So You Would Become A Preacher?
Go And Sell All Your Possessions, (vanities) and ‘Come and Follow Me’
Matthew · Mark · Luke · John · Acts
G.R. Sterling
Go And Sell All Your Possessions, (vanities) and ‘Come and Follow Me’
Officers once sent to arrest Christ came back empty-handed, saying only, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46).
This study asks a harder question: if we are called to teach or preach His Word, what did His own manner require of us? It works through every recorded example of Jesus teaching in the Gospels and Acts, and draws out the rules and principles that marked the Master Teacher — not to imitate what only He could do, but to learn how a messenger ought to carry a message that was never his own.
“Never man spake like this man.”
—John 7:46
A red-letter index of the King James Version identifies 638 verses containing words of Jesus in Matthew, 289 in Mark, 573 in Luke, 423 in John, and 17 in Acts. Those numbers include parallel accounts of the same teachings. They also depend upon editorial choices about where the words of Jesus begin and end.
Acts contains additional words of the risen Lord that some red-letter systems do not mark. These include His conversation with Ananias, His warning to Paul to leave Jerusalem, His command to go to the Gentiles, His encouragement in prison, and a saying remembered by Paul that does not appear in the four Gospels: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 9:10–16; 20:35; 22:18–21; 23:11).
The purpose here is not to reproduce every saying. It is to examine the whole record and identify the manner, methods, aims, and principles that appear again and again.
Jesus did not teach merely to pass along information.
His teaching followed a greater pattern:
In one sentence:
Jesus received the message from the Father, spoke in the power of the Spirit, opened the Scriptures, revealed the kingdom, exposed the heart, called for a decision, and trained obedient witnesses.
That is the pattern we must follow.
We may learn from the preaching of Jesus. We cannot copy everything about it.
Jesus possessed authority within Himself.
We do not.
Jesus knew every human heart perfectly.
We do not.
Jesus could say, “But I say unto you,” because He is Lord over the Law.
We must say, “The Scripture says.”
Jesus preached Himself because He is the Savior, the King, the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection, and the only way to the Father.
We must never preach ourselves. We preach Him.
His authority was inherent. Ours is borrowed. His knowledge was perfect. Ours is limited. His words were without error. Ours must constantly be tested against Scripture. Matthew says that the people were astonished because Jesus taught as one having authority, not as the scribes. Yet Jesus also declared that His teaching came from the Father and that He sought the Father’s glory rather than His own.
We must therefore reflect His manner without pretending to possess His divine privileges.
Although Jesus addressed many subjects, His teaching centered upon several great truths.
Jesus revealed the Father’s character, love, holiness, mercy, authority, care, and will.
He taught people to pray, “Our Father.” He spoke of the Father who sees in secret, feeds the birds, clothes the lilies, forgives, judges, seeks worshippers, gives the Spirit, and receives returning children.
The kingdom stood at the center of His public preaching:
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Jesus described the kingdom through seeds, soil, treasure, pearls, nets, vineyards, servants, weddings, lamps, banquets, children, kings, debts, and harvests.
The kingdom was present in the King, yet its final fullness remained future.
Jesus did not present Himself as one teacher among many.
He taught that He is:
Everything turned upon what people did with Him.
Jesus did not preach self-improvement.
He called people to repent, believe the gospel, receive the kingdom, become as little children, be born again, and follow Him.
Jesus moved beyond outward conduct.
Murder begins in anger. Adultery begins in lust. Defilement comes from within. Words reveal the heart. Treasure directs the heart. Fruit reveals the tree.
His teaching attacked sin at its root.
The whole Law rests upon love for God and love for one’s neighbor.
That love includes enemies, strangers, sinners, the weak, the poor, the rejected, and those who cannot repay us.
Following Jesus requires surrender.
A disciple must deny himself, take up his cross, count the cost, remain in Christ, continue in His word, and place loyalty to Him above every competing claim.
Jesus condemned religion that counted small details while neglecting mercy, justice, faith, humility, and love.
He taught persistence, faith, forgiveness, humility, secrecy, submission, watchfulness, and confidence in the Father.
Jesus spoke often about wealth because money reveals allegiance.
One cannot serve God and mammon. Possessions may become a master. Riches can deceive. Giving can expose faith. Greed can destroy the soul.
Jesus spoke plainly about resurrection, accountability, separation, heaven, hell, reward, punishment, and His return.
Love did not make Him silent about judgment.
His disciples were called to become fishers of men, proclaim the kingdom, make disciples, teach His commandments, and witness to Him among all nations.
Jesus did not speak from Himself.
He said:
“My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.”
He also said the Father had commanded Him what to say and what to speak.
The first duty of a teacher is not creativity. It is fidelity.
