God's Word

For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! — 1 Corinthians 9:16

Ten years ago yesterday, I was ordained and installed as a Pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination. It is truly by the grace of God and His faithfulness that I am able to serve as a Minister of the Gospel. Every year on my ordination anniversary, I review my ordination vow. One of the vow questions is, “Will you seek to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all your duties as a Christian and a Minister of the Gospel?” It is a question I take seriously. According to Scripture, the duties of the Pastor “shall be to preach and expound the Word, to be God’s prophet to the people, and the people’s priest before God.” Preaching and expounding the Word, also known as expository preaching, is one of my duties as a pastor. Expository preaching “presents the meaning and intent of a biblical text, providing commentary and examples to make the passage clear and understandable.” Unlike the more popular topical sermons, where Scripture is used as support for a particular topic, expository sermons use the Bible passage as the topic. British evangelist G. Campbell Morgan said, “The sermon is the text repeated more fully.” It has been my prayer that with humble reliance upon the Holy Spirit, I faithfully preach the Gospel message from the pulpit. The Well Church, would you pray for me that I continue to be faithful as a Minister of the Gospel? It is both an honor and privilege to serve God and The Well Church. Soli Deo gloria!