Several months ago I emailed a list of questions to several gospel preachers who have had a tremendous influence on my life.
Initially, the idea for these questions was to put together a book - and I may still do that eventually.
But now, with this mailing list for local preachers involved in local work, I didn’t want to sit on these interviews any longer. I’ve read them several times and they have helped me. I pray they help you as well.
Barry Grider is the first preacher to offer his advice and perspective on local work.
How did you get started preaching?
As a child I always enjoyed hearing gospel preaching and my favorite time of year was during the annual gospel meeting at my home congregation. I was first given the opportunity to preach while a college student. At the invitation of the local minister in my hometown of Stevenson, Alabama, I preached a lesson at the Wednesday night service before Thanksgiving in 1986.
Did someone in particular encourage you to preach?
The local minister of the Stevenson congregation, James Elam Holder, is the one who encouraged me to preach that first sermon. While I was encouraged by many after that to preach, he was the first one who perhaps saw some potential or at least gave me the first opportunity.
Did you always want to preach, or did something happen to change your mind?
As a boy I remember thinking about the possibility of preaching but then that desire waned. While in college at the University of Alabama my dream was to one day attend law school. However, after my first attempt at preaching that Thanksgiving Eve I was hooked.
How has your approach to preaching changed from when you started preaching to today?
I believe what ultimately convinced me to preach was my exposure to liberalism in the church while a student at the University of Alabama. While that was a legitimate concern, I learned that concern should not be the entire focus of my preaching ministry. Through the years I believe I developed a more balanced, more scriptural way of preaching as I have tried to follow Paul’s admonition in Acts 20:27.
Today I am much more concerned about properly exegeting scripture and helping my congregation and others before whom I preach to have a clearer understanding of the word that each one might grow in the Lord and develop his faith.
Who were some preachers who had the most influence over your development as a preacher?
The list is so long but I will narrow that list to a few who must be mentioned. As a boy, there is no doubt my preaching hero was James Watkins. Brother Watkins lived in Chattanooga at the time, not far from where we lived in northeast Alabama, and so he came down regularly to preach meetings. I have loved his preaching literally all my life.
Stylistically I would say Watkins, Wendell Winkler, and George Bailey were very influential. I also considered brother Winkler to be a wise counselor and advisor to me. Brother Bailey was not only one of the best in the pulpit that I ever heard but to observe his overall character out of the pulpit had such a profound influence upon me. You could not help but see the Lord in him and so you were drawn to him and wanted to be more like him.
I would say the one who influenced me the most and was my closest confidante and mentor was Garland Elkins. Ours was a spiritual father-son relationship and I shall always cherish the many years I was privileged to work alongside of him.
What would you say to a Christian man (young or old) who is considering preaching?
I would never want to discourage a man from preaching. If I did so, I think perhaps I would be disobeying my Lord. Yet because he taught us to count the cost, I would have to be honest with these brethren and give them an idea of what perhaps they should expect if they seek to be faithful preachers.
As I observe today the greatest obstacle to having a full-time work that will support a preacher financially and emotionally is the secularization of society. Our congregations, regardless of where they stand doctrinally have been dwindling, even where preachers are working tirelessly to counter this apathy. It is going to be an ever-growing difficulty for many who want to preach to be financially supported in a full-time work.
How would you advise them to proceed?
First, you should clearly access your abilities. One has to honestly ask if preaching is where his talent lies.
Second, spend a lot of time praying and asking God to open the doors of opportunity if indeed God wants you to preach.
Third, get a good education. If one is young, choose a trusted Christian college over a school of preaching. It may be beneficial at some point to go through a school of preaching but a college degree in Bible and Communication will be very helpful toward enhancing one’s work opportunities. In addition, such broadens your horizons and you will receive a more well-rounded education. Also, if single, the likelihood of finding a mate who shares your goals of preaching is more likely to be found on that campus more than anywhere else. Also, the more education you have the more likely congregations will be impressed by your ability to serve as their local minister. That is just a fact of the times in which we live.
It may be best to consider being a vocational minister. Choose another career option while at the same time doing some preaching. This is where attending a school of preaching may be more helpful. While full time located works may be declining there will still be pulpits that need to be filled; you just perhaps will need to support yourself through another work.
Fourth, if you desire to preach full time remember there will be perhaps many financial sacrifices that you and your family have to make to accomplish this desire.
Fifth, if your really want to go into full time preaching do not let anyone (this preacher included) discourage you. Step out in faith and trust God. He will take care of you. He holds the future in His hands.
How would you encourage a less experienced preacher to keep going through the ups and downs of preaching?
One thing is for sure and that is the preaching life is much like riding a roller coaster. There are ups and downs and highs and lows. One day you are hired at that “dream” congregation and the next thing you know you are fired.
To manage one’s mental and emotional state through such trauma requires one to be a strong and faithful man. There are some who try to preach who are carrying a lot of emotional baggage and they are hurting themselves and their families. Perhaps it would be best to get out of preaching for a while or permanently if the work is taking such a toll on themselves and their families.
One can still be a good Christian man and not preach. Preaching is not for everyone. If one is determined to stay in preaching, despite the trials, do not be afraid of a change in scenery (moving). Sometimes that change will be the best thing that happens to you.
