Lessons Learned from Twenty-five Years at Forum Terrace
After Philip (the evangelist, not the apostle) was zapped away from the Ethiopian Treasurer’s baptism, he was found preaching several miles away at Azotus. Soon he moved on up to Caesarea (Acts 8:40). There he stayed and preached, while he raised four daughters who could prophecy by the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 21:8-9). On his way to Jerusalem Paul and his party stopped at Caesarea and stay in Philip’s home. Some scholars believe Philip was at Caesarea for some twenty-one or twenty-two years at this point. There is a benefit for a preacher to stay twenty some years in a local work. My twenty-five years at Forum Terrace in Grand Prairie has taught me a lot. Here are a dozen things I have learned over the years that must be done in order for God to be glorified in the church (Eph. 3:21).
Preach, Minister, Evangelize
Being a preacher is not just delivering a couple of sermons from the pulpit on Sundays. A man of God must preach the Word of God, do the work of an evangelist by sharing the Good News from God to the lost sinners of this world, and minister to the spiritual needs of God’s saints.
Pray, Pray, Pray
The success of the work done is in proportion to the amount of time spent on one’s knees praying instead of the time spent on one’s feet standing behind a podium. Prayer to God for wisdom is essential (James 1:5) as well as praying for the rulers, the lost, and the brethren.
Study, Study, Study
If a man does not have the ability and desire to spend a great deal of time studying and reading, he will not be very effective at preaching, teaching, evangelizing, and ministering to the needs of souls. Paul instructed Timothy to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) and “give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:13). Constant, continued education is essential.
Love, Love, Love
Once while preaching a sermon entitled “Lessons Learned from a Pencil,” I held a pencil in my hand most of the time. An elderly man threatened to leave the church, because he considered the use of the pencil idolatry. His point was a pencil is a “graven image.” After three weeks of one-on-one Bible study on the subject, I realized I was never going to get anywhere with him. So I told him I loved him more than the pencil and for his sake I would never use a “pencil” to preach while he was present in the audience. As Paul instructed the young evangelist Timothy, “let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).
Patiently Endure with All Longsuffering
Be patient and willing to deal with the High Maintenance Christians. These are those who are weak, faint-hearted, sick, burdened, etc. They are also those whose bad habits of drinking, carousing, belly-aching, trouble-making, forsaking, etc. keep them from growing as they should. They require constant attention to help them remain faithful and to grow in Christ.
One day three year old Madison was leaning against the entry door in the church foyer looking sad and dejected. I squatted down to her level asked her what was the matter. She said, “nobody loves me.” I reassured her, “why, that is not true, I love you.” She looked up and smiled, hugged me after I wiped away the tear for her chubby little cheek. Next, she took off to play with the other kids, but suddenly stopped came back and held out her fist. I extended my hand and she dumped an hand full of candy wrappers in my hand and took off. All the adults laughed. I stood up and said, “It just goes to show you, if you really love someone you are going to have to put up with a little bit of their trash.”
Develop a Healthy Appetite for Feedback
There is such a thing as positive criticism. One can learn a lot from the feedback from the faithful. Even in a truck load of unfair, mean-spirited, ignorant criticism one can find a golden nugget of truth which can prove to be just as helpful. One of the biggest mistakes anyone who preaches and teaches can make is to try to please everyone. This is an effort in futility. It is best to focus more effort and first pleasing God. Believe it or not the best source for helpful feedback has been my wife of thirty-six years.
Preach and Teach to the Needs of the People in the Pew
Sure a preacher or teacher would like to teach a class of new converts on his favorite book in the Bible: Revelation. But is that what they really need? There is nothing wrong with a series of sermons on why the New Testament church does not observe the Sabbath Day or Tithe. What they really may need is lessons on giving as they have prosper and giving up their habit of forsaking the assembling of the saints. So learn the needs of the souls in the pews and preach to them what they need, not what you want or they want.
A Good Title to a Sermon is Vital to Promote Learnin’
When I first started preaching, my sermon titles were very simple: “Sin” or “Faith” or “Baptism.” It is true, as far as we can tell, the early sermons of the church did not have titles. There is nothing in the scriptures that command preachers to have titles for their sermons. However, one should never underestimate the value of capturing a person’s attention and holding the message in their longer term memory with a well chosen sermon title. For example, “The Bald, the Bears, and the Bad Boys” as a title for a lesson about Elisha in 2 Kings 2 or “Did Noah Have Flood Insurance?” or “The Tater Family” or “Startling Confessions of a Gospel Preacher.”
Serious Preaching & Teaching Uses Humor
Elton Trueblood’s book “The Humor of Jesus” is just one of many studies of how Jesus and the Bible uses humor and wit to teach serious lessons. Jesus’ illustrations of a camel going through the eye of a needle and a man with a log in his eye trying to help another man who merely has a speck in his eye is hilarious. It creates a funny picture in the mind of the audience and helps them remember the lesson taught. Primarily it captures one’s attention. To cause one to laugh is to stimulate them to listen, learn, and remember.
Do Not Take Yourself Too Seriously, Mistakes Will be Made
Mistakes are the by-products of putting forth effort. Therefore, to avoid making mistakes just do nothing. Doing nothing is to fail. So, I do not look upon a mistake as a failure. Although my failure to turn off the wireless microphone before going into the Men’s Room was a mistake. Hopefully, everyone can learn from their mistakes and avoid making them by learning from my mistakes. However, mistakes can play an important role. All the typoos and misspeled words and poor, punctuation in my bulletins serve as proof that the articles are authentic, and authored by yours truly.
Many Lessons Have Been Learned About the Best Ways to Share the Gospel
First, the pulpit is an aid, not the means to reach the lost with Gospel. Second, always listen to find out where the prospect is before you begin to teach. Third, have them stop and count the cost of discipleship before they are baptized (Luke 14:25-33). The responsibility to raising up a new convert in Christ is too great for one person. It make not take a village to raise a child, but it does take a congregation to raise a new convert. I have even resorted to having other brethren do most of the baptisms. This helps keep others connected to the babe in Christ and give them a sense of responsibility for their growth. After all, the greatest lesson is to learn most of the work begins after baptism. It is essential for the novice to spend at least a year in weekly personal studies or in a New Converts class or both.
Stay Focused On the Goal: Heaven
Paul reminded Timothy, “take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16).
– Daniel R. Vess