Sam Pursell is a friend. He was once a kid in the Youth Group that I used to pastor. So I've known him since he was in Year 7 (Middle School for my US readers). He is now in ministry, training at Roseville East to spend a lifetime preaching Christ. He writes over at On The Way.Today he writes an honest post on preaching -- a reflection that took me back to 1989. He writes how hard it is to preach:
Why is preaching so hard? I hardly get nervous about anything in my life, but the prospect of presenting the gospel in front of more than 8 people can twist my stomach like a wet sponge being wrung out? How can I listen back to my sermon and be bored at the sound of my own voice? Why does a pulpit make my arms stop acting naturally and instead move like a robot in a game of charades?I totally remember this. I still have fear when preaching, but not like I did 20 years ago. 20 years ago I would hope, for a whole week beforehand, that the ground would open up and take me away. I found preaching harder than exams. Much harder.
But then Sam applies these thoughts to the Bible, in a way that makes me think that I need to continue to feel like I did in 1989. Treasure in Jars of Clay.
Indeed.
Good work.
Take a look HERE.
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Pic on Flickr by johnontwowhells.
3 comments:
Nice post.
I wonder too whether there are seasons in preaching.
Some periods of time it's very much the sense of inadequacy. Others, this fear takes the form of a fierce love that is determined to do everything you can to enable others to hear the voice of God.
Yes, Katay.
And the other season -- to be rejected -- is a season of apathy. Where one knows how to preach, and gets lazy in reading, application, insight, truth and passion.
May God spare us.
Thanks Justin. Well we know which season I am in ;)
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