I have been a preacher of the gospel for some twenty-eight years now.
I preached my first sermon at fifteen on the occasion of my great grandfather’s eightieth birthday celebration. I’m sure it was terrible.
In fact, when I listen to anything that I preached five years ago, it sounds terrible. I’m sure that in five more years, my messages now will sound terrible.
But why would we assess it as such? Preaching is simply communicating a message. If the message is communicated, hasn’t the goal been attained.
Sure, some methods of communicating are better than others, but if the meaning of the message has gotten across, isn’t it successful?
Of all things, it is interesting to me that preaching can become prideful.
The medium itself was called foolish by the apostle Paul. How then can we find ourselves proud in our practicing of it?
Things such as eloquence and alliteration have crept in. Not to mention whether or not a message is considered “deep” or “meat”. Let me help. It is “deep” or “meat” if I have never heard the truth before or a friend of mine is the preacher. It is “shallow” or “milk” if it’s old territory for me or I don’t like you.
As I look back, the preachers who I enjoyed the most were the ones who helped me the most. They weren’t as interested in their outline or their alliteration of points as they were in passionately trying to help me.
I’d rather have a mechanic that is covered in grease, but is passionate about fixing my car, than a guy in a white lab coat with a clipboard that can read me the schematic, but can’t tell me how I’m going to get to work tomorrow.
Joel Stiff's Adventure 