One of the qualifications of a minister, as given by the apostle Paul to Timothy, is that he be "apt to teach" (I Tim. 3:2).  Sad to say, I have known men who have been ordained to the ministry who were more apt to confuse and misinform than they were to teach.  Poor judgment has often been used in ordaining men to the ministry---(and to the deaconship too as to that matter).  Prayerful consideration of their qualifications has been sadly lacking in many cases.  This, probably as much as any other one thing, has contributed to the weakened condition of many of our churches.

The Greek words that our translators rendered "apt to teach" mean "skilled in teaching."  When a man preaches, his hearers should learn something from his preaching.  It should be instructive and edifying.  It is the business of ministers to explain and expound the Scriptures, or to "open and allege" (See Acts 17:3). 

Some men give no forethought to what they want to talk about when they go into the pulpit, and no matter what text they take for a beginning point, they merely rattle off whatever shallow thoughts come to their mind, and the listener is left with nothing of any depth or substance but only a string of disconnected thoughts that do not necessarily have any relation one with the other.  If they can sound like they are preaching that is all it takes to satisfy them that they are doing so.  What I am speaking of here may appear harsh to some, but I have been observing it for more than fifty years and it distresses me no less now than it did in the beginning.  I am genuinely sorry for men who have been placed in the ministry in name only, for it is a difficult enough responsibility even for those who have been called to it.  However, I grieve even more for the damage such a misstep as ordaining unqualified men does to the churches. 

Skill in teaching requires, first of all, God-given abilities, and secondarily, but no less important, it requires prayerful and diligent study and meditation.  How can a man teach what he does not know, and how can he preach in demonstration of the Spirit and of power without unction from on high?  If a man has not studied sufficiently to even be able to quote or give the content and essence of a text correctly, how can he expound and explain it correctly?  If he does not even know what it says, how can he know what it means?

Dear Lord, wouldst Thou lead, guide, and direct Thy people as to whom they should ordain to the ministry, and then lead, guide and motivate those who are thus ordained to give themselves as wholly to the work as is necessary to qualify them to teach Thy inspired word in such way that it will edify the hearers. ---Elder Ralph Harris