PULPIT MANNERS CGCM 2400

PULPIT MANNERS

God holds His ministers responsible for the influence that the pulpit exerts over the pew. Let us then be conscious of that responsibility and make certain that the ethics, manners, and procedures we follow in our church services will exalt Christ and do credit to His name.

Decorum on the platform and in the pulpit can do much to set the tone and establish the mood for the church service. It is important that the ministry as well as others who participate in such services observe the ethical conduct that should prevail under such circumstances.

Let us consider some of the essential points of this subject and ascertain whether we are doing all that is expected of us to inspire a reverential atmosphere and to establish a setting that will contribute to the efficacy of the service of worship.

1. The order of service 

Those who are to go on the platform should meet in sufficient time to become acquainted with the order of service, the arrangement of seating, e.t.c  should be the focus of a preacher on the pulpit?

2. Proper Dressing 

Proper dress for church ministers who are called upon to participate in the services should be stressed. The importance and necessity of dressing properly in every church services would be in keeping with the dignity of the service. 

3. Proper Posture 

 Posture is also an important factor to be considered with platform manners. One should Sit erect with both feet on the floor. To sit in a slouched position with the legs crossed is a gross impropriety. 

4. Proper attitude and mood

Our attitude and mood in His house, especially on the platform and in the pulpit, will have its influence on the degree of reverence and inspiration that will prevail in the service. Let us, as ministers be exemplary in our manners and behavior, both on the platform and in the pulpit, ever remembering that whatever impression we make by our deportment will tend either to elevate or to offend the worshiper in the pew.

5. Proper Language 

Please ensure that your words are respectful, courteous, and relevant. To summarize the idea, worship in the pulpit is exercised by those who know the saving power of Christ, and express that power through the spoken word, molded by the written revelation of God in the Bible. 

 The preacher, in his act of preaching, communicates the Bible (the knowledge he has gained of God) to the hearers. His worship becomes their worship.

WHO CAN SPEAK FROM THE PULPIT?

The purpose of the pulpit is to promote the Centrality and Authority of the Word of God. The pulpit is NOT the place for opinion, philosophy, secular thought, debate, business or any non-biblical event. The Pulpit is to be dedicated to the Presentation of the Whole Counsel of God – Acts 20:27.

The conduct, style, and manner of the messenger

IN DEALING with this topic we are not concerned with the arrangement, style, and content of the message but rather with the conduct, style, and manner of the messenger "No public speaker has a right to inflict upon his hearers offensive mannerisms, and the minister, of all men, needs to be free from them." Let us deal with a number of specific things:

1. BE YOURSELF

Be yourself, but be sure that yourself is the type whose pulpit manners are elevating and uplifting, in keeping with the high calling of the gospel minister.

2. BE CALM

When you get up to preach, stand still! Pause for a bit, and thereafter remember that you are in church and not on a race track or in a boxing arena. Avoid all use­less nervous movements. 

3. BE HEARD

The voice plays an important part in this question of pulpit manners. Did you ever listen to a monotone-voiced preacher on high, intermediate, or low pitch? There is only one thing worse, and that is a speaker who thinks he should carry on in all three pitches at the same time.

Then there is the shouting preacher. No matter how small the room and audience he just must be heard, even though not understood. And there is the speaker who has no conception as to when to lower and when to raise his voice. When he should come down he goes up, and when he should go up he comes down. That was the trou­ble with a certain preacher who quoted Revelation 14:6. With a loud voice he started, "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven," and so on, "saying with a loud voice," et cetera. And then instead of giv­ing the angel's message in a louder tone, he fairly went into a whisper as he con­tinued: "

5. USE GESTURES

Use gestures—not too many, not too few! Don't stand like a marble statue, or go on a wild rampage. Gestures are for emphasis and not for exercise. Wild purposeless gestures destroy rather than help emphasize the message. However, a gesture if it becomes a habit ceases to be a gesture for emphasis and becomes a bad mannerism. Sometimes there are those who apparently are conscious of their solemn responsibility to the point where they overwork solemnity, piety, and humility. They try to impress by self-repres­sion. There is no smile, no look of victory and triumph on their face, no sparkle in their eyes, no challenge in their walk or preaching, no punch behind what they say. Perhaps it is due to some erroneous idea that a minister must be humble, pious, and meek to the point where it is forced. Do they not know that "true humility" and "genuine piety" when brought on exhibi­tion cease to be humility and piety and that they then assume the role of self-glory? As ministers, we should be humble and pious in a natural way, but let us not overwork these divine graces into affected mannerisms.

Did you ever watch a speaker who never looked at his audience? Where did he look? Everywhere else! Why not talk to, and look at, your audience instead of to walls and ceilings. The audience likes to be seen and noticed as much as the preacher does!

5. BE NEAT

We are known by what we say, by how we act, and by what we wear. We read: "The influence of the minister who is careless in his dress is displeasing to God."

And shall we add, "also to his hearers"? The minister's clothes should be neat. Ill-fitting clothes should be avoided. Paul said: "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed" (2 Cor. 6:3).

