You Don't Have to Preach Alone
My being a pastor is direct evidence of God having a sense of humor. The truth is, he simply redeemed my incessant need to be the center of attention. I keep this in mind nearly everyday, especially when I preach.
There is something deeply serious and absolutely elating about standing in front of anyone to teach. From the first time I ever preached until now, my passion, joy, and dedication for it has only grown.
What continues to change the most in me is not my presentation or even my elocution. Rather, it’s about what is rolling around in my head and heart. At times, my dark side wants the sermon to be about my agenda or be filled with my thoughts.
Knowing the reality of my flawed self has caused me to invite many people to look ahead at the teachings to come. I want to consider the text from as many angles as possible.
Every month I spend time with our elder team sharing what is on my heart, listening to their thoughts, and discussing the text. Each week I discuss the upcoming sermon with my fellow pastors, asking them if I am on track.
During these times some ideas are pushed off the table, and new insights are gained. The more faithful I am to this, the more my ego is held in check, which is good for everyone. More than this, the more voices that speak into the teaching the more voices come through in the sermon.
Every time I teach there are many people from all walks of life who listen. The reality is I do not know (or consider) the viewpoint of each person. This is not because I do not want to, but because I am one person with a limited view on life.
Spending time with men and women who engage the teaching alongside me has broadened my viewpoint. Studying together brings light into places that I otherwise would not have seen, and lends confidence and credibility to what will be