Do not begin with:
“What would make a good sermon?”
Begin with:
“What has God said?”
Principle: We are messengers, not inventors.
Key passages: John 7:16–18; 8:28; 12:49–50; 14:10, 24.
Jesus identified a dangerous teacher:
“He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory.”
A sermon may mention God while still displaying the preacher.
The desire to sound clever, profound, scholarly, powerful, entertaining, or original can quietly replace the desire to glorify God.
The true teacher wants the hearer to leave thinking about Christ—not the speaker.
Principle: The moment the messenger becomes the attraction, the message has been weakened.
Jesus entered His public ministry “in the power of the Spirit.” At Nazareth He declared:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel.”
After His resurrection, He commanded the disciples to wait for the promised Spirit before becoming His witnesses.
Knowledge, structure, delivery, and personality are not enough.
Principle: Do not attempt spiritual work through human strength alone.
Key passages: Luke 4:1, 14, 18; Acts 1:4–8.
Jesus withdrew to pray.
He prayed before selecting the Twelve. He prayed before Peter’s confession. He prayed before the cross. He prayed alone after periods of intense ministry.
His prayer life was not a public performance. It was the hidden foundation of His public strength.
Principle: The unseen prayer must support the seen ministry.
Key passages: Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; 6:12–13; 9:18; 22:41–44.
During temptation, Jesus answered with Scripture.
At Nazareth, He read Scripture and declared its fulfillment.
When challenged, He asked:
After His resurrection, He opened Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms and showed how they testified of Him.
Scripture was not decoration attached to His message. It formed the message.
Principle: The Bible must govern the sermon, not merely appear inside it.
Key passages: Matthew 4:4–10; 12:3–7; 19:4–6; 21:16, 42; 22:29–32; Luke 4:16–21; 24:25–27, 44–47.
Jesus did not quote Scripture and stop.
He uncovered its purpose.
He showed that the Sabbath was made for man. Mercy stood above empty ritual. Marriage reached back to God’s creation. The commandments reached into the heart. David’s words revealed the greatness of the Messiah.
Principle: Reading the text is not the same as teaching the text.
A faithful teacher must explain:
Religious leaders often reduced God’s Word to regulations.
Jesus restored the larger purpose.
He joined commandments to love. Sabbath law to mercy. Giving to motive. Prayer to relationship. Marriage to creation. Purity to the heart.
Principle: Never teach a command apart from the character and purpose of the God who gave it.
Jesus did not build His message around personal success, national pride, emotional comfort, financial increase, or self-esteem.
He proclaimed God’s reign.
The kingdom called people away from self-rule and under the authority of God.
Principle: Biblical preaching must confront the question: Who rules this life?
Jesus could place Himself at the center because He is the center.
We place Him there because we are not.
The preacher is not the hero of the sermon. Personal stories may serve the truth, but the truth must never become a stage for the speaker.
Principle: Use yourself as a witness, never as the Savior.
Jesus could teach with great depth, but His central demands were plain:
He did not bury the main point beneath endless explanation.
Principle: A hearer should be able to state the message after the teaching ends.
Jesus did not present divine truth as a possibility among many equal opinions.
He said:
His certainty did not come from temperament. It came from truth.
Principle: Speak humbly about yourself. Speak confidently where Scripture is clear.
Jesus possessed unmatched authority, yet described Himself as meek and lowly in heart.
Authority is not shouting, intimidation, aggression, or theatrical force.
True authority rests upon truth, character, and faithfulness.
Principle: Volume cannot create authority. Neither can a title.
Jesus refused to settle for outward improvement.
He addressed anger beneath murder, lust beneath adultery, greed beneath possessions, pride beneath prayer, unbelief beneath questions, and hypocrisy beneath religion.
Principle: Do not merely trim bad fruit. Expose the root.
Ask:
Jesus drew lessons from:
People remembered His teaching because they encountered its images again in daily life.
Principle: Build a bridge from what people know to what they need to understand.
Jesus used many forms—poetry, proverbs, parallel statements, exaggeration, parables, similes, metaphors, riddles, irony, paradoxes, and questions—to make truth striking and memorable.
Jesus did not tell stories merely to entertain.
His parables exposed hearts, overturned assumptions, revealed the kingdom, confronted hypocrisy, and demanded judgment.
The Good Samaritan forced a lawyer to reconsider the meaning of “neighbor.”
The Prodigal Son exposed both open rebellion and hidden self-righteousness.
The Rich Fool exposed greed.
The Pharisee and the Publican exposed pride.
The Sower exposed the hearer.
Principle: A story must serve the truth. Never let the story become the entire point.
Many of Jesus’ parables quietly drew listeners into making a judgment. Only then did they realize that they had judged themselves.
