You’re qualified to preach when you’re connected to Jesus, honoring God in everyday life, caring about people, personally making disciples, and growing in a teaching gift. A seminary degree can help, but it isn’t the main qualification in Scripture. These five questions help any pastor, elder, or lay leader take an honest look at themselves before stepping into the pulpit. They also apply to anyone preaching sermons based on PursueGOD series, which churches are free to use and adapt.
1. Are You Connected to Jesus?
In the early church, preaching flowed from time with Jesus, not formal training.
Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Peter and John didn’t have impressive credentials, but people could tell they had been with Jesus. Your connection with the Lord through prayer and Scripture will shape your preaching more than any class.
2. Are You Honoring God in Everyday Life?
Preachers are qualified by solid character and sound doctrine.
Titus 1:7-9 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Notice that most of this list is about character. Your life before the sermon matters as much as your words during it.
3. Do You Care About People?
Godly preachers aren’t motivated by ego or money. They want to help people pursue God.
1 Timothy 6:3-4 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
Some preachers love theology; others love people. Healthy preaching needs both: sound truth delivered by someone who cares about the listeners.
4. Are You Personally Making Disciples?
You can’t lead someone to a place you’ve never been. Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20) applies to preachers first. When you’re walking with people one-on-one, your sermons become practical and real. (See What Is a Pastor’s Role in Making Disciples?)
5. Do You Have a Teaching Gift?
Not everyone is called to teach.
1 Corinthians 12:29-30 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Teaching is a serious responsibility. If you sense a teaching gift, it still needs to be tested by others, developed, and exercised. Ask trusted leaders for honest feedback, and look for opportunities to teach in smaller settings first.
The Takeaway
Before you preach, ask whether you’re connected to Jesus, living with integrity, caring about people, making disciples, and growing in a teaching gift. Those qualifications matter more than credentials.
