Books

Christian Leadership Training Course

By J.C. Choate

Lesson 19

The Preacher's Library

Whether one is young or old, he needs to develop a habit of reading and studying the Bible. That especially applies to preachers since they spend a lot of their time teaching God's word.

No, God does not give a preacher his message, except through the Bible itself. He has not promised to make a direct revelation, or to put in his heart ---- separate and apart from the written word ---- what he should teach. Whatever the true preacher says is based on his former studying and comprehension of God's word, or what he has heard from others over a period of time. Without a Bible and a knowledge of it, or without receiving information from someone, or through literature, he would not be able to preach anything that would resemble a sermon from God's word. Something cannot come from nothing. Of course the apostles were directed by the Holy Spirit in their preaching and writing, but we do not receive our information today in this manner, because we do not live in the age of new revelation and its confirmation through miracles. We are commanded to search the scriptures (John 5:39), to study (2 Timothy 2:15), and that we should preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2). Christ said that the truth will make us free. How is that done? As stated, by reading and studying and obeying the truth (Hebrews 5:8,9). Paul says that the scriptures completely furnish man unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16,17), and that the Lord has given to us everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

All of the foregoing statements emphasize the preacher's need for study and preparation if he is going to be effective in preaching God's word. Of course most anyone can get up and say something, filling time, but if a man intends to preach and to expect people to hear him and to be benefitted by what is taught, he needs to prepare himself to say something worthwhile. It is a serious matter to be a preacher, because one is dealing with God's word, and is passing on information to men and women concerning their souls and where they will spend eternity. No work could be more serious.

Let me suggest that each preacher should build his own personal library. Naturally he should begin by purchasing a well-bound Bible in his language, and if he is bilingual he will want a Bible in each language he knows. Choose a widely accepted Bible, one that is recognized as being the best translation from the original language. I say this because there have been many translations and versions brought out in the English language alone, and sometimes two or more in other tongues. The King James in English is still widely accepted. Some would now prefer the New King James Version since it has updated some of the words, giving expressions that are used today instead of those that were common in the 1600's. Another good version would be the New American Standard version. There are others, also, but beware of paraphrase versions, personal translations, and such like. Even they can be purchased for your own personal study, for comparison of one with the other. But be consistent in your preaching and use one version. Do your memory work from one that is known by most of those to whom you will be preaching.

Don't become fanatical, though, about those versions you do not use and forbid brethren to have them in their possession. People must be warned about some of these newer versions and taught concerning them, but no one has the authority to forbid their use.

Next, you will need to get a good concordance to be able to look up the verses that pertain to a word or to a subject. Using a variety of scriptures on your subject will strengthen your lessons.

A Webster's dictionary, or any good English dictionary, along with a Bible dictionary will be of tremendous help to you in your study. You will need the English dictionary to help you with the spelling of words, their pronunciation, and their meaning. Your Bible dictionary will also make it possible to become familiar with different biblical words, their meanings, and the scriptures that pertain to them. A good book along this line which would be very helpful is An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W. E. Vine.

Another book to add to your collection would be a Bible Geography, along with maps of the Bible world.

For those who want to get more involved in their studies, there are Hebrew and Greek Lexicons available, books which give the words and their meanings in the original languages of the Scriptures. In the Greek in particular, Thayer's Lexicon is widely accepted.

Then there are Bible commentaries, books of sermons, topical studies, and numerous others that are available. Many of these have been written by our own brethren.

I would caution you about the type of books you purchase for reading and studying. The ones you would find available to you at book stores, and especially at religious book stores, would be denominational and most of them would be full of religious error. If you read such books for information, to see what others teach, and to know how to answer them, be sure to compare what you read with what the Bible teaches on that subject.

If you as a preacher of the gospel want books written by brethren, talk to the local brethren to see if they can put you in contact with a book store operated by members of the church, or if they can help you with an address from which such materials can be supplied.

If there are magazines published by Christians, be sure to ask that your name be put on the mailing list. You may even be able to arrange to receive some foreign publications, enabling you to keep up with the Lord's work throughout the world.

While these books and publications may be of great help to you, realize that they were written by men. Put God's word above them and be sure in your reading and studying and in your preaching that you put the Lord and His will before everything else. Respect others, and especially preachers and writers of the church, but follow Christ only.

Keep adding to your library as you go through life. Take good care of your books as precious tools. God will bless you and your work as you grow in knowledge, ability and service.