Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
What Does a Preacher Do All Day?
"Preachers only work two days a week," some joke. Others quote "Preach the word!" and think he must be speaking to someone every minute. I suspect that most people feel that preachers keep busy, but apart from what they see they don't know most of what he does. Preachers, on the other hand, probably incorrectly assume that people know all the things they're doing.
What occupies a preacher's day? I'll warn you that daily work varies greatly, being modified by things like experience, opportunity, congregational size and involvement, the presence of overseers, personal talents, etc. I'll also caution that the very flexible schedule that is required by some aspects of preaching calls for us to "…not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7.24). A preacher may sleep while others are awake, not be preaching when others go to work, etc.; because he has been awake while they were sleeping, preaching when they weren't working, etc.
Personal Progress.
"Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all" (1 Timothy 4.15). "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2.15). Nothing is as important as personal Bible study and spiritual growth. Not only can someone not teach what they don't know, but they must also resist the error and sin they are exposed to in attempting to oppose it. Time for personal study, mentoring from others, meditation and prayer must not be neglected, nor should it be considered a waste of a preacher's time.
Teaching & Preaching.
"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching" (2 Timothy 4.2). Preachers look to create and take advantage of as many opportunities to spread the gospel as possible, but methods differ widely in form and effectiveness. In addition to public preaching and private Bible studies, a preacher may write letters, distribute CD's, run correspondence courses, develop class materials, mentor another preacher, write articles, distribute tracts, teach by phone or some medium like Skype, contribute to websites, compose newspaper columns and ads, collect and distribute teaching materials, etc. Often these require patience — waiting for people to call back, visit again, write back, or just show up for an appointment. Studies may go hours, at all hours, of the day and night.
Teaching & Preaching Preparation.
"Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine" (1 Timothy 4.13). Behind every lesson, Bible study, or other attempt to spread the gospel is a lot of preparation. Study is done of Bible texts, current trends and controversies are researched, illustrations are developed, lesson sheets are prepared, etc. Preparation will almost always produce far more information (and value) than can be presented in the allotted time. Even when someone else's material is used, it must be studied for accuracy, illustrated, expanded, personalized, etc. Preparation is crucial - without it, true preaching isn't possible. Preparation continues with setting up the Bible studies. This can be a time consuming, relationship building process.
Personal Life.
"Do we have no right to take along a believing wife…?" (1 Corinthians 9.5). A preacher may have the same family and home benefits and responsibilities all Christians have. He may have a wife, children and grandchildren to attend to — in addition to work around his house (which he often also uses in his work). He will need to "…rest a while" (Mark 6.31) from physical and mental stresses by taking time for leisure activities and vacation.
Serving.
A preacher is a "minster of the Lord" (1 Timothy 4.6), the same as all other members of Christ's body. Financial support allows a preacher more time and opportunity (and therefore more responsibility — James 3.1) to prepare and preach. He supplements and helps, but doesn't replace, the study and teaching every body member is to do. A preacher will happily be involved in all areas that Christians serve in, but care must be taken not to demand more nonpreaching things of him because he's "being paid" or has a flexible schedule.
Kingdom Perspective.
Remembering that we are a kingdom (Colossians 1.13) under the rule of our King Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6.15; Revelation 19.16), will cause us to value work a preacher does whether it is "local" or "non-local." A preacher is doing his work even if he spreads the gospel far from the church that is supporting him. Paul called it, "…fruit that abounds to your account" (Philippians 4.17). Local work must be done, but not to the exclusion or neglect of other areas of the kingdom where the "harvest is great, but the laborers are few" or where challenges face our "fellow workers in the kingdom of God" (Colossians 4.11). Growth is in the Lord's kingdom wherever it happens.
This isn't implying that preachers aren't really working or that they are overworked. A preacher's flexible schedule and lack of constant oversight may cause some to wonder what he does. He is expected to, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching… be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4.2-5) — and do all the stuff that makes this possible.
— In "Biblical Insights", July 2012
