Preachers & Preaching

Sky McCraken, online friend & colleague, wrote this recently and it’s too good not to share —-

A few years ago, I read the phrase, “Preaching is a heavy gift.” It helped me better describe to others how difficult the process is for me. While your shoes might be shined, your vestments sharply pressed, your educational credentials impeccable, and titles are listed in front your name – none of these things will carry the sermon for you.

Warren Buffet said in the height of the banking crisis some ten years ago, “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.” Preaching puts you on display. If you don’t have the goods, you’ll be exposed. As pastor Jason Allen says: “Preaching and teaching God’s Word has a way of stripping us all bare; it exposes us and puts our gifting on public display.” Yes. Introvert hell.

Preaching takes hard work, hard study, and a lot of pre-planning, planning, and nerve. I’ve always had to work weeks ahead because it doesn’t come easily to me. I know when the tide goes out that approach and discipline count; if I don’t do the work, I’ll be left exposed and found wanting. And sometimes, even when I’ve done the work… I can still be left exposed and found wanting.

The listening for God’s still voice is the hardest part. I stare at walls or the ceilings. I close my eyes. I read the text and review my notes. Repeat.

Back to it.

—- KaBoom!

As you probably know —

It’s exactly the same no matter what a person’s religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. “Everyone who calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help.”

But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? (— Romans 10:12-17, the Message version)

—- Pray for your pastor, and let’s meet back here tomorrow.