As a preacher, I have many times believed something that isn’t true. I have believed that preaching makes a difference. I can’t count how many problems I’ve tried to solve with a sermon series or how many times I’ve told myself that if I preach enough good sermons things will change. I keep preaching because it is the best thing I can do.
As a preacher, I have many times believed something that isn’t true. I have believed that preaching makes no difference at all. No one is really listening. They can’t remember what I say a day later. It doesn’t really help and nothing really changes. I keep preaching because I don’t know what else to do.
As a preacher, I have believed many things that aren’t true.
What about you?
7 responses so far...
Thanks Tim. I’m sending you a free gift via prayer! 
I sometimes believe that preaching is all about me…my skills, my righteousness, my rightness. I believe the lie that good sermons are delivered by good preachers. This perspective is okay as long as I avoid comparing myself to a better preachers!
Hey – your preaching has changed my life! And, not just saying that – I mean it with every fiber in me! Thanks for making a difference and keep preaching!
It could be that preaching does not make a difference we would like for it to make because it places the congregant in a passive state that many times does not produce an action.
I am believing more and more that our gatherings need to allow the body of Jesus (his church)to express worship in various ways in order to glorify God and teach one another. All believers need to be free and feel responsible to express teaching and edification in many ways. The first Christians changed their world because they responded to Jesus-not speeches “about” living for Jesus.
For too long, we have accepted the sole responsibility of bringing forth a message We need to allow the head of the church to run things when we gather. The Holy Spirit prompts the Christian life. That life lived out loud is brought forth in our gatherings in order to glorify the Father and build up the body. That way the head gets to be the head and the body functions like it needs to.
It could be that we are trying to hard as preachers to take his place–probably because the expectation is that we are to be the voice of the head. That’s way too much pressure.
What would happen if our assemblies allowed the the body to function instead of placing them in a mute position to simply listen to the oration? It might be that life would return to all the believers and in turn begin again to change the world.
I hope all this makes sense. It’s so new to me that I sometimes have a problem expressing it. I love you brother and feel your pain. We all want all of us to be different in the world.
Thanks to all who commented, especially those offering encouragement. I can never get enough of that.
I may have missed my mark on this post. I was pointing out the paradox that preachers must live with. It’s a mistake to make too much out of preaching. It’s also a mistake to make too little of it.
And, congregations also sometimes believe things that aren’t true: If we get a NEW preacher, things will change…If the preacher — (you fill in the blank), this congregation would really grow! etc., etc!
I think sermons change lives and I think it happens a lot. At the very least, sermons serve as reminders, refresher courses, if you will, to replenish desperately needed spirituality for imperfect Christians. It takes a lot to keep the “soul train” on the tracks, and Sunday messages are critical to accomplish this.
I know I haven’t talked about what you asked for, but I wanted to give you encouragement. I’m a member of Highland Oaks in Dallas and remember much of what you’ve presented to us in your guest appearances over the past few years.