We wrapped up our Greater Things series this weekend.
If I had to summarize my approach to preaching right now it'd be: let it rip. I feel like I'm speaking out of the overflow of what God is doing in my heart. That is when ministry is pure joy. I feel like part of maturing as a preacher is becoming less theoretical and more experiential. You're not preaching points. You're preaching convictions. Why? Because you haven't just studied it. You've experienced it.
Having said that, let me share some encouragement with pastors. Even when you feel like you're hitting on all eight-cylinders, people will still snore during your messages and send you scathing emails. How do I know this? Because both things happened today.
Granted, the snorer was one of our homeless friends who was probably on the streets all night. He might have needed the sleep more than he needed my message. But the email may be the most scathing email I've ever gotten. I don't say that to invoke any sort of sympathy. I honestly welcome those letters. They keep you grounded. And I get a hundred complimenting emails for every one critical email. I share it to share this: you've got to preach for an audience of one. Otherwise you'll ride the roller coaster of people's opinion.
There is only one litmus test for our sermons: did I say what God wanted me to say? If I did, then all the criticism in the world doesn't matter. If I didn't, all the compliments in the world don't matter.
All in all, awesome weekend. Tough to end this series! We've got a ton of momentum as a church right now. The spiritual intensity is rising. And I don't know if I've ever felt more fire or more hunger.
If I had to summarize my approach to preaching right now it'd be: let it rip. I feel like I'm speaking out of the overflow of what God is doing in my heart. That is when ministry is pure joy. I feel like part of maturing as a preacher is becoming less theoretical and more experiential. You're not preaching points. You're preaching convictions. Why? Because you haven't just studied it. You've experienced it.
Having said that, let me share some encouragement with pastors. Even when you feel like you're hitting on all eight-cylinders, people will still snore during your messages and send you scathing emails. How do I know this? Because both things happened today.
Granted, the snorer was one of our homeless friends who was probably on the streets all night. He might have needed the sleep more than he needed my message. But the email may be the most scathing email I've ever gotten. I don't say that to invoke any sort of sympathy. I honestly welcome those letters. They keep you grounded. And I get a hundred complimenting emails for every one critical email. I share it to share this: you've got to preach for an audience of one. Otherwise you'll ride the roller coaster of people's opinion.
There is only one litmus test for our sermons: did I say what God wanted me to say? If I did, then all the criticism in the world doesn't matter. If I didn't, all the compliments in the world don't matter.
All in all, awesome weekend. Tough to end this series! We've got a ton of momentum as a church right now. The spiritual intensity is rising. And I don't know if I've ever felt more fire or more hunger.
8 Comments:
Aw gee...you're not going to share it Mark?
Let it rip, Pastor Mark. Seeing you fired up inspires us as a congregation.
people who leave scathing emails that soon after a church service are complete tools who deserve nothing more than having you hit delete and forget asap...keep doing what you are doing...can't wait for Primal, I know it's gonna rock!!!
Thanks for stoking the fire of those of us who look up to you and for offering yourself up as an example for us.
Hello Mark,
I believe my best ministry is when I've invested as much in preparing myself as I have in preparing the message.
Never heard you preach, but I am blessed by your blog,
Grace and Peace,
Mark
I especially love it when they use the "Sermon Notes" section of the bulletin to write their complaints and then drop it in the offering plate.
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Hey Pastor Mark! Been reading "Wild Goose Chase" and "ID: The True You" (for our Men's Group), and just started reading your blog.
Scathing emails and rude messages written on bulletin inserts are a good sign that God is using you to stir people up inside. When people are moved as such, they will do one of two things: either step further into the light and draw nearer to God; or step back into the "comfort" of the darkness and move away from God. Those who are moved to step back and lash out are the ones we need to pray for, not "delete and forget". They are the ones who don't want to hear God's truth, but need to open their hearts to it and haven't yet made the choice. And very often, people who have God strong in their heart have trouble hearing His truth, no matter how delivered.
God is mighty to save because He not only loves those who have turned to Him for salvation, but he EQUALLY LOVES those who have not yet opened their hearts completely to Him. When their hearts are being stirred by the Holy Spirit, it is because God wants a relationship with them, and wants them to turn to Him for salvation. God is loving on them. And WE need to love on them. Weren't we once in their place? And had we not been shaken and stirred in our lives, would we be who we are today? I think that even those of us who have been saved are more sinful than we like to admit. (From "ID: The True You ;) ) And it's only a matter of time before God stirs us up inside...again.
Keep being God's conduit. God will take care of the results in people. And keep chasing the Wild Goose!!
(Sorry this got so long!)
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