders and will have a better than avg. knowledge of the word themseves. The same could be said for someone who starts preaching in their 30s. It would not be a good idea to let someone give their first sermon on Easter Morning.

The boy preachers need to get some experience so that when they are mature they will be prepared to become a Pastor, Evangalist, or Missionary. The key to gaining that experience is that they gain it under the teaching of an experienced man of God.

Bill

 

[Bro. James Reed]

Abiyah, I think you've got it!

As for the "boy" preachers, I must make clear that I would never vote for a child to be ordained as an Elder. That is where we get into the difference.

A child may have a gift to preach and may be using that gift; they don't have to be in the pulpit to preach. I've heard some of the best sermons by an Elder sitting at the lunch table.

God determines who He will call to preach His word. If that person happens to be a 10, 12, 14, or 16 year old boy, well all the better. They should preach whenever they get a chance to. However, that does not necessarily mean from the pulpit. Also, it is not for any one of us to decide who can and can not preach.

Just try to go tell Billy Graham you don't want him to preach anymore; will he listen? Of course not.

The same goes for young preachers. We don't go up to people and say, "Hey, why don't you start preaching?"

Also, we should not go up to someone that is preaching and say, "Hey, stop that!"

We do not decide who preaches, God does. The only thing we, as a church, decide on is whether we want a person to fill the pulpit. And, as I said before, I would not be willing to put a little boy in the pulpit.

See my point?

If I keep explaining this, I'm going to confuse myself, oh, wait, too late.

God Bless. Bro. James

 

[Abiyah]

Yeah, I think we are getting down to it. 8oD

Bill --

That is one little cutie on your lap in that photo. I
would love to hear him talk to me about our God.
I would listen to him and converse with him over
a banana split any day. I think children often have
wonderful insight, and they are both delightful and
refreshing to talk to.

But don't invite me to hear him preach until he is
well beyond 20, has some education, and has
proven himself. 8oD !

James, you say that my conversation with that
young man could be his way of preaching. I can
see that. But by the same definition, I both
preach and teach! Ouch! 8oD !

But I believe I have a handle upon what is meant
by preaching and preachers. Maybe it is now
merely my prejudices against boy-preachers
that I still maintain. The fact is that if my
synagogue announced that a boy was coming to
preach, I would stay home and study. 8o)

On bar/bat mitzvahs, I know that a person may
choose to study and bring the message after
they read Torah, but after that, they must also
submit to very tough questions about both the
Hebrew reading and the message. I saw this
happen only once, though. It is difficult enough
to cant the blessings in Hebrew then read the
day's Scriptures in Hebrew! Why add to the
stress?!?

 

[Bible Believing Bill]

Originally posted by Abiyah But don't invite me to hear him preach until he is well beyond 20, has some education, and has
proven himself.

I agree with you more or less. However how are they to prove themslef? It's it's the catch 22 of finding a job. You can't get hired without experience, and you can't get experience without a job. I am in no way suggesting that a young preacher go out and start preaching at other churches. I am only suggesting that his home church needs to support his calling and let him gain some experience.

As for sitting down over a bannana split with the boy you better watch out. He will jump at the mention of ice cream.

Bill

 

[Abiyah]

Then it's a go! Tell him I am also bringing the
toasted pecans.

8oD

 

[Bro. James Reed]

Okay, Abiyah, I think we've reached some middle ground that we can agree on. Good thing too, I'm going out of town tomorrow.

Personally, I look to my Pastor to know more when someone is ready to be in the pulpit before the church. Hopefully, by the time our Pastor asks him to stand and preach for us, the young man has been studying and speaking for a few years. I trust our Pastor to make that decision.

As far as the women preaching, don't get me started.

I don't have all night.

God Bless. Bro. James