Is it wrong to ask to preach or should I wait to be called

My personal opinion is that you will regret it the rest of your life.

To mention the fact that you are available to preach would be the proper approach, but not to ask specifically that you preach anywhere.

Be patient; God will open doors, and opportunities will come. To ask specifically to preach somewhere leaves the impression that you are presenting you and your sermon will reflect that, even if your intentions are above board.

Cheers, and bless,

Jim

 

I thought you had sdaid that you were a youth pastor at a church. If you are, why are you looking to preach at another church.

I agree with Jim when he said:

I know that you want to have opportunities to preach but feel you're not getting enough. Learn to preach with your youth group (if you're still there). The mistake I made when first understanding that God had called me to preach was I wanted to start in much bigger groups than I was actually able to preach in.

 

Define "called"?

 

I don't think I know enough you or your church situation to be able to really tell you what to do, but I can tell you what we've done in our church.

We're a very ministry oriented church and we believe that training of pastors, preachers, teachers, evangelists and missionaries begins first in the local church (that is, your home church).

We currently have a group of young men we're mentoring to fill those ministry positions. A couple are training to be pastors, a couple to be evangelists, etc.

They receive a lot of counseling, training, and criticism for their preaching and teaching. It's a very long process and not one you can just jump into.

I guess the obvious question is, what does your pastor say about all of this?

 

doeroftheword: Have you had any Bible College or Seminary training?

This is a must if you really want to preach as a vocation in this day and age. Remember, even Jesus gave 30 years preparing for a 3 year ministry. We are only asked to give 3 or 4 years. Many preaching engagements flow from schooling itself. Very few exceptions are called to ministry without Bible training.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I have to be honest and say that I have an issue with the idea of "youth ministry", but that's neither here nor there.

Back to my question: what does your pastor say about it?

 

Doer,

Just let folks know that you're available. Since you were ordained 3 years ago, you have the "ok" from your church to preach.

Having said that, it would be a good idea to let your Pastor know what you are doing so he is not surprised.

We are close to finding a Pastor now at our church. And being Chaiman of Deacons and Chairman of the pulpit committee AND preaching occasionally I have learned this: communicate or disintegrate!

So let that pastor of yours know what is up.

 

He was ordained? I must have missed that!

Cheers,

Jim

 

I always made it my policy never to seek out opportunities to preach, but rather to let God open the door. I learned that from a very wise pastor/mentor. It has paid off in having a good reputation with other men of God.

 

So where is this passage of scripture that suggests or even out right says we are not to look for a place to preach?

 

There is a difference between 'looking for a place to preach' and 'begging for an opportunity to preach'. Does that clarify?

 

Some make finding a church like looking for a job. I did that once in my lifetime and it was my biggest regret and disappointment. I resigned that church rather quickly and even left ministry for a few years. I never applied for a church after that; the invitations came to me.

Cheers,

Jim

 

If you had called me I would have told you to quit calling looking for an opportunity to preach and get busy growing the youth ministry you have already been called to.

In my opinion you are being disloyal to your pastor, to the church you work for and to your young people. Not to mention your calling by trying to advance yourself ahead of the Lord's timing. Somehow I think you knew that or you wouldn't have posted the question in the first place.

 

The first question I would ask is:"How many disciples have you made? That work never ends.

Most of good preaching begins in the closet and in the study with very little seen before men. Good preaching is far different than good oratory.

Seems to me from what I read, you are in a youth ministry but focused on preaching. The job God has given you is youth ministry. Stay focused on that until God changes your ministry.

God exalts the proud and gives grace to the humble. Wait on God for His timing and grace.

 

Nobody has to look. The opportunities are endless. Until every door in America has been knocked on we have endless opportunities. The disciples never prayed for opportunities but they did pray for boldness. We also have so many more opportunities to make disciples than we have hours in a day.