School of

Evangelism
Online

THE PREACHER, PART I − WHAT YOU WILL STUDY NOW

Watch Billy Graham and Cliff Barrows speak on “The Evangelist’s Personal
Life.” Finish the reading and then complete the application exercise on your
testimony and your sermons.

What you will study now

When there is good news to tell, there must be someone to tell it. “How shall
they hear without a preacher?” asked Paul (Romans 10:14, NKJV). The Gospel
must be proclaimed by a human messenger, someone who has experienced
God’s forgiveness and cleansing from sin personally, who has been called and
sent by the Lord for ministry, and who is filled with the compassion and power
of the Holy Spirit. Any sermon that does not ring with the joy of the preacher’s
own salvation will be unconvincing to sinners. You must know from firsthand
experience what you are talking about in order to win people’s respect.

Yet, so awesome is the challenge of introducing lost sinners to the Savior that
no one feels completely qualified to meet it. If you do not have a firm
conviction of God’s commission to preach, it would seem easier and safer to
do almost anything else except preach. Many churches today are without
pastors because so few Christians feel compelled by the Spirit of God to give
themselves to preaching the Word and shepherding the flock of Christ.
Instead, they become “specialists” in other kinds of church work.

How, then, can anyone who is called to preach the Gospel be certain to find
satisfaction and joy in that ministry? In this session, you will examine two
necessary requirements for you to preach the Gospel with power.

You also will review the scriptural basis for your call to preach as well as the
abundant divine provision for you to fulfill it. Through this session, your faith

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke
and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. 1
2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)
will grow stronger as you realize that God has not left you to do this task
without special resources from heaven.

A great American clergyman, Phillips Brooks, once said that preaching is the
communication of truth through personality. The truth is God’s; the
personality is yours. That is a divine combination intended to produce
wonderful results. Be glad and grateful that you are a preacher!

Your goals in this session

1. You will review the way God chose to call you to be a preacher of the
Gospel.
2. You will complete your preliminary worksheet for Sermon 3.

Your starting point

Watch Part II, “The Evangelist’s Personal Life” with Billy Graham and Cliff
Barrows.

Last modified: 3/20/2020 5:01 PM

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke
and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. 2
2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)