I love to preach. To work on a sermon all week, deliver it on Sunday, and start the process over again really is my favorite thing in the world. I think about people that work in a factory and wonder how they could box a product, day in and day out, all week, and not get bored! Not so with preaching! The ability to study the greatest Book on earth and to read it’s life changing message every day warms my heart. It goes without saying then, I love the souls of those that preach, fellow laborers in the Word. I love preachers!

So it saddens me when I read or hear stories of the struggles other preachers and their families go through. I’m not talking about struggles from those outside the Body of Christ, but the hatred and venom that comes from those in the pews that these men preach to each week! It saddens me when I hear the words of the title of this article come from members or preachers, “I’ve had enough!” I’ve been there, I’ve had my struggles. I’ve had a man stick his finger in my face and declare, “I want you gone.” In my first work, a lady told me “Don’t expect me to be friendly to you, I liked the last preacher.” I’ve got the gray hair as proof! I have often thought about compiling a book of preacher horror stories, but it would only do two things, cause men to never want to preach, and bring reproach on the Lord’s Church in general. You see, not all congregations are hard to work with, I’ve been at the same congregation for a couple years and it seems like I only started yesterday! But I’ve been in a congregation that changed preachers every two years and most of the time it was because the preacher left (I was there six years by the way).

Brethren, It ought not be this way. A man devotes his life to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. His family makes sacrifices  of friends and loved ones to move across the country with him. Preaching is the most rewarding job in the world, but it is also the most lonely at times. Congregations know he will “probably leave anyway” so why treat him or his family with respect. Preachers become discouraged and “leave anyway.” Brethren, it ought not be this way!

To congregations, I offer this advice:

• “No longer receive him as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother” (Philemon 15, 16). Too often the preacher is viewed as the employee. We pay him, he works for us. We tell him how to do everything, from combing his hair to raising his children. We define his “preaching style” and he better adhere to it. Brethren, take the wisdom of Paul on this point, treat the man and his family as Christians and not as slaves! I’ve had my elders tell me that they don’t expect more out of me then they expect out of all the members. That’s what keeps a man in one place!

• “And if they were all one body, where would the member be?” (1 Corinthians 12:19). I understand the preacher has devoted his life to the work of God. I understand he has certain responsibilities. Preach twice on Sunday, teach a Bible class or two, visit the sick, perform weddings and funerals…I get that. But the preacher and his family are not “the whole body” so the rest of the congregation can do nothing. I read notices for congregations looking for a preacher and see the list of things they want from him and wonder why ANYONE would want to preach there? The church wants to be absolved of all the work! When a congregation works together, with the minister, that will keep him in that place!

• “How beautiful are the feet of those that preach the gospel of peace” (Romans 10:15). Appreciate the work the preacher does! It’s not easy, we don’t work “three hours a week”. It’s discouraging to your preacher when you make fun of him, ridicule him, and belittle him. Show appreciation to him and his family. Pray for them. Invite them out for Sunday dinner. Elders, give him a bonus at Christmas. Let the preacher know he is respected and vital to the congregation. When you do, he will stay!

To preachers, I offer this advice:

• “Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). Men, why do you suppose a congregation behaves so badly toward the preacher and his family? There’s a good chance that at some point in the past, a man was in the pulpit that was lazy and took advantage of the congregation. They had no choice but to treat his as an employee and not a brother in Christ. In most of the places I “tried out” for the preaching position, when I read the proposed contract I could tell exactly the problems they had with the last man. Change that preachers! Preach the Word, love the brethren, and fulfill your ministry! The next preacher the congregation has after you retire will thank you!

• “Study to show yourself approved to God” (2 Timothy 2:15). Men, we can get into a rut. I’ve been there. Some Sundays the sermon sounds just like the last two you preached. The same verses are used. The same illustrations are given. Is it any wonder the congregation starts to critique your preaching? Study the Word of God men, dig deep into the Holy Scriptures, attend lectureships, go to gospel meetings, enroll in classes from preaching schools online, do SOMETHING to broaden your knowledge of the Word. This will keep your preaching fresh and “wonderful sermon” comments flowing!

As I said at the beginning, I love preaching and I love preachers! I also love my brothers and sisters in Christ that listen to me every week. May we all work together to bring glory to God!

By: Justin Odom