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Jeepers, dear hosepipe, you covered a lot of ground in that post - the individual points of which could each result in a long sidebar discussion.

There is only one point though which I wish to address and that is the qualification for conveying the words of God.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry [thee] whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. – John 21:15-19

The qualification of course is to love Jesus. If we love Jesus, we are to feed His sheep. Which is to say, convey the words of God to His sheep:

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. - Matthew 4:4

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. – 1 Corinthians 10:1-4

Christ repeated it three times in John 21 showing the importance of the qualification and the duty. Also, He did not call Peter "Peter" or "rock" in the command - showing that the qualification applies to everyman.

If we love Jesus, we are to convey the words of God.

The Apostles, of course, love Him - most strongly, the Apostle John - so no wonder they conveyed the words of God.

To God be the glory!

About feeding "sheep"... Well many study long to feed themselves for the purpose feeding the sheep.. Then come and vomit it all up on the congregation at some point.. Thats like feeding "birds", not sheep..

With sheep you must take the sheep to ground they can feed themselves.. by example mostly.. You can teach with words somewhat but every human ever born is a preacher by what he does or does not do..

Everybody is a preacher.. by what they do.. Which speaks much more loudly than what they/you say.. So everyone is an Evangelist for something.. YES YOU, (lurker)..

To ALL I say.. What are you preaching?...