Nehemiah 8:5
Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people
A preacher's primary job description is here summarized: open the Bible in front of other people. Do whatever it is you do, but fail to do this, and you fail as a preacher. You may entertain, you may inform, you may energize, but you have not preached.
The tool and the toil are also clearly articulated in this simple verse. The Bible is the tool of the preacher's trade. He must have one and he must be well-acquainted with it. He must know how to use it. He must be familiar with its weight in his hand, in his head, and on his heart. His job is to stand before his people and open it. He must show them where he gets what he brings. And then he must labor to make sure that his people see this and then understand it. His people need to see what he sees and he must labor to help them see it. He must be the messenger and be transformed by the message. He must do this for all to see.
1 Timothy 4:15-16
Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 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.
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