“It wasn’t your best.”

Mike Khandjian July 29 2010 - 3 Comments

If Sunday is what it is all about, preaching is the ‘thing.’ It is what we are all about as pastors. We spend a lot of time – sometimes too much – in all kinds of meetings, deliberations, confrontations and endeavors – but when it all comes down to it, if we have been ‘called’ (that’s the word we use to describe the inner sense that God wants us to enter into the ministry – it is very real, I can tell you) to lead churches, then we are about preaching.

Preaching is a thrill. As painfully tedious, heart-rending and mind stretching the process of preparation can be, the delivery is equally or more exhilarating and fun – it is a thrill to let loose in the pulpit – to throw all inhibition to the wind and freely proclaim the Good News – a ‘religious experience’ of its own kind. From the pulpit (whether an ornate piece of furniture or a music stand), and following the service, we are privileged to see lives that have been touched and affected by the message. This can be quite sobering actually. But for a preacher, preaching is the thing. I’ve talked with professional athletes who will tell you that ‘game day’ is the thing – that all the pain and sweat and sacrifice of getting into shape, and of long, hard practices, melt away when the umpire says, ‘Play ball!’ and the crowd begins to cheer. Okay, I know we aren’t professional athletes (though most of us want to be), but there is something about that moment when the singing is done and the prayers have been prayed and the scriptures have been read – and it is time to let it go and preach.

Preaching is also exhausting. (more…)