Keep your focus on what is most important and that is your relationship to God. Seek to be wise so that you do not invite unnecessary trouble in your life.
Develop close and loyal friends. These do not have to be preachers. My best friends are not preachers and this has helped me in my ministry and provided a lot of emotional support and encouragement.
Finally, keep a proper perspective on life. No matter how big a storm you are in, every storm will eventually pass.
How did you connect with an older generation when you were young, and how did you connect with a younger generation as you grew older?
When I was young I loved the older people and was interested in them. As I grew older, I loved the younger people and was interested in them. Whatever is going on in the lives of members, young or old, I am there right in the middle of it.
How has your appreciation for your brothers and sisters in Christ grown over the years?
It is easy to become bitter but when tempted to do so remember all the good that has come your way because of the brethren. There are innumerable blessings I have received that would have never been mine to enjoy that have been provided by my brethren simply because they loved their preacher.
How would you advise less experienced preachers to think of their brethren?
There is only one way to think of them and that is with love and respect. If one does not love people, and especially his brethren, he cannot be a successful preacher. Preaching is a people business.
How would you advise less experienced preachers to face conflicts in the Lord’s church?
Focus on pulpit preaching and teaching; however, do not let the conflict be the focus. If you have elders, let them handle the situation, while you encourage them. There could be a time when the church is facing doctrinal issues where you might have to have a more concentrated focus on a matter but proceed together under the leadership of your elders.
If a situation is such that as a preacher you and the elders are not on the same page, or if as a preacher one has become the center of the controversy, that preacher should not allow his pride and emotions to help destroy the congregation. It would be better to move on.
What have you learned from going through various challenges within the congregation?
Elders and preachers must be careful not to dismiss a situation thinking the problem will go away. It is best to get to the bottom of a sticky situation and seek to resolve it before the situation explodes.
How have godly elders helped you over the years?
I have been fortunate to serve under godly elders at every congregation I have served. None of them were perfect, any more than I am perfect, but I believe every one of them loved the church and wanted what was best for the congregation.
I suppose they have helped me the most by making sure that provision was made for my family and me, that I was content in my personal life, and by serving as a barrier to any enemies I might have.
What advice would you give preachers who are facing the challenge of an eldership that isn’t all they are supposed to be?
Be patient with them. Try to help them understand that elders and preachers can be good friends and that helps with communication. Publicly praise them for the good they do. Help them to grow along with everybody else.
How has your prayer life developed over the years?
Regrettably there are times when I know I did not pray enough, especially as a younger preacher. I prayed for others but not as much as I should have for myself. However, God helps us to learn to pray as He allows the trials to increase. Once we learn to use this precious resource consistently and fervently, our spiritual life is forever changed for the better.
What advice would you give younger preachers about prayer?
Make it a top priority. Set a time and a place and keep it as a treasured appointment because it is. When struggling to pray turn to the psalms and let the words of the psalmist initiate your prayers.
How did you try to balance your work and your family?
There is no reason a preacher cannot effectively do the work of a preacher and still have plenty of family time. I agree with Wendell Winkler, “every night is family night.” In fact, except for occasions when I had to be away preaching in meetings (and I always limited those meetings) I do not believe preaching ever interfered with family.
In fact, my goal has always been, because of the nature of the work of the preacher, to incorporate the family into that work. For example, preachers are to visit. Take your family with you.
What advice would you offer younger preachers with small children?
Let your children be like other children. Do not let your children be like other children. Now figure that one out haha.
What Bible passage(s) mean the most to you in your life right now? How has it come to mean so much to you?
All the passages that speak of God’s grace, mercy, love and forgiveness mean so much to me because I recognize more and more my need for such. And passages such as Romans 8:28, Philippians 1:21, Galatians 6:9, etc. because they teach me everything is going to be alright.
If you would like to say anything to younger, less experienced preachers that hasn’t been mentioned, please do so here.
Here is a list in no particular order of importance.
Always remember your teachers have feet of clay. They are human, just like you, and make mistakes and sometimes sin.
Know that the preacher friends you have today may not be your friends 5, 10, 20 years from now. Those who you think are your closest preacher friends can and often do turn on you in an instant.
Choose humility and kindness over pride and arrogance.
Study and Visit, Study and Visit, Study and Visit.
Avoid preacher cliques.
Guard your thought life.
If there is anything questionable you are considering saying or doing, don’t say or do it. Even if it is not wrong, somebody will think it is, and crucify you for it.
Make sermon preparation a top priority and never minimize the impact of two thirty-minute sermons a week that are delivered before your audience.
Constantly praise your wife and your children privately and publicly. Laugh with them. Do your best to always speak positively concerning your work as a preacher.
Enjoy the preaching journey. It is unlike any other life.
Barry Grider preaches for the Riverbend Church of Christ in Dalton, Georgia.
I grew up getting to hear “Mr. Barry” preach. My family and I attended a nearby congregation, so I would hear him preach at various meetings and lectureships.
I also got to have “Brother Barry” as an instructor while at the Memphis School of Preaching. I’ve always appreciated his desire and efforts to encourage preachers, so he was one of the first preachers I thought about when I sent these questions out.