That happened with the wicked husbandmen. It happened with Simon the Pharisee. It happened when Jesus questioned the lawyer after telling of the Samaritan.
Principle: The strongest application is often the truth the hearer recognizes before the teacher states it.
Jesus asked questions such as:
His questions searched motives, exposed contradictions, corrected assumptions, invited confession, and forced decisions.
Principle: Do not answer every question too quickly. Sometimes the hearer first needs a better question.
Some questions were sincere.
Others were traps.
Jesus responded differently.
Nicodemus asked about signs. Jesus addressed his need for new birth.
The Samaritan woman spoke about water. Jesus addressed her thirst, her life, and her need for true worship.
The lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus exposed his attempt to limit his duty.
The Pharisees asked about divorce. Jesus returned to God’s purpose in creation.
Principle: Listen for the need, fear, pride, wound, or motive hidden beneath the words.
Jesus did not speak to everyone in the same manner.
He spoke differently to:
The truth remained unchanged. Its delivery fitted the person and moment.
Principle: Faithfulness does not require sameness.
Mark says Jesus spoke the word to the crowds “as they were able to hear it.” Later, He explained matters privately to His disciples.
Near the end of His ministry, He told them:
“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”
Truth may need sequence.
Milk comes before strong meat. Foundations come before upper stories.
Principle: Do not weaken truth. Order it wisely.
Key passages: Mark 4:33–34; John 16:12.
Jesus taught multitudes. Then He explained difficult matters to His disciples in private.
The pulpit cannot accomplish every part of discipleship.
Some truths require:
Principle: Public preaching gathers people. Personal teaching forms them.
Jesus often used:
He also used repeated patterns:
These structures carried truth into memory.
Principle: Truth deserves form. Good structure helps the mind retain what the heart has heard.
Jesus rarely left people with a fog of possibilities.
There was:
Principle: Show the difference between obedience and disobedience. Do not blur what Jesus made clear.
Jesus spoke of plucking out an eye, cutting off a hand, swallowing a camel, moving a mountain, passing a camel through a needle’s eye, and straining at a gnat.
These were not empty attempts to shock people. The force of the image matched the seriousness of the truth.
Principle: Strong language must serve a strong truth—not the teacher’s desire for attention.
Jesus sometimes turned an action into a sermon.
He:
His conduct interpreted His words.
Principle: The teacher’s life is always teaching—even when his mouth is closed.
Jesus could say:
“I have given you an example.”
No gulf existed between His message and His life.
He taught service and washed feet.
He taught forgiveness and forgave His killers.
He taught prayer and prayed.
He taught sacrifice and gave Himself.
He taught love and loved to the end.
Principle: The life of the teacher either confirms the sermon or contradicts it.
Jesus was moved with compassion because people were like sheep without a shepherd.
He touched lepers. Received children. Fed the hungry. Wept with mourners. Defended the shamed. Welcomed sinners.
Yet compassion never caused Him to deny sin.
He could say both:
“Neither do I condemn thee”
and:
“Go, and sin no more.”
Principle: Grace does not pretend sin is harmless. Truth does not treat wounded people as enemies.
Jesus could be remarkably gentle with those crushed by sin.
He could be terrifyingly direct with those who used religion to hide pride, greed, cruelty, and unbelief.
To the burdened: “Come unto me.”
To hypocrites: “Woe unto you.”
To the ashamed: mercy.
To predators: warning.
To the humble: hope.
To the proud: exposure.
Principle: Do not crush the bruised reed. Do not flatter the wolf.
Jesus condemned:
Principle: Religious appearance must never receive protection at the expense of truth.
Jesus warned against praying, giving, and fasting “to be seen of men.”
He refused to perform signs for entertainment. He withdrew when crowds sought to make Him king for the wrong reason. When hard truth caused followers to leave, He did not change the message to win them back.
Principle: Popularity is not proof of faithfulness. Rejection is not proof of faithfulness either. The test is truth.
John 6 records many disciples turning back after a hard teaching.
Jesus did not run after them with a safer version.
He turned to the Twelve and asked whether they would also leave.
Principle: Never make the truth needlessly offensive. Never remove its offense to protect attendance.
Jesus sometimes answered hostile questions.
Sometimes He answered with another question.
Sometimes He told a story.
Sometimes He exposed the trap.
Sometimes He remained silent.
He did not allow an enemy to control the conversation merely by asking a question.
Principle: Silence may be wiser than entering a dishonest argument.
Jesus told the Sadducees:
“Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”
He corrected false beliefs about:
Principle: Love does not leave serious error untouched.
The disciples misunderstood parables, miracles, His death, His resurrection, servant leadership, faith, and the nature of the kingdom.
