Examining the vital link between preacher, prayer, and proclamation

127 Pages·2012·12.74 MB·English

ASBURY SEMINARY
1 990508081
Abstract
Once asked by American visitors to reveal the secret of iiis ministry, Ciiarles
Spurgeon replied, "My people pray for me." While this great English preacher
proclaimed God's word, hundreds of his members gathered in a lower auditorium of
London's Metropolitan Tabernacle to bathe the worship service in prayer. Receiving
prayer, however, reveals only part of the answer. Spurgeon developed a diligent
practice of prayer in his private life. "The minister who does not earnestly pray over
his work must surely be a vain and conceited man," Spurgeon told his ministerial
students. "He acts as if he thought himself sufficient of himself, and therefore needed
not to appeal to God" (Wiersbe 50).
Motivated by accounts such as the one above, I entered into an experiment in
prayer with select members of my church, Mount Pisgah Baptist in Bremen,
Kentucky. Specifically, I sought to determine the impact of an intensive, forty-day
prayer journey on the preacher and twelve intercessors.
Preparation for the project began with my own private "pre-journey" journey.
Then we ventured into the plan as a group. My personal journal served as a data
generating device during the entire process. Intercessors read Scripture passages and
recorded reflections on "Weekly Warrior Worksheets." A concluding focus group
generated invaluable information.
This project rattled my cage spiritually. Like never before I sensed the need to
devote more time to private prayer. Preachers must set the example. More
importantly, I found that people want to pray and will when sufficiently challenged.
Every congregation contains those budding pilgrims who desire a deeper
walk. These dear ones want to be led; they hunger tor deeper commitment.
Prayer rooms, chains, and lists serve a purpose, yet churches must mobilize
"warriors" who will sacrifice time and energy before the throne of God. Only then
will preachers and preaching experience an anointing that God desires to release.
Read on to discover the "vital link between preacher, prayer and proclamation."
DISSERTATION APPROVAL
This is to certify that the dissertation entitled
EXAMINING THE VITAL LINK BETWEEN
PREACHER, PRAYER, AND PROCLAMATION
presented by
Todd Gaddis
has been accepted towards fulfillment
ofthe requirements for the
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY degree
Asbury Theological Seminary
Wilmore, Kentucky
A^WV^lA^.
^ February 21, 1998
Mentor ^ Date
fy^
February 21, 1998
Internal Reader Date
^jjiO^'^ (7.. OjrKjcHnejujzJ February 21, 1998
Director, Doctor ofMinistry Program Date
EXAMINING THE VITAL LINK BETWEEN
PREACHER, PRAYER, AND PROCLAMATION
ADissertation
Presentedto
Faculty ofAsbury Theological Seminary
In Partial Fulfillment
ofthe Requirements forthe Degree
Doctor ofMinistry
by
Todd Gaddis
May 1998
AllScripturequotations,unlessotherwiseindicated,aretakenfrom
theHolyBible:NewInternational Version �. Copyright� 1973,
1978, 1984bytatemationalBibleSociety.
� 1998
Todd Gaddis
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements vi
Chapter
1. OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY 1
Understanding the Problem 1
Theological Foundation 2
Context of the Study 6
Purpose 9
Research Questions 9
Definition of Terms 9
Description of the Project 10
Instrumentation and Data Collection 12
Delimitations and Generalizability 13
Variables 13
Overview 14
2. PRECEDENTS IN THE LITERATURE 15
The Preacher Must Pray 16
Give Thanks in all Circumstances 16
The Sermon is Formed in the Closet 17
Humility and Prayer are Inseparable 19
iii
Table of Contents (continued)
The Spirit Provides the Power 22
Encountering Obstacles in Prayer 26
Prayer Involves Listening to God 31
The People Must Pray for the Preacher 34
Group Prayer Ignites God's Power 35
Unbelief Sabotages Group Prayer 37
The Pastor Must Take the Initiative 38
Multi-Levels of Intercession Work Best 44
A Mountainous Effort in Seoul 50
The Secret of Skyline's Success 51
Synthesis 56
3. DESIGN OF THE STUDY 58
The Problem and Purpose 58
Research Questions 59
Instrumentation and Data Collection 61
Subjects 64
Variables 64
Data Analysis 64
iv
Table of Contents (conlinued)
4. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY 66
Pre-Journey Prayer Activity 66
The Pre-Project Journey 66
Selection of the Warriors 69
Pre-Journey Summary 73
Implementation and Evaluation of the Journey 73
Reflections from the Preacher 73
Response from the Warriors 75
Change Agents in the Journey 77
5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 80
APPENDICES 89
1. How to Spend Extended Time in Prayer 89
2. Weekly Warrior Worksheets 93
3. Sunday Morning Pastor/Warrior Prayer Meeting 105
4. Focus Group Response Form 106
WORKS CONSIDERED 107
v
Acknowledgments
Reflecting on the path that brought me to this point, I compare myself to the
"turtle on the fencepost." Obviously, I had help getting here.
First, many thanks to the Asbury Theological Seminary people. Carroll Hunt,
Chuck McKinney, Michelle Powers, and Angie Smith do such a good job. Dr. Leslie
Andrews' helpful suggestions and committment to excellence continually guided me.
Dr. Donald Demaray was always there to encourage, uplift and inspire (not to
mention edit!). Dr. Reg Johnson provided valuable insight as well.
Members of Bremen, Kentucky's Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, thank you for
allowing me to pursue this degree. To my Congregational Reflection Group, thank
you for the time you invested. Prayer Warriors, you helped make possible the
completion of this project. Jo Ann Whitaker, Diana Woodbum, Karen Gaddis,
Geraldine Ewing, and Nancy Carol Vincent, thank you for assisting in the word
processing. Thanks to Wilson Lofland and Charles Midkiff for listening and
instructing as Field Supervisors.
Appreciation goes to Tommy Kendall for his concern and support. Mr. and Mrs.
James L. Gaddis, my mom and dad, helped and encouraged.
Thank you daughters Jessica and Rachel for thejoy you bring into my life. Love
and appreciation goes to my wonderful wife Charlene for constant love, faith and
encouragement. I remember you saying a few years ago, "Todd, you need to be
writing."
Most of all, I thank God.
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