The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

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T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

D. A mind to study his/her texts with the congregation in mind

1. They are aware of the issues of their time and situation, 1 Chron. 12.32.

2. They can relate this knowledge of the time to the people who need to hear God’s message, Acts 17.22-23.

3. The preacher uses his knowledge of culture to communicate effectively the message of God within culture , 1 Cor. 9.20-23.

E. The freedom to become all things to all people in order to win some

2

1. Paul sought to be as flexible as possible to win those who heard him preach, 1 Cor. 10.33.

2. This effort sometimes even led to extreme measures, e.g., making his fellow Jews jealous, Rom. 11.13-15.

II. The Holy Spirit in the Preaching Ministry Process

The Power (Unction) of the Holy Spirit Is the Art of Preaching

This unction is the art of preaching. The preacher who never had this unction never had the art of preaching. The preacher who has lost this unction has lost the art of preaching. Whatever other arts he may have and retain — the art of sermon-making, the art of eloquence, the art of great, clear thinking, the art of pleasing an audience — he has lost the divine art of preaching. This unctionmakes God’s truth powerful and interesting, draws and attracts, edifies, convicts, saves. This unction vitalizes God’s revealed truth, makes it living and life-giving. Even God’s truth spoken without this unction is light, dead, and deadening.

~ E. M. Bounds. Power Through Prayer . (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1999.