For The Profit Of All Evangelists

Waterford Church of Christ

Wednesday Evening Class

David E. Parks

July 1997

Text: Ephesians 4:9-16

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers," (4:11)

Introduction:

It is time to reexamine the role of the preacher.
Consider the three following quotations from real life.
1. A Member of the church of Christ: "He ain't nothing'. He's just the preacher!"
2. A Non Christian: "I wouldn't trust him any farther than I could throw him. He's a preacher."
3. A member of a large Protestant denomination: "He's the preacher. he can do what ever he wants to. It's his church."
It is obvious that the world and many of our own brethren don't understand the work of the preacher.

Discussion

Terminology : several descriptive terms are used the preacher.
1. Five different New Testament Greek words are translated by the words: "minister," "evangelist" and "preacher." Each of the Greek terms has a slightly different meaning which adds a more complete definition to what it means to be God's preacher.
2. Evangelist (Acts 21:8; Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5).
  1. The Protestant world uses this world to describe an itinerant (wandering) preacher who has no regular congregation. Instead he travels from town to town holding "revival meetings."
  2. This is not the New Testament use of the word.
  3. The Greek word "euangelistes" (euaggelistaV) is translated "evangelist" and means: a messenger of good news with an emphasis on the quality of good.
    1. "BDB/Thayers euaggelistes {yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace'} from 2097; TDNT - 2:736,267; n m AV - evangelist 3; 3 1) a bringer of good tidings, an evangelist 2) the name given to the NT heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles."
  4. The term "kerux" khrux is translated "preacher." It is defined as: a messenger with public authority to deliver official or formal messages of kings or military leaders; the emphasis is on the work of one who delivers messages by the authority of another.
  "BDB/Thayers # 2783
  
  2783 kerux {kay'-roox}
  
  from 2784; TDNT - 3:683,430; n m
  
  AV - preacher 3; 3 1) a herald or messenger vested with public authority, who conveyed the official messages of kings, magistrates, princes, military commanders, or who gave a public summons or demand, and performed various other duties. In the NT God's ambassador, and the herald or proclaimer of the divine word."
3. The Greek word "diakonos" {dee-ak'-on-os} diakonoV is sometimes translated as "minister" and means: one who serves or an attendant; it emphasizes one's activity in his work.
4. The Greek "leitourgos" leitourgoV is also translated "minister" and is defined: one who publicly serves another person, perhaps at his own expense; the emphasis is on the public nature of the service.
5. Another word for "minister" is "huperetes." It means under rower or low ranking crewmember of a ship, also an assistant in any work; the emphasis is on the relationship between the servant and the one served.
  BDB/Thayers # 5257
  
  5257 huperetes {hoop-ay-ret'-ace}
  
  from 5259 and a derivative of eresso (to row); TDNT - 8:530,1231; n m
  
  AV - officer 11, minister 5, servant 4; 20 1) servant 1a) an under rower, subordinate rower 1b) any one who serves with hands: a servant 1b1) in the NT of the officers and attendants of magistrates as — of the officer who executes penalties 1b2) of the attendants of a king, servants, retinue, the soldiers of a king, of the attendant of a synagogue 1b3) of any one ministering or rendering service 1c) any one who aids another in any work 1c1) an assistant
  
  1c2) of the preacher of the gospel
6. These five Greek terms and the three translated words describe God's preacher. He is a servant of God whose responsibility is to publicly deliver God's message of good news (the Gospel). The authority by which he speaks as well as the message itself is God's authority and God's message.
The misuse of the terms
1. Some of our non-institutional brethren make a great deal of the point that all Christians are ministers. They claim that since all are ministers it is wrong to refer to the preacher as a minister. Many of them insist on using the term Evangelist exclusively on their cards, bulletins and letterhead.
  1. Most of the men I have met who insisted on using the term evangelist exclusively were not evangelists.
  2. The Gospel is not the entire New Testament (1 Corinthians 15:1-3).
  3. Preaching about the one true church, what's wrong with everyone else, or how to live is not "doing the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:5).
  4. When the preacher preaches "Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:2) publicly or one-on-one he is doing to work of an evangelist.
  5. It is — in fact — scriptural to call the preacher a minister (Luke 1:2; Colossians 1:23).
2. In the denominational world, many call the preacher Pastor.
  1. In the last lesson (titled Shepherds) we demonstrated that the words Pastor, Elder and Bishop are used for the same group of men.
  2. It is scriptural for a preacher to be an Elder/Pastor (1 Tim 5:17 Peter 5:1). But, many preachers do not meet the qualifications or have not been ordained as such.
    "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching." (1 Timothy 5:17 — NASB)
    1. Note that the NIV also translates "preaching."
  3. It is my OPINION that although Peter was able to do both, most preachers who are qualified to be Shepherds do not have to time to do so because of their calling (2 Timothy 4:5).
The authority and position of the preacher.
1. Like all of God's servants, the preacher is supposed to be respected for his work's sake.
  "For 'whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.' How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:13-15)
2. The preacher also has great authority — the word of God.
  "Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work" (Titus 2:15-3:1).
3. Since the preacher's respect and authority reside in the word of God, he is to be respected — but only when he preaches the truth.
  "Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you" (Titus 2:15).
  
