Do you 'open up your pulpit'?

Couple of questions:

How often do you allow others to preach out of your pulpit?

Do you only open it for missionaries, evangelist, etc or do you let lay people preach?

Do you open your pulpit to visiting/vacationing pastors?

Do you have laymen 'Preacher Boys'?

Do you have a scheduled time in your church where your 'preacher boys' get a chance to preach from the pulpit?

Just curious...so timeto share and please try to answer each question...instead of one lump answer! Thanks!!

 

Special occasions, mission observances, vacations, etc.

No. They're on vacation.

I have had this and I do have times to allow them opportunities from the pulpit after careful scrutiny.

I am very vigilant with the pulpit. Not just any Tom, Dick or Harry with a Bible under his arm gets in any pulpit I am accountable to God for.

 

Others, known to me, of the same faith and order, when the come.

Nope.

yes, if they want.

Not exactly. If the church wants to permit one to attempt to exercise what he perceives as his gift, then I share the time at regular services.

 

We do not have a pulpit!

 

Sometimes for evangelists, never for the others listed.

Not usually. If I know them I might.

No. Either God has called you to preach or not. If He has, you are not a "layman."

I would give time to those that God has called to preach after a period of watch and guidance to be sure the call is of God.

I have been called "stingy" with my pulpit and I most assuredly am. What comes from there is my responsibility and I have to know that whatever comes from there is fit for spiritual consumption. Even if I know a man can preach a good sermon, yet I have first-hand knowledge of him being caught up in sin or reproach, I will not let him preach in my church. Period.

 

When I am on vacation and a couple other special times during the year I will have guest preachers.

No, I allow lay people to preach.

I probably would if I knew them and they were open to doing it. But if they are on vacation, why not just be on vacation? When I am on vacation, I enjoy going to a church and just being there to worship.

No, not really at the moment. We have a couple men that are willing to preach if I need them to, but no one I would call a "preacher boy".

Since we dont really have preacher boys, no we don't have a set time.

If I had a young man in my church that was called to preach I would set up a schedule for him to be able to preach. I had that when I was first called and it really helped me.

 

When I was growing up in a typical IFB fundy church, they would set aside the first Saturday night of each month for the "Young Fundamentalists" to come and preach. Each boy got about 5-10 minutes to scream about some subject matter chosen by the pastor. Some of the worst "preaching" you would ever hear occurred on those nights.

The sad reality was that those boys who were not a part of the "Young Fundies" were looked down upon as less spiritual and many of them turned away from God and the church at the first available opportunity. The sadder reality is that probably 80% of the Young Fundies also turned away from God and many of them are now far away from church and their original orchestrated "call to ministry".

Others of us would also be considered a part of the apostate because we no longer toe the line in fundy circles.

I personally consider it a testimony of God's grace that this former young fundy no longer toes that line.

 

Ok thanks for the replies so far. Please feel free to add to this topic as you feel appropriate. Clarification: by "layman" I mean those not in full-time service. And by"Preacher Boy" I meant anyone who has felt the call to preach but who has not been trained or is currently going through training.

My church and most churches I've been in have open their pulpit for scheduled missionaries that are recommened and for evangelists during a specific service or series of services. The only "laymen" allowed to preach have been those called and surrendered through that church and who the Pastor knows and who has been through some local church training of what is expected etc. My current church calls it 'Drop-the-Hat' preching and it is the last Sunday Evening of every month. All PB's that are ready have their name put in a hat and then if they name is drawn they have about 12 mins to preach on whatever subject they choose or feel led to preach. I enjoy this and if I become a Pastor this would be something I wouldhope to implement because it has been a great tool for me and for many men in our church whether preachers or teachers to proclaim the word and gain confidence in this endeavor. We get to have about 3 maybe 4 sermons on a Sunday Evening...it is fun and a real blessing!

