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Trial Sermon. What Is It?

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by Jamal5000, Jun 28, 2003.

  1. Jamal5000

    Jamal5000 New Member

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    Hi Everyone,

    I just recently approached my Pastor about going into the ministry, and he told me about doing a my trial sermon.

    I've seen a few, but exactly what is it for?

    Is it for the congregation, so that they can vote during one of our conference meetings to license me?

    Is it for other local pastors who the Pastor invites to "look me over"?

    Can my pastor, other ministers, and members throughly evaluate me on my ministry skills based on a trial sermon?

    In a nutshell, what exactly is a trial sermon?

    Thanks everyone.

    Ice in Christ,
    Jamal5000 [​IMG]
     
  2. Hardsheller

    Hardsheller Active Member
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    He probably wants you to speak before the church so the church can see evidence of your calling to the Preaching Ministry.
     
  3. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    I think it just refers to one's first sermon. It would be grossly unfair to judge one's calling to ministry based on one's first sermon.

    Some of us, with college training, wholly messed up our first sermon, and indeed, perhaps a few following sermons.

    It would be like asking a young child to write a dissertation on some complex theological topic.

    All the very best to you. Remember one thing; to thine own self be true. Don't try to copy any other preacher's style.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  4. Bob Farnaby

    Bob Farnaby Active Member
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    HI, from my perspective I think it's probably a case of needing to hear you preach. If you are going to become a pastor it surely needs the support of your church leadership in particular, and the congregation in general. This I would see as part of the diserning of your gifts by the church. Too many have become pastors because the local church has not been honest enough to say "No, you don't have the pastoral gift"

    Sermons arn't the only items in a pastor's armoury, but they form a significant part of it, and will probably improve with experience. Preaching the Word shows what one belives, shows the passion for God's word, shows commitment to God. If you can't preach and teach, then you shouldn't be a pastor.

    ALso, look at it as the pastor eing willing to give you the opertunity to see if you can preach. Be yourself, and expect God to work.
    Regards
    Bob
     
  5. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    You'd better ask him. I have pastored and taught pastors and never heard of a "trial sermon".

    Should have no relationship to licensure, ordination, et al.
     
  6. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Jamal, I agree with Dr. Bob. This pastor almost sounds as if he is questioning your calling or that he will decide if God has called you into the ministry. That's fully between you and God.

    We've had some teenage boys 'preach' on Sunday nights before. They have approached our pastor (after having professed their calling into the ministry) and asked if they could do a little sermon. Pastor has them present it to him first only to make sure it's scriptural... and then the young men will preach. I've never heard of an adult having to give a trial sermon and I've missed very few Sunday's in my 52 1/2 years.

    Diane
     
  7. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    It probably refers to a first sermon. When a person claims a call to preach, it is necessary for him to demonstrate the gifts and abilities necessary to fulfill that call. If a man has no preaching ability, no pulpit presence, it is doubtful that he has been called to preach. One of the biblical qualifications is "able to teach." That refers to an ability. If you don't have it, then you are not qualified.

    It would be unwise to base it on only one sermon. However, I can see that licensure can be based on that. Hopefully a pastor is not going to let someone get up and embarrass themselves. But if a congregation (who is the only ones who can license or ordain) never hears a man preach, how can they corporately set apart qualified men for the gospel ministry? They can't. Therefore, preaching is necessary to get to that step.

    Often these gifts of preaching and public teaching are honed in smaller groups, like children's ministries (where the pressure is perceived to be less) and small groups.

    I disagree respectfully that a person's call to preach is fully between him and God. A call to preach must be recognized by teh body of Christ. That is the way that God works in the NT. It is the body that ordains and approves men for ministry.
     
  8. Jamal5000

    Jamal5000 New Member

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    Thanks for input everyone [​IMG]

    If anyone else can add anything, I would be very grateful.

    I'm gonna ask my Pastor about it. From what I've been told and from what I have seen, everyone--whether adult or "teenager"/young man--has been required to give a trial sermon.

    Is this typical of the Baptist Churches in your area?
     
  9. GODzThunder

    GODzThunder New Member

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    A trial sermon is not a requirement nor is it a test to see if you are worthy of entering the ministry. It is just the pastor of a local church being nice to you by allowing you to preach from his pulpit in order to see how it feels to preach the gospel.

    It is not a test and is nothing to be voted upon, it is merely for your benefit to let you "test the waters" to further see if you feel compelled to pursue a ministry career at the calling of God or if you are to never do it again because you just did not feel anything at all from the Spirit.

    preachers are not required to do trial sermons at Churches but it is a nice way to test your calling. [​IMG]
     
  10. Pete

    Pete New Member

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    I dunno about a trial...

    The first time I wanted to get up the boss at Church just told me to give him a look through my notes before he OK'd it...For the record, I was terrible :eek: [​IMG] Mumbled, muttered, etc [​IMG]

    At another Church I mentioned something at an afternoon meeting and Church boss there asked me to expand it to a sermon.

    At current Church I asked Pastor if I could do the kids Sunday school lesson in Church the week before Easter. He didn't want to know about notes or anything, just told me to work out how long it would all take and plan away [​IMG]

    Pete
     
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