Inter-America’s ministers directed to preach from the Bible

July 24, 2014 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens/IAD

Let God’s Word be spoken from the pulpit every Sabbath.

This was the core message given to ministers across the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America this week. The message was clear as top church leaders reminded ministers of their calling during an online presentation from Miami, Florida, United States, on July 22, 2014.

Pastor Robert Costa, associate ministerial secretary for the Adventist world church, told IAD pastors to based their sermons on the Word of God, “You do not need any other manuals, this is first class resource,” he said as he pointed to his Bible. Image by Shemaiah Telemaque/IAD

“Every sermon should be remembered by your listeners forever,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America as the online event began. “And the best way to do so is to let God’s Word speak from the pulpit.”

The online seminar was part of this year’s IAD ministerial association continuing education program. The program is designed to enrich the ministry of the 2,300 pastors currently ministering in more than 19,000 churches and congregations in the territory, said Pastor Hector Sanchez, ministerial association secretary for the church in Inter-America.

“If we want to take the Word, we need to take the time to read the Book,” said Pastor Robert Costa, international evangelist and associate ministerial secretary for the Adventist world church. “Plan your preaching with the Word of God, which is full of inexhaustible treasures. You do not need any other manuals, this is first class resource,” added Costa as he pointed to his Bible.

Costa told pastors that preaching from the Bible every Sabbath would double their membership and evangelism would take off as pulpits would become evangelistic centers.

“Pulpits of hope will get members used to hearing evangelistic preaching and help believers and visitors establish their faith on a solid biblical base,” added Costa.

Costa said ministers should also use key quotes from the prophets God called to deliver a message or announce an event, like Noah, Enoch… and Ellen G. White, a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Pastor Hector Sanchez, IAD ministerial association secretary, says that ministers to preach from the Bible and support their sermons with the writings of Ellen G. White to enrich the membership across the territory. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD

“The writings by Ellen G. White will enrich your messages, because they are based on the Bible truths,” said Costa.

It’s that dual bible-based preaching and the writings of Ellen G. White—or the Spirit of Prophecy—that church leaders want to see more across the IAD, said Pastor Sanchez.

“Unfortunately, in many of our churches the Spirit of Prophecy [writings] to support a Sabbath message is hardly heard,” said Pastor Sanchez. “We are concerned and want to motivate our pastors to preach the Word of God and support it with statements from the Spirit of Prophecy to enrich the lives of church members and those who will join the church too.”

“The world wants to hear the whole message,” said Costa. It’s about preaching a balanced and complete sermon, he said. “Post-modern and generation Xers want to hear the truth and how that truth connects with history and today, so you must present your messages from the Word of God.”

IAD leaders answered online questions about how a variety of guest ministers can affect the health of a church, available evangelistic resources, sermons, and more.

To view the one-and-a-half hour online presentation soon, visit us at interamerica.org

Click HERE to see our photo gallery.

For resources from the Adventist world church ministerial association, visit ministerialassociation.com