Teenager called to preach

[Kaden]

Hello! I am facing a certain dilemma. I feel that I am being called to preach. I’ve prayed for guidance on the issue over the last few weeks and it’s only solidified my belief that I am being called upon. A few months ago, the pastor of our church stepped down after his wife passed away, so we are left pastor-less and forced to rely solely on inviting ministers to preach at our church. we are never certain that we’ll have somebody to preach, and I want to solve that. My problem isn’t that I’m not liked by the church, or that I’m afraid of public speaking, or anything of the physical sort. The problem I have is that I’m 16, and was only saved 1/2 a year ago. I still have so much to learn, but I can think of scores of topics to preach about. I really need guidance on what I should do. Should I simply wait? I believe I’m ready spiritually now and God is calling me now, but am I simply too young? Should I just throw the idea out to the adults and follow their wisdom? Frankly, although I can understand the idea that I am too young (and would normally 100% agree) God is calling me now, and I want to serve God. I really just need advice, and any advice is enough for me.

Thanks, Kaden

 

[Sabertooth]

Too young? Probably. Too young in the Lord? Most likely.

The best thing that you can do is get with the elders in your church and let them weigh in on your calling. You really can't expect to preach until you are anointed to do so and sent.

The Bible recommends not doing that too early (in terms of maturity). In the meantime, you can still evangelize in your sphere of influence. That should augment whatever training you might be looking to receive.

 

[Hammster]

There still must be some sort of leadership in your church. You need to talk to them.

 

[Kaden]

The Bible recommends not doing that too early (in terms of maturity).

Can you point to where exactly the Bible says this? Not that I doubt you, I would just like to know because I couldn’t find it

 

[Jonaitis]

This is one reason why there should be more than one elder in a church, the burden shouldn't be on his shoulders alone. Regardless of your desire, there needs to still be some sort of leadership.

While there have been preachers and teachers throughout history who started young in the faith, this is not a norm and should not be treated as a standard for everyone. We read in 1 Timothy 3:2-5 that an overseer, another name for an elder/pastor, should have certain qualities that makes them fit for that office. Are you above reproach, do you have a wife, are you self-controlled, do you manage your own household well? I can believe that likely you don't fit in every category, being only 16. Last we read, "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil" (v. 6).

The best thing you can do is pray.

 

[Sabertooth]

1 Timothy 5:22 is understood to be about anointing someone to preach.

 

[Sabertooth]

"He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil" (v. 6).

That's the one that I was looking for.

 

[Albion]

Hello! I am facing a certain dilemma. I feel that I am being called to preach. I’ve prayed for guidance on the issue over the last few weeks and it’s only solidified my belief that I am being called upon. A few months ago, the pastor of our church stepped down after his wife passed away, so we are left pastor-less and forced to rely solely on inviting ministers to preach at our church. we are never certain that we’ll have somebody to preach, and I want to solve that. My problem isn’t that I’m not liked by the church, or that I’m afraid of public speaking, or anything of the physical sort. The problem I have is that I’m 16, and was only saved 1/2 a year ago. I still have so much to learn, but I can think of scores of topics to preach about. I really need guidance on what I should do. Should I simply wait? I believe I’m ready spiritually now and God is calling me now, but am I simply too young? Should I just throw the idea out to the adults and follow their wisdom? Frankly, although I can understand the idea that I am too young (and would normally 100% agree) God is calling me now, and I want to serve God. I really just need advice, and any advice is enough for me.

Thanks, Kaden

Yes. Wait. You may indeed be being called to the ministry or to evangelize, but not necessarily at this moment! You should pray that you are feeling actual signals and then commit yourself to the course of study, etc. (seminary, whatever) that your church considers the way to being ordained a minister of the Gospel.

That said, if the congregation thinks that in the current difficulties it might be worthwhile to have different members give testimonials or simple lessons, one each week, until a new pastor is called and installed--do it--but do not think of it as launching a regular ministry. Not yet.

 

[RaymondG]

There is no harm in standing in front of the church and sharing what you believe... I would just speak to the ones who decide who speaks, and see if they would give you one Sunday to preach, and go from there.

I know guys who became Pastors before 18 and children who preach before the age of 10.....so what you desire isnt unheard of.

 

[Dave-W]

Can you point to where exactly the Bible says this?

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (NASB)
Overseers and Deacons
1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

 

[RaymondG]

Im a little confused now......are we talking about getting up and speaking a message in front of the church......Or, in addition, being ordained as a preacher?

 

[Tree of Life]

Hello! I am facing a certain dilemma. I feel that I am being called to preach. I’ve prayed for guidance on the issue over the last few weeks and it’s only solidified my belief that I am being called upon. A few months ago, the pastor of our church stepped down after his wife passed away, so we are left pastor-less and forced to rely solely on inviting ministers to preach at our church. we are never certain that we’ll have somebody to preach, and I want to solve that. My problem isn’t that I’m not liked by the church, or that I’m afraid of public speaking, or anything of the physical sort. The problem I have is that I’m 16, and was only saved 1/2 a year ago. I still have so much to learn, but I can think of scores of topics to preach about. I really need guidance on what I should do. Should I simply wait? I believe I’m ready spiritually now and God is calling me now, but am I simply too young? Should I just throw the idea out to the adults and follow their wisdom? Frankly, although I can understand the idea that I am too young (and would normally 100% agree) God is calling me now, and I want to serve God. I really just need advice, and any advice is enough for me.