  "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1)
  
  "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
  
  "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (John 4:1)
4. The false preacher is to be rejected not respected.
5. Few people have as much potential as the false teacher to harm the church (James 3:1).
The responsibilities of the preacher.
1. As a Christian is to do good to all men as the has the opportunity (Galatians 6:10; Matthew 25:31 ff.)
  1. Visiting the hospital, the sick etc. is not the work of a preacher. It is the responsibility of a Christian. Preachers are to do these things because the have the ability and opportunity. But, every other Christian who has the ability or opportunity to do these things is also expected to do so!
  2. The Shepherds are the only ones who have a "special calling" to visit the sick" (James 5:14).
2. As an evangelist, his duty is to reach lost souls with the gospel.
  1. Placing the "5 steps" at the end of a sermon is not doing evangelistic work.
  2. The preacher should occasionally be preaching sermons that speak to the needs of the lost instead of the saved.
  3. The preacher should be looking for opportunities to share the gospel one-on-one with individuals (Acts 20:20-21).
3. A significant amount of his time must be spent in studying and learning how to properly handle the word (2 Timothy 2:15).
  1. One can spend a great deal of study time with books about theological speculation and never really study the word.
  2. If a preacher is not sound in the faith, all of his other efforts are wasted.
4. Developing leadership.
  1. He must teach others to teach others (1 Timothy 2:2).
    1. The word translated "men" in this reference is the generic term for men and woman.
    2. It is his responsibility to be a diamond miner — to find the undeveloped talents in the congregation who are undeveloped but "faithful" (trustworthy) and commit the word to them they may do the same.
    3. It is impossible for a preacher who does not know the word to "commit" it to others.
    4. It is impossible for a preacher who does not share the gospel with other to commit the ability to do so to others.
5. Ordain Elders "Lay hands on" (Titus 1:5; 1 Timothy 5:22).
  1. Ordaining elders is not the same as selecting elders (compare Acts 6:3-6)
  2. For the preacher to select the Shepherds would create an obvious conflict of interest (turning the Shepherds into a panel of yes-men for the preacher).
6. Counsel, warn and (if necessary) remove Shepherds who become disqualify themselves through personal unrepentant sin (1 Tim 5:19-20).
7. Preach the whole counsel of God (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
  1. Note the weight of the charge (4:1).
  2. In Season: when people want to hear.
    1. In love (Ephesians 4:15).
    2. Not unnecessarily confrontational (2 Timothy 2:24).
    3. Some preachers seem to be looking for a fight to prove they are great servants of God.
  3. Preach what people need to hear when they don't want to hear it.
  4. "Convict" (to tell one's fault) people of their sin (4:2)
  5. "reprove"
    "BDB/Thayers # 2008
    
    2008 epitimao {ep-ee-tee-mah'-o}
    
    from 1909 and 5091; TDNT - 2:623,249; v
    
    AV - rebuke 24, charge 4, straightly charge 1; 29 . . .
    
    3) to adjudge, award, in the sense of merited penalty
    
    4) to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely
    
    4a) to admonish or charge sharply"
  6. "Exhort"
    BDB/Thayers # 3870
    
    3870 parakaleo {par-ak-al-eh'-o}
    
    from 3844 and 2564; TDNT - 5:773,778; v
    
    AV - beseech 43, comfort 23, exhort 21, desire 8, pray 6, intreat 3,
    
    misc. 4, vr besought 1; 109
    
    1) to call to one's side, call for, summon
    
    2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in
    
    the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.
    
    2a) to admonish, exhort
    
    2b) to beg, entreat, beseech
    
    2b1) to strive to appease by entreaty
    
    2c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to
    
    comfort
    
    2c1) to receive consolation, be comforted
    
    2d) to encourage, strengthen
    
    2e) exhorting and comforting and encouraging
    
    2f) to instruct, teach
    1. Note that two of these words are negative and one is positive in nature. It is not possible for a preacher to be faithful to his mandate from God and preach only positive sermons.
  7. "Long-suffering" (2:3)
    1. Keep on when it is tough (and it will be).
    "If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?" (Jer. 12:5).
  8. "Teaching" (4:2).
    1. When attacked don't get personal stick with the word.
  9. Be watchful (2:5)
    1. "keep your head in all situations," (NIV).
    2. Must be level headed under pressure.
  10. "Endure afflictions" (4:5).
    1. don't quit when it gets difficult.
  (Jeremiah 20:9 NIV) But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
  
  (1 Corinthians 9:16) Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
8. "Do the work of an evangelist"
  1. In addition to preaching the whole counsel of God (the word of verse 2) share the gospel with the lost.
9. "Fulfill your ministry."