Preaching workshop
to focus on Holy Spirit
By Brian Koonce
Staff Writer
RAYTOWN – Missouri’s pastors will be invited to take a second look at the Holy Spirit’s role in preaching during the fourth annual Preaching Workshop Dec. 1-2 at First Baptist Church here.
Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Director of Evangelism Gary Taylor said pastors at every age and experience level will benefit from the workshop.
“Whether you’re educated or uneducated, have been to seminary or haven’t been to seminary, I think this year’s workshop is for you,” he said. “One of the worst mistakes we as preachers make is to stop learning and growing. You always need to keep sharpening that edge; education is a continuing thing. Preaching is primary in the Bible and preaching must be primary with what we do today.”
The goal for each year’s workshop is to include one professor and one practitioner on the schedule. The professor will be Greg Heisler, associate professor of preaching at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He will lead three sessions based on his latest book, Spirit-Led Preaching.
“I have as many preaching books as an entire shelf would hold, but this is the first book that really focused on the place of the Holy Spirit in sermon preparation and delivery,” Taylor said. “I ate the book up. We really need to hear that message.”
As for the practitioner, Kenny Qualls, senior pastor at First Baptist Church, Arnold, will address the simple nuts and bolts he has learned in the pulpit. Qualls is unique among Missouri Baptist pastors in that he is pastor of one of the larger churches in the state yet does not have a seminary degree.
“Many of our pastors in Missouri are not seminary graduates,” Taylor said, “and I want guys who have never been to seminary or even college to be able to take something away from it. Kenny is pretty much self-taught and his preaching is without peer.”
Host Pastor Paul Brooks will deliver a message focusing on reaching postmoderns. There will also be several question-and-answer sessions over the course of the workshop.
Registration is $25 before Nov. 12, then $35 until the deadline of Nov. 19. Registration includes a copy of Heisler’s book, conference materials, and dinner. For more information or to register, contact Betty Benz at 1-800-736-6227, ext. 656, or bbenz@mobaptist.org.