Thanks, Kaden

Hi Kaden. I also felt called to ministry at the age of 16. I began pursuing that calling and the Lord led me into many wonderful ministry opportunities that were appropriate for me at different times since then. I'm now in my 30s, graduating from seminary, and preparing to be ordained in a church. I'm not yet a preaching pastor, but I hope to be by the time I reach my 40s. As I pursued the Lord in this calling, God opened many doors to ministry that I did not expect at the time. I did high school ministry as a college student, I did campus ministry as a college graduate, then I got into the church world.

I would suggest that you give the next 15 years of your life to preparation for a lifetime of ministry. Pursue an undergraduate degree that would set you up for further studies if necessary. Consider going to seminary after undergrad or pursue ministry opportunities that don't require seminary. Find some adult mentors who are in ministry who can guide you through the long process of preparation. And please prepare yourself for a long, but worthwhile process! Tell yourself: "If I can be a preacher by the time I'm 40, that'll be awesome!" Maybe God will open a door for you to serve as a full time preacher sooner, but either way you've given yourself reasonable expectations.

 

[Sabertooth]

are we talking about getting up and speaking a message in front of the church......Or, in addition, being ordained as a preacher?

The OP seems to be asking about the latter, in his phrasing, "called to preach."

 

[bekkilyn]

Some churches have youth Sundays and other such days where they do ask youth to volunteer to give presentations, speak about topics, etc. Maybe you could get involved in some of these sorts of things so that you can start "preaching" now and see how things go.

 

[Tree of Life]

The first time I was invited to preach was at the UMC church where I was saved. I was only 17 or 18 at the time! It was on a Sunday morning when our pastor was out of town. I was shocked that he asked me to preach. But he knew that I wanted to prepare for ministry.

My first sermon was absolutely horrible. I had no training and didn't know what I was doing. But it was a fun experience.

 

[PoppyB]

You are never too young to be given a word from God, but before you share it you must be absolutely sure that has indeed come from him. If the ideas you've got are your own ideas then you should hold back but if you feel God has really spoken to you then ask to be able to share it with your church in a less formal way than by 'preaching'. At my church anybody is welcome to share from the front if they feel they have a God given word so give that a try first and don't feel you have to try too hard. If you rest in God doors will be open to you at the appointed time as you grow in maturity. But please don't get discouraged, learn to abide in the Vine and learn from the men and women of faith around you. Bless you brother.

 

[com7fy8]

The Bible recommends not doing that too early (in terms of maturity).

Can you point to where exactly the Bible says this?

do you manage your own household well?

1 Timothy 3:1-10 > this does not directly tell us to avoid preaching and pastoring while we are still young. But you might feed on how Paul says, here, how a man needs to know how to rule his own house. By learning how to take care of his wife and marriage and children, he is learning how to care for God's children in our Father's family and personal caring and sharing way.

And he has time to learn how to do things in Jesus Christ's "rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-30).

And this makes him become an example, so he can lead by example and feed people his example along with his messages >

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

Your level of maturity can effect what you are able to do and preach, and how much you can minister God's grace through your speaking > Ephesians 4:29.

Learning how to relate in God's love is very important education, which you can gain in the close sharing of marriage. Learning how to love is part of the greatest challenge and education we can get. So, marriage can indeed be included in the seminary training and upbringing which you need, in order to find out how to care for God's people.

We need to be strong in this love so we can handle all the different kinds of people and problems which will come our way. We need "senses", of maturity in love, not only knowledge and training > Hebrews 5:14 > Philippians 1:9. God in His love can communicate deeper than words and all we can know (Ephesians 3:19). He gives us "senses", in this love, so we can deeply share with Him and submit to Him, more and better all the time in His peace > Colossians 3:15.

So, it is good to share with senior Christian people who have grown and matured in this for decades; but also receive how younger Christians, including like you, can be used by God to bless us.

 

[mnphysicist]

There is a huge difference between pastoring and preaching a sermon, or even a series of sermons. Pastoring is leading and caring for the souls of ones congregation... and accepting the responsibility for such should things crash and burn. Sermon writing and speaking is a tiny subset of that.

In the situation your church is in, I'd say your age doesn't matter a whole lot, provided the content of your material is studied with and approved by the elders of your congregation. At your level of life experience, and short time in a Christian walk, its pretty likely you are unaware of the potential pandora's boxes, and trouble that can be lurking behind a given section of scripture... Thus your church needs to stay on the very safe side of things, such that you don't trigger a faith crisis in a parishoner with no pastor to step in and help walk them through it.

And this is where things get challenging from an elders pov. I'm sure they'd like to encourage... but it takes many hours of prep to write a sermon, and it can take just as many hours for a third party to review it for content. As such... maybe they'd be ok with doing this once in a while, but even if they say no completely, realize it might be that having you preach will take more hours than they have available to give towards it.

One option that some churches/pastors use is prewritten sermons. I've seen it used by even highly gifted pastors, when they come down will illness and don't feel they can adequately prepare for the next Sunday. I've seen it used by pastors with congregations in disaster situations, where ministry needs consumer all available time. And of course, i've seen some pastors just use it as a course of habit for any number of reasons. www.sermoncentral.com is a pretty popular website for such.