So first of all, let's, let's talk about the importance of preaching in the life of the, the local church and a man's call to preach the Word.

Well, it's absolutely critical for the life of the church, not just because there's one man standing in a pulpit who's declaring God's Word, though that, of course, is what it is by definition.

But I would say that the New Testament gives us a very, very beautifully balanced dynamic with regard to both the public proclamation of the Word, but also the private admonitions and encouragements.

All you have to do is comb through the New Testament, uh, especially as it relates to the one another's, the so-called one another's of the New Testament, and you will find that those particular one another's that speak loudest of the care for one another, that's not happening from a pulpit other than the teaching that we should do those things, but it's not being demonstrated as the preaching is going on.

That can only be demonstrated in the life of the church.

If you think about it, if, if there is, particularly in our, uh, context in the United States and perhaps even, you know, most of the other countries of the world, the time for preaching compared to all of the days of a week in the life of a church is very scant.

If you just do simple, you know, mathematics, if you're preaching a sermon, let's say, uh, the, the worship of the saints on the Lord's Day with a couple of hours, you will be dwarfed with all of the other hours of a week in a local church with all kinds of other ministry that's going on in that church.

Is one-on-one discipleship a biblical concept?

Well, good morning, Bethany.

Wonderful to be with all of you and even so many of you that I have not yet met because when I left, you decided to come.

Take that however you want.

What a wonderful time to be in the Lord's vineyard and in this place.

This is an opportunity to rejoice in God's goodness at what has happened on the hill.

I remember with great fondness a number of years ago when this wasn't even thought of, but then some churches began to merge together.