This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Pray for your church’s future guest speakers.
Last few years it seems its been harder to find guest speakers for my local church.
There’s many reasons for that. I think many fellow alumni from the Seminary went to are also also busier with ministry as they become senior pastors. Also some fellow graduates are no longer in ministry.
It got me thinking if other small churches must have a hard time too finding a guest speaker. Ideally I wish I could have fellow elders and men within the church who are members that can be able to preach and speak as well. That would be nice but alas that never happened and it was not without effort on my part.
The last few years I’ve also been guest speaking a lot for many small churches; churches that don’t have a pastor or are so small and also in dire situations. I just can’t say no to struggling churches. I feel for the saints in these congregations. I’ve always been the guy that would rather preach at a small church hungry for the Word than at a big church that’s established and everything is all driven by programs already all set. Many since 2020 also seem to have a harder time finding pastors.
It might be a good idea to pray for your own church looking for guest speakers too.
Maybe your church has an easier time finding guest speakers. One can also pray for the guest speakers a head of time would speak to the Congregation God’s Word. Pray for the Guest Preacher’s preparation and also delivery too.
The Domain for Truth 
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well I do think its a good thing tp have otber voices build our faith
also think its good to find good conventions to go to
Amen Ray, amen! Hope you are doing well today
Ideally I wish I could have fellow elders and men within the church who are members that can be able to preach and speak as well.
Yes! I’m glad you see this as a possibility. It seems many are of the notion that only a “Pastor” (capital P) can preach a sermon.
That would be nice but alas that never happened and it was not without effort on my part.
Sorry that has not panned out for you and your church. Ideally, elders should be able to provide that role (backup speaker/preacher). As I recall, this is a point David Alan Black made in his Seven Marks of a New Testament Church: A Guide for Christians of All Ages
I agree with you. I wished I could have raised lay elders but there were various challenges with that. I have always enjoyed hearing some of
Our chruch members teach in Bible studies but when it comes to Sunday pulpit our senior pastor wants those who are seminary trained. Thanks for sharing David Black’s book!
Seminary trained like Peter, Levi (Matthew), John, Luke, etc.? OK, I’m being sarcastic.
I skimmed a bit of Black’s book, and I think he even includes the laity in general as potential ‘pastors’. The point, though, is that everyone should either BE qualified or be in the process of being qualified. That means having adequate Biblical literacy–the requisite foundation for teaching/preaching.
Great suggestion brother. Thanks for raising awareness about this.
Shalom!
I was just handed the itinerary for 2023 preachers in our church last week, and praise God it was mostly filled up. We are blessed by excellent Bible preaching from men who always seem to travel all over Scotland, some of whom have been in service for many years. I pray God will raise up more such men for when these brothers go Home.
I know our church has specifically been praying for new brothers to sustain the future of the fellowship, men who can preach God’s Word. I will pray that God will send men of His Word to your church brother Jim.
Thanks for your prayers. When I was in seminary the guys from the UK described finding preachers to be much harder than it is in the states. May God bless your church with new men to stand up!
I didn’t realize there was a problem finding guest speakers. May whatever is standing in the way be resolved and what is spoken be what the Lord desires to be heard.
Thanks Frank for your prayers with this! That means a lot Frank!
Thanks for this good exhortation! Yes, I can understand how small churches struggle to “fill the pulpit” when the/a pastor isn’t available. You’re obviously more aware of the challenges since 2020.
Sometimes I do wonder about those in ministry or go to seminary; many dream of national platforms but my heart goes to small churches that are struggling and need reform. HOw was your Sunday service?
Today’s service was a big blessing as every service has been since we began attending. The pastor has been preaching on Galatians and finished Galatians 4 today. Hope you had a good service this morning!
Our church has not problem finding speakers, but at times, you never know what you will get. The guest speakers usually come from the presbytery office, administrators of some kind. Often, their day job becomes the focus in the sermon, and it seems like an advertisement for their pet cause, not that their causes are not worthy. Then, I have heard lay people speak and betray a total lack of knowledge about salvation. We definitely need to pray for guest speakers. When times are tough, just getting the speaker is tough. With an abundance of speakers, choosing one that speaks biblical truth and what the congregation needs requires wisdom.
THanks for sharing! Even when there’s “good times” with supplies of guest speaker it is not all easy too, to pick the ones most biblical and pastoral. Thanks for sharing that Mark, hope your Sunday is going well!
Yes, my Sunday school lesson went very well, and my wife is feeling better today.
Dear God, hear the needs of churches looking for guest speakers to fill their pulpit. Fill these individuals with your guidance in bringing the Word forward.
When I was living in Montana, I filled the pulpit at my small Lutheran church on a couple of occasions. There is a real need for lay people to step forward to bring the Sunday message.
Thank you so much for your prayers
Amen.
Another great suggestion this week. We are blessed in our church to have three or four individuals who are willing to breach regularly. I think we would have a hard time to fill the pulpit if we did not have those willing volunteers though.
Wow praise God for that with these volunteers who serve church. Praise the Lord! I hear in UK it’s harder to find pastors in the USA
[…] This Sunday at Church: Pray for your church’s future guest speakers […]
[…] This Sunday at Church: Pray for your church’s future guest speakers […]
I can understand small churches having this problem. May God bless you and others who take on the burden of being guest speakers, especially at a pinch. Hope the parenting conference went well!
Thanks for you reading and understanding! Yes parenting conference from early responses was overwhelmingly positive; I think it was really the prayers of many. This topic is sensitive and also hard for some so it is the grace of GOd. Thanks Dora!
How good is the Lord! Praise God!
God word, Jimmy!!!! Our church usually has missionary speakers from within our denomination. Praying for strength and stamina in ministry!!!
Wow that is great that missionaries are the guest speakers at your church! I think that is so cool!! We haven’t had a missionary speak in a long time. Hope that changes!
Amen, praying for that!
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Our church rarely has a guest speaker. Very rarely. I hope you are not getting flooded with all the rain we are getting in California this month
We did have a lot of rain that flooded below our house and turn off the water heater. Got it turned back on two days later; how are you with the rain?
My house has not gotten flooded. Getting lots of rain in Torrance where I live. I am still going out for walks despite the rain, just with an umbrella. I am going to need to pull so many weeds when this rain stops.
[…] This Sunday at Church: Pray for your church’s future guest speakers […]
Thank you for this reminder, I will be praying ☺️ SlimJim.