Preachers Must Be Men of Study

Earnest study is absolutely necessary for us preachers. We can't afford to limp along in this area. We've been called to know the Book and the God of the Book, and only by serious, daily study can we accomplish that.

Unlike the lazy and half-committed, we must continually add to our knowledge stock and build our resources. Being successful with God and effective among men requires a Bible saturated life and a careful interaction with the best literary labors of the saved and unsaved alike.

Preaching is mentally demanding. And it can drain the most powerful and gifted men. To keep ourselves bright and vital, therefore, we must daily refresh ourselves by interacting with books and brethren. This will keep us lively and current. As one has said, "Old thoughts like old sermons soon fail to satisfy."

Without freshness the best of us will grow passionless and boring. We must take care not to isolate ourselves too narrowly or cultivate an exclusively private world. In short, we must be men of both private study and public sympathy. We must enjoy our calling and our community.

We like the advice of A. J. Rowland:

"The Word of God is pre-eminently the minister's text-book, and he should allow nothing to divert him from its daily and constant study. Nevertheless, while a man makes his Bible the main object of his study, he will, at the same time, with this as a centre, widen his range so as to take in as much as possible of general knowledge. In this way he will understand his Bible better, keep himself in vital sympathy with the age in which he lives, secure his future, and do a work which otherwise would be impossible."