I've preached in churches that I know or been known of while on vacation and take it as a great honor and a blessing. And purposely keep about 5 sermons in my Bible at all times so I can be ready to preach at anytime.

Many of our Preacher Boys are those called and surrendered into full-time service (one or two like me) or those who are currently Sunday School teachers (about 6 others). And we go through a "Preacher Boys School" which is once a month on the first Monday. In this class we get critiqued about our sermons and also learn more about preparation and presentation...not a full homelictics or heurnmetics (sp?)training but a crash course. Now that I'm licensed and being ordained (and have taken the above classes and more already) I'm not required to take the classes but I still enjoy it and am able to share as well.

 

MRCoon,

its so wonderful to hear of a church that is so actively teaching and training its own next generation of preachers!

THIS is what disciplship looks like!

 

Sometimes for evangelists, never for the others listed.

</font>[/QUOTE]Why not missionaries?? Are we second class preachers?? :confused:

 

I'd let men from any of those groups preach in my pulpit, but I don't think I'd get many takers!

Maybe it's the dirt road...or the 100 year old schoolhouse where we meet... :D

 

I've been down a few dirt roads in my day as a missionary on deputation or furlough. I've preached everywhere I was invited, as far as humanly possible. I've preached in a brand new church meeting in a home and in a tiny church in the UP of Michigan just as quickly as I've preached in one of the biggest churches in the nation. (All three of these churches support us.)

Once I was headed way out in the country in Florida somewhere, and just couldn't find the country road I needed--could have been a dirt road, I don't remember. I called and finally figured out the way. When I got to the church they were singing songs from their old shaped note hymn book as they waited for me. As I walked in, they were singing an old song I've never heard before or since: "I Can't Find the Way Alone!"

 

Sometimes for evangelists, never for the others listed.

</font>[/QUOTE]Why not missionaries?? Are we second class preachers?? :confused: </font>[/QUOTE]Not at all. My point is that unless I personally know the man (or are recommended by one of two close and trusted men), he is not going to get up and preach to my church.

It is nothing personal, and nothing against missionaries. I just keep a very watchful eye over my sheep as I am sure you do as well.

Again, no offense intended.

 

Sometimes for evangelists, never for the others listed.

</font>[/QUOTE]Why not missionaries?? Are we second class preachers?? :confused: </font>[/QUOTE]Not at all. My point is that unless I personally know the man (or are recommended by one of two close and trusted men), he is not going to get up and preach to my church.

It is nothing personal, and nothing against missionaries. I just keep a very watchful eye over my sheep as I am sure you do as well.

Again, no offense intended. </font>[/QUOTE]Okay, no offense taken. I understand your position and it is right. I am careful about who I have in my own pulpit.

A suggestion: get to know some missionaries! ;)

 

I hear there is a good one in Japan somewhere.... now what is his name?

Brother, I pray for you everyday! Thank you for doing what i can't!

 

Thank you Brother tinytim. Missionaries ALWAYS want prayers!

 

Mt Vernon Baptist Church has a very nice facility that is only about 5 years old, and is definately not on a dirt road. What are you talking about???

 

Mt Vernon Baptist Church has a very nice facility that is only about 5 years old, and is definately not on a dirt road. What are you talking about??? </font>[/QUOTE]That wouldn't by some long shot chance be Mr. Vernon Baptist of Vienna, GA, would it? Way out in the country?? They support us.

 

Only had opportunity to do it 1 time... for a missionary who was a local boy saved here at our church and married one of the pastors daughters after he returned from military duty.

Wish the pastor who was mentoring me during my internship gave me more opportunity to preach. 3 times in 2 years as intern. Of course, I was in charge of children's ministries most of that time so got to "preach" to the kids quite a bit. Now I get to preach twicw a week. I will allow a man called to ministry to hone his skills in my church, after I am sure he is God called.

[ April 02, 2006, 12:07 AM: Message edited by: j_barner2000 ]

 

sorry double post