THE PURPOSE OF THE PULPIT

Neh 8:8 KJV So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

1. It is to be used to “Read the word of God”

“THEY READ IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW DISTINCTLY” “DISTINCTLY” – “To read separately and with authority”

2. It is to be used to “Give the Sense of the Law”

“GAVE THE SENSE ” – To break down the text into its parts so people could understand it.

3. It is to be used to “Causes Understanding”

 A. To Promote the Authority of the Word of God.

B. To Preach the Precepts of the Word of God.

4. . The pulpit is NOT the place for opinion, philosophy, secular thought, debate, business or any non-biblical event.

 5. The Pulpit is to be dedicated to the Presentation of the Word of God.

 – Acts 20:21  – 1 Corinthians 1:17

6. The Preaching of the Truth – 2 Timothy 4:2

7. The Pulpit must be empowered by the Holy Spirit – 1 Thess. 1:5

 a. Without the Power of God the message is just a speech or just  an opinion. 

THE PULPIT THAT IS EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

-Will Evangelize the Lost

-Will Edify the Believers

-Will Exalt God

 8. The Pulpit must preach into every aspect of life to equip the church.

 9. To Make an Impact for Christ

 10. To Reveal the Truth of God

 11. To Identify the Sin and Errors

 12. To Rebuke the Wickedness of Sin

 13. To Correct the Faults of the World

 14. To Address the Issues of the Culture

 APPLICATION:

1) Every Christian must pray for pastors in the pulpit that they will preach all of the Word of God without any compromise.

2) Every Christian must seek out pastors who recognize and respect the biblical purpose of the pulpit.

3) Every Christian must support and defend the biblical purpose of the pulpit for their own lives, the lives of their children and grandchildren.

4) Every Pastor must recognize and respect God’s desire for the Pulpit.

33 PRINCIPLES FOR CHURCH LEADERS 

PASTORS, 

TEACHERS,  

PROPHETS OR PROPHTESS,

APOSTLES, 

EVANGELISTS, 

ELDERS OR BISHOPS

DEACONS OR DEACONESS.

1. Ministry is patience. Don't quit!!!

2. Ministry will test you no matter where you start from and what you start with.

3. Ministry blossoms with diligence and faithfulness. 

4. Some friends will 

be needed at different stages but you must be ready to let go when it is time.

5. No one can succeed alone in the ministry, you need mentors & partnership. Without a mentor your ministry/church will not go far. You need a mentor.

6. Give the best at all time you are given opportunity. A well utilized opportunity can boost your ministry forever.

7. You can’t succeed in ministry without copying what has worked for others. Use only good methods after approval by the Holy Spirit to improve your ministry.

8. Some pastors will never respect your calling.

9. Some pastor friends will never accept your personality.

10. Some pastor friends will always focus on your weakness and forget what God is achieving with you.*

 11. You need discipline to stay alive with the word of God as a pastor.

12. There is a wisdom you will never get until the need arises in your ministry.

13. You must respect those who have gone ahead of you no matter their age.

14. We don’t use age to do ministry. We may be age mates but not grace mates.*

15. Your classmate can be your ministry teacher.

16. Competition is real on the ground. Up your game to stay in the game. We are fishing from the same pool.

17. Never prioritize anything above the value of a soul in your ministry.

18. Run away from Adultery, alcohol, drinking and lust

19. Put structures in place but be open hearted to the leadings of the Spirit of God.

20. Keep YOUR SECRETS TILL YOU GET A WISE LISTENER WHO NEEDS IT.

21. Every year you will lose important people in your ministry to the exodus.* *But you will never loose your pillars, but the are scaffolds.

Scaffolds are used temporary to cover the building for a while and after wards you discard it. Don't feel bad when scaffolds leave your church/ministry, they're no longer useful.

22. Every year you will get some good fishes into the sheepfold.

23. Grow fast if you want to make impact in the ministry. Equipping yourself is to your own credit.

24. Holiness must be more than a desire but a life!!!!!

25. Guard your heart against money and offenses. Surely offenses will come, but don't take offense.

26. Don’t cherish preaching as guest more than staying home to feed the flock you said you love!

27. Be among the top three highest givers in your church. Pay your tithe ALWAYS!!! Redeem your pledges ALWAYS!!

28. Caring for your members is very important, pray for them, text them, esteem them & visit them to ask for their welfare.

29. Humility will elevate you when others think you don’t qualify. STAY HUMBLE, STAY HUMBLE, STAY HUMBLE!!!.

30. Fasting and prayer is non negotiable element for a growing church and Ministry!!!!

31. Don't just tell them, Show them how. God did not send us to be a talker only, but first and foremost, a doer. Not as a coach only, but as a player-coach.

32.  You have to work with the team you have. The best motif for ministry is that of a coach who encourages the team rather than a military officer who only issues commands.

33. Never take too much credit for your successes or too much blame for your failures.W ith the right atmosphere in a church, the church will grow.  And if things are not right in a church, prayer, especially, becomes the key. 

Let’s keep learning and do Jesus proud in our generation!!!

God bless You.

Stay positive always!!!.

SHALOM.