Here is another excerpt from Power in the Pulpit.
Disciplined study habits will be enhanced greatly if the preacher’s time and location for study are protected…. Well-meaning members of the congregation inevitably will come by to visit for a few moments, which often stretch into an hour or more. A better situation is to have your study in a secluded place, away from the traffic flow.
Some men use an out-of-the-way place at the church as a study. Or, if an extra room is available and your church leadership is agreeable, use a room at your house. There you will be away fro the activities at the church. – pg. 84
So let me get this straight, the pastor should cut himself off from the flock he should be leading, for the sake of a 30 minute sermon on Sunday morning? His chance to personally edify and encourage people should be avoided because it could be too time consuming? Also, who is the “church leadership” that might prevent the pastor from studying in his own home?
To quote Alice in Wonderland: Curiouser and curiouser!
Who wrote this book? Oh yeah, now I remember … again sorry you have to read it, but I would use it, as I said and it appears that you are doing, to learn how it’s NOT to be done … unless you just want to be a “god preacher boy”:-)
~Heather
LOL … that should say “good preacher boy” :-) … my sarcasm gets me into trouble ;-)
Lew-
Consider the premise behind the title of the book… POWER in the pulpit. Show me that in scripture. Just to clarify, I understand that they’re writing about the man of God operating in the power of God while preaching behind the pulpit.
It’s interesting (and sad) to see men who dismiss and deny the power of God (the Holy Spirit) trying to come up with man made substitutes to replace the power they have decided is unavailable today…
It creates quite a tangled web indeed.
You asked-
1.)So let me get this straight, the pastor should cut himself off from the flock he should be leading, for the sake of a 30 minute sermon on Sunday morning?
In many (if not most) churches, Sunday is the main thing they do as a church. In many mega-churches, the pastor is already cut off from the flock…
2.)His chance to personally edify and encourage people should be avoided because it could be too time consuming?
Again, if your already cut off from the flock this is no major sacrifice. You cannot make time for the people, you’re trying to have power behind the pulpit!!
3.)Also, who is the “church leadership” that might prevent the pastor from studying in his own home?
I think Alan was writing about this today. From what I’ve seen, it’s often the “bond-servants”…
As Heather said, these are some great lessons on what NOT to do as a pastor.
Be blessed…
Brandon
Heather
I had to read this book because I had to write a book review about it. As you can imagine, my review was not very flattering. I passed in my review yesterday, so heres to hoping that my teacher doesn’t think I’m a heretic :).
I just post my last post on the book, there is a lot more I could write about, but I do not want to be too negative and nit-picky. I got the big things.
Brandon
I agree with the conclusions you have drawn. Part of the requirements in my book review was to write 5 things that I have “learned and will implement.” This was probably the hardest part, but I wrote things like: “this book has encouraged me to look closer at Scripture for an understanding of whether or not there is actually power in the pulpit…”
I jokingly told some of my friends that I should write, “I have learned that I should never again read any books by Vines and Shaddix.” But for some reason, I don’t think that was fly :).
Anyways, thanks for the comments.
God’s Glory,
Lew