Most pastors consider weekly preaching to be their greatest ministry responsibility. For this reason, many pastors are reluctant to miss a preaching opportunity and, when absent, rely only upon pastor friends and other outside speakers. At the same time, however, periodically granting preaching opportunities to trusted individuals within the church is a discipleship opportunity that offers many blessings. Here are six reasons pastors should consider giving preaching opportunities to members within the congregation:
- It allows others to use their gifts. If others in the church have gifts for teaching and preaching, giving them occasional opportunities to fill the pulpit edifies the church. Pastors may utilize other staff ministers as well as gifted deacons or volunteer leaders who can be trusted to preach.
- It may help some discern a ministry calling. If a member senses the Lord is calling him to pastoral ministry, preaching is one way that call may be affirmed. Giving such men an opportunity to preach is one way to determine whether the Lord is, in fact, calling them to pastoral ministry.
- It develops future pastors. Many men serving their churches as youth pastors, family and children pastors, or some other capacity are happy to preach when asked, and they enjoy using and developing their speaking gifts. Just this past Sunday, I was blessed to worship in a church pastored by a young man who developed many of his gifts for preaching and pastoring while serving alongside me on staff in a church I pastored.
- It gives busy pastors a break. For most of my ministry, I preached two entirely different sermons each week. That practice became especially challenging in my former pastorate where I preached the morning message three times. Allowing pastoral interns, deacons, and other staff to preach in many of the evening services was a huge help to me personally.
- It broadens others’ appreciation for preaching preparation. Those who fill the pulpit for a pastor tend to grow in their appreciation for the time a pastor invests in weekly preaching. They learn firsthand the commitment involved in sermon preparation, and they tend to communicate this knowledge to others in ways that strengthen the church.
- It allows pastors to worship with their family through the entire service. Many of us pastors get few opportunities to sit through an entire service with our family. Our families appreciate it when we do—and having others preach makes that possible.
Pastors, what would you add to this list?
