Adam McLane - Is Preaching Over Emphasized? (blog)

A powerful idea is growing from Adam's mind into his blog. Read it all here as he talks about The Economics of Preaching. 

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In a nutshell, Adam believes that most churches put too much emphasis on preaching - within the job description of the (lead) pastor and the weekend service - to the detriment of the others characteristics outlined by Paul. 

I can agree with Adam in part: 30+ minute sermons every Sunday is not the best way to disciple followers of Christ (at least that's my perspective). Yet I also see how our church community is an exception: there are weekends throughout the calendar year where we forego the sermon and just share, pray, and encourage one another instead.

But I'm all for shortening sermons Sunday morning. Let's see all our pastors become more than just preachers and give the ample opportunity (responsibility) to model all the characteristics.  Let's re-discover pastors who are more than just gifted speakers with great hermeneutical skill, but who are also shepherds, care-givers and guides. Let's explore how we can at our gatherings build up the church family in ways that include creativity teaching elements, not just one-way instruction (which we all doesn't stick very well). 

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Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.~ 1 Timothy 3:1-7

G&P

- Andrew