Every preacher needs a “go to” list of Bible verses to either kick him the butt, or pick him up when he’s down.
I hope these do both for you.
1. Galatians 2:20
Your identity is not in your sermon, it’s in Christ.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
2. Colossians 1:28-29
Your strength in the task of preaching.
“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”
3. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Grace for the weaknesses of your preaching.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
4. Ezra 7:9b-10
The kind of preacher God sets his hand upon.
“…for the good hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.”
5. Romans 1:16-17
Unapologetically and unashamedly preaching the message that brings righteousness.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.'”
6. Jeremiah 20:9
Staying true to your call, even when you feel like Job.
“If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.”
7. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24
Sticking to the offensive, foolish, and powerful gospel.
“But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
8. 2 Timothy 2:15
Always bring your “A” game.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
9. Isaiah 55:10-11
Where you get peace after bringing your “C” game.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
10. Acts 20:26-27
The clean conscience of an expository preacher.
“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”
What verses did I miss? Let us know your favorite “preacher verses” in the comments.
2 Timothy 4:2
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching
Indeed, Chris! Thanks for the addition.
1 Timothy 4:16 — Persevere in personal integrity and pastoral instruction
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Great verse, Jeff. Bonus points for the aliteration, on the “p’s” and the “in’s”!
The source of our sufficiency:
2 Cor. 3:5-6 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
For facing your discouragement:
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
You words sir muffles me, with all due respect sir can you please be my teacher in the name of jesus christ
Isaiah 15:5
Remain ever compassionate toward those who are lost. Do not rejoice at their impending doom.
“My heart cries out for Moab.”
matthew 11:28-30
Isaiah 43:2-3;”When thou passeth through the waters,I will be with thee:and through the rivers,they shall not overflow thee:when thou walketh through the fire,you shall not be burned,neither shalll the flame kindle upon thee” Proverbs 3:5;Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding
u can do all things through god who created u
I came across a powerful text for preachers and that one is Hebrews 6:10
Hebrews 6:10 (TNIV)
10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.