Another harmful practice that can be added to the list, and one that has seriously affected the Lord’s church, is that of preachers who do not adequately prepare themselves to preach the Word of God. This deficiency is not a recent problem but a reality that has hindered the Lord’s work throughout the centuries. When a preacher neglects his spiritual and Biblical preparation, the church is deprived of the spiritual nourishment that God desires to communicate through His Word.

The Bible establishes a high standard for those who bear the responsibility of teaching. Paul exhorted Timothy, saying, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15, NKJV). The preacher must study diligently in order to interpret the Scriptures correctly and faithfully communicate God’s inspired message. It is not enough merely to speak about the Bible; it is essential to preach the Bible.

Furthermore, the evangelist must give careful attention both to his life and to the doctrine he teaches. Paul wrote, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16). The preacher’s life and the purity of his teaching have a direct influence upon the church. Sound preaching supported by a godly life strengthens the congregation, whereas careless teaching or an inconsistent life produces confusion and discouragement.

The apostle Paul also reminded Timothy that preaching is a responsibility carried out before God and Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1-5). This solemn charge reminds us that the pulpit is not a place for expressing personal opinions, entertaining an audience, or promoting human ideas, but for faithfully proclaiming the will of God. The command is clear: “Preach the Word.”

Preaching the Word of God requires great diligence, preparation, and care because we are dealing with the souls of men. The goal of preaching is to present every person complete in Christ Jesus (Col. 1:28). Therefore, the preacher who regularly proclaims the Word of God must devote sufficient time to study, prayer, and meditation. Ezra provides an excellent example, for he “had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). The order is significant: first he studied, then he obeyed, and finally he taught.

Such diligent preparation requires the preacher to do, among other things, the following:

1. He must continually pray for wisdom and divine guidance before preparing and delivering his message (James 1:5; Col. 4:2-4).
2. He must strive to preach only the Word of God and not his personal opinions (1 Pet. 4:11).
3. He must ensure that every sermon is in complete harmony with sound doctrine (2 Tim. 1:13; Titus 2:1).
4. He must carefully examine the Biblical text, meditating upon it day and night (Ps. 1:2; Josh. 1:8).
5. He must pursue sound exegesis, explaining the true meaning of the text according to its historical, grammatical, and literary context (Neh. 8:8; 2 Tim. 2:15).
6. He must avoid imposing preconceived ideas or personal preferences upon the text, allowing God’s Word to speak for itself (2 Pet. 1:20-21).
7. He must declare the whole counsel of God rather than limiting himself to subjects that are comfortable or popular (Acts 20:27).
8. He must prepare relevant messages that edify, exhort, comfort, and spiritually strengthen the church (Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
9. He must preach with conviction, love, humility, and profound respect for the authority of the Scriptures (1 Thess. 2:13).
10. He must cultivate a deep love for the Word of God (Ps. 119:97).

In what ways is the Lord’s church harmed when a preacher fails to prepare adequately for preaching? Consider some of the consequences:

1. The church may fail to receive the message God intended because the Biblical text was not properly studied.
2. Poor preparation can lead to incorrect interpretations and, consequently, the spread of doctrinal error (2 Pet. 3:15-16).
3. The congregation may remain spiritually immature because it is deprived of the solid food of God’s Word (Heb. 5:12-14).
4. The preacher may fail to declare the whole counsel of God, depriving the church of essential Biblical instruction (Acts 20:27).
5. Christians will be less prepared to identify and refute false doctrine (Eph. 4:11-14; Titus 1:9).
6. The faith of some may be weakened by sermons that are superficial, poorly organized, or lacking a solid Biblical foundation (Rom. 10:17).
7. The preacher wastes valuable opportunities to exhort, convict, and restore those who need spiritual correction (2 Tim. 4:2).
8. The church may lose its enthusiasm for serious Bible study when it observes a lack of diligence in the pulpit.
9. The evangelistic work and the spiritual growth of the congregation may be seriously hindered, for a well-instructed church is a stronger church, better equipped to serve the Lord.

Like the elders, the preacher bears the responsibility of caring for the spiritual well-being of the Lord’s church. Although the elders serve as shepherds of the flock (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-4), the evangelist fulfills an indispensable role by feeding God’s people through the preaching and teaching of His Word. Therefore, he must never take lightly the preparation of his lessons.

May every preacher always remember that the pulpit demands reverence, diligence, and faithfulness. Time invested in prayer, study, and preparation is never wasted. On the contrary, it is an eternal investment in the edification of the church, the salvation of souls, and the glory of God. As Paul wrote, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (1 Tim. 4:15). May God grant us diligent preachers who are deeply committed to the truth and determined to proclaim faithfully “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).