"The real test of preaching is not the praise of the public, nor even its faithfulness to the original Greek of the biblical text, but rather the ability of the pastor's sermon to evoke a prophetic people."
(taken from William Willimon's Proclamation & Theology)
The past few weeks have marked the first time I have "preached" (though I have "shared", lead chapels, bible studies, and other things) in front of a church, and while I have been encouraged by the feedback I have received, I find myself wrestling with the question deep within myself: Is what I am proclaiming in my Sunday endeavors eliciting any change in the people who are hearing it? Is it making any difference?
I know that it is the job of the Holy Spirit to move, to convict, to motivate, to encourage, to fan to flame God's people. I know that. Deep down inside. (And I find that SO relieving because it is not my job to change people, it is to proclaim the Gospel. The Holy Spirit changes people.) And I realize I most likely will not see the fruit of my labours. However, I cannot help but wrestle and pray that the words that I speak are being used to penetrate deep enough to inspire heart-change. I don't want to be told that I had a good sermon, or am a good speaker. I want to know how it has/or will change perspective, or change life.
Please Lord let me be faithful to declare your Word.
\manda
2 comments:
I love your focus!
Not to sound pessimistic... but you probably haven't changed them.
Never have I met a group of people more deeply set in their ways, and people in leadership so deeply committed to never changing anything, even if what they are doing is no longer relevant. I'm sorry to tell you this. Maybe you don't believe me now, but I'm willing to bet you will.
This thought really discouraged me, along with the observation that I had that this church will, undoubtedly, die in the next couple of years. (there is no telling these people that, however...)
BUT, maybe the lesson to be taken is for yourself. I spoke to Bruce Worthington about it (you will meet him) and he said that all things, even churches, have a life, and a lifespan, and that maybe the best thing to do is to let them carry on with what they are doing, live their life, and die, to allow something new to be born.
You may have an MDiv, but I've worked in a pile of churches and have way too much experience to ever want. Working in a church, and working with people, is a constant uphill battle, where you feel like your breaking your back on unmovable rocks just to convince people to have true faith, to be passionate about what they believe in, healthy enough to foster doubt, and convicted enough to do something about it.
And the hardest lesson for people to learn, especially people that care... is when to let go, and leave it in God's hands.
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