I agree with my friend Chuck Gianotti regarding plurality in preaching in last week’s BER blog. Based on my study of Scripture and my experience as a primary teacher for more than 40 years I would add a few comments.
Plurality in relation to the pulpit is something every primary preacher should enthusiastically embrace. Let me list several reasons why this should be the case.
First, it takes Paul’s warnings to the Ephesian elders seriously, and consciously structures the preaching schedule to provide some safety measures.
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20:28-30, NASB)
When one man dominates in the pulpit, it gives him a disproportionate opportunity to develop a personal following. Sharing the pulpit gives exposure to other men and other points of view.
Second, plurality in the pulpit facilitates a more balanced approach to Scripture and to Christian living. Let’s face it, we all have our “hot buttons” and points of emphasis. Each believer has his own spiritual gifting and background of experience. Exposing other men in the pulpit broadens the “diet” that is served from the pulpit, and tends to counter-balance the uniqueness of the primary teacher.
Third, including others in the preaching schedule gives the primary teacher more time to read, study, and reflect on God’s Word and his ministry. Many are overworked and given no recovery time. Plurality addresses this.
Fourth, plurality at the pulpit should give other elders greater visibility from the pulpit. Those who seek counsel and advice are inclined to seek it first from the person who is most visible, the person they feel they know best. When fellow elders and others are given an opportunity to preach and teach, that will encourage those within the body to seek help from a larger circle of leaders.
Fifth, sharing the pulpit gives younger and less experienced men whose gifting has already been demonstrated in other venues the opportunity to develop their spiritual gifting in a larger setting. This would be consistent with Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to develop men whose gifting is similar to his:
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Tim. 2:2)
Gifted teachers are not only responsible to teach the flock, they are also responsible to encourage and equip additional teachers. As an example, I would point out that Barnabas played a significant role in the development of Paul as a teacher, and then as an apostle (see Acts 9:26-30; 11:22-26). The elders should have a watchful eye not only to be on guard for error, but also to discover emerging spiritual gifts. When their gifting is sufficiently developed, they should be given the opportunity to edify the whole church.
Sixth, plurality should be expressed in the pulpit by more than just sharing in the teaching. I believe that the Scriptures are clear that two top priorities for all elders are prayer and the proclamation of God’s Word:
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:4)
I believe this means that all of the elders should have a voice in what is taught, and in who teaches. I would go so far as to suggest that the elders establish some guidelines governing what is taught and who is teaching. The primary teacher should not be left to himself in choosing his subject matter, or in determining how often he preaches, or in who will be invited to speak. These responsibilities fall on all the elders.
I would offer this word of practical advice at this point. When it comes to teaching through a book of the Bible I would not recommend sharing the exposition of that book, unless another speaker had something very valuable to contribute at a certain point in the exposition. Every teacher teaches a book of the Bible with a slightly different approach. Multiple teachers in a book series tends to confuse, in my opinion. Far better to interrupt the book series and allow someone else to teach a different book or topic.
Having said all of this, I would also offer a few words of caution regarding an excessive plurality in the pulpit.
First, I am not in favor of a round-robin approach to pulpit teaching, where each elder gets “equal time” in the pulpit. This seems to contradict Paul’s words to Timothy:
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” (1 Tim. 5:16-19)
The inference seems to be clear here, and it conforms to our experience. While some elders are “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2), not all elders are gifted expositors from the pulpit. Paul assumes that some elders will devote more time and energy to preaching than others, and that makes sense. This would also be true of the exercise of the other spiritual gifts.
In the end, one would hope that plurality in the pulpit, as elsewhere, would encourage people to look to Jesus as the Head of the church, and for Him to be preeminent.
By Bob Deffinbaugh