Jesus corrected them. Repeated Himself. Explained again. Asked questions. Gave examples. Rebuked when needed. Then continued teaching them.
Principle: Repetition is not failure. Some truths must be heard many times before they take root.
Jesus did not leave truth hanging in the air.
His teaching ended with calls such as:
His Sermon on the Mount ended with two builders. Hearing without doing meant building upon sand.
Principle: Teaching is incomplete until the hearer knows what obedience requires.
People were astonished at Jesus’ teaching.
Astonishment alone was never the goal.
The wise man was not the person who admired the saying. He heard and did it.
Principle: A sermon has not succeeded merely because people liked it, praised it, shared it, or remembered it. The question is whether they obeyed God.
When Jesus called people, His instructions were often concrete:
Principle: Do not end with vague spiritual feeling. Show what faithfulness looks like next.
Jesus did not keep the Twelve as permanent spectators.
He called them to be with Him. Then He sent them to preach.
They received instructions, authority, responsibility, opposition, experience, and correction.
The seventy were also sent out. They returned and reported what had happened. Jesus then corrected their excitement by directing their joy toward salvation rather than power.
Principle: Hear, observe, practice, report, correct, and send again.
Jesus warned His messengers that some would refuse them.
They would face hatred, persecution, betrayal, false accusations, imprisonment, and death.
He did not sell discipleship through false promises of ease.
Principle: A teacher who promises obedience without cost has not taught the way Jesus taught.
The world’s rulers exercise authority over others.
Jesus said it must not be so among His disciples.
The greatest must become servant. The first must become last. The leader must care for the weak. The Master washed feet.
Principle: Christian authority bends down. It does not climb over people.
The manner of Jesus did not change after His ascension.
His recorded words in Acts sharpen several principles for the church.
Before witnessing, the disciples had to wait for the Holy Spirit.
Activity was not a substitute for power from God.
Acts 1:4–5
Jesus said:
“Ye shall be witnesses unto me.”
A witness tells what he knows to be true. He does not become the center of the testimony.
Acts 1:8
The mission moved from Jerusalem to Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.
Principle: Do not use concern for distant people to avoid faithfulness to those nearby.
To Saul, Jesus asked:
“Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”
The question forced Saul to face what he was doing and whom he was attacking.
Jesus identified Himself before giving Saul his next instruction.
By persecuting believers, Saul was persecuting Jesus.
Principle: Christ identifies Himself with His church. How people treat His people matters to Him.
Jesus called:
“Ananias.”
He called:
“Saul, Saul.”
He gave each man a definite assignment.
Ananias had to go to Saul. Saul had to rise, enter the city, receive instruction, bear Christ’s name, and suffer for it.
Principle: Calling must lead to obedience.
At Corinth, the Lord told Paul:
“Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee.”
Courage rested not upon Paul’s personality, but upon Christ’s presence.
Acts 18:9–10
Jesus told Paul that his ministry would:
That is one of Scripture’s clearest descriptions of the purpose of gospel ministry.
Acts 26:16–18
Paul wanted to remain among his own people.
Jesus said:
“Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
The messenger does not choose his mission merely by comfort, familiarity, or acceptance.
Acts 22:18–21
In Jerusalem, Jesus stood beside Paul and said:
“Be of good cheer.”
Paul’s work was not finished. As he had testified in Jerusalem, he would also testify in Rome.
Principle: The presence of opposition does not mean the mission has failed.
Paul preserved a saying of Jesus not recorded in the four Gospels:
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
This saying was connected with labor, generosity, and supporting the weak.
Acts 20:35
Jesus held together truths that we often separate.
He was:
His manner cannot be reduced to one style.
He was not always quiet.
Not always forceful.
Not always indirect.
Not always plain.
Not always gentle.
Not always severe.
Perfect love determined the manner required by the person, truth, danger, and moment.
Before teaching or preaching, ask:
Jesus did not merely deliver sermons.
He gave Himself.
His words carried authority because truth, character, love, obedience, sacrifice, and mission were perfectly joined in Him.
Therefore, the final principle is this:
Become what you teach.
Let the Word first search the teacher.
Let repentance begin in the pulpit.
Let prayer precede proclamation.
Let private life support public speech.
Let compassion govern tone.
Let Scripture govern content.
Let Christ remain the center.
Let obedience remain the goal.
Let the Spirit supply the power.
Then speak—not to display knowledge, build a following, win applause, or protect a reputation.
Speak so that eyes may open.
Speak so that darkness may give way to light.
Speak so that captives may hear of freedom.
Speak so that sinners may receive forgiveness.
Speak so that believers may become disciples.
Speak so that disciples may become witnesses.
Speak so that God may be glorified.
For never did a man speak like this Man.