The Public Ministry Of The Word

Among all the ordinances of public worship appointed by our Lord none is so important as the public ministry of the Word. Christ, our ascended Lord and King, gives to his church men who are gifted and qualified by him for the ministry of the gospel (Eph. 4:8-16).

It is the task of those who preach the gospel to seek a message from God, each time they stand to preach, that will edify the saints of God and increase their maturity in sanctification; while at the same time, striving to bring sinners to faith in Christ. Thus, their messages must be full of gospel truth and proclaimed with bold simplicity. In order to accomplish this task, the servants of Christ must give themselves wholly to study, prayer, and meditation. It is for this reason that those who preach the gospel are to be maintained in their livelihood by the churches of Christ. It is impossible for a man to minister to the spiritual profit of his congregation, when he is pressed with cares providing for his own family.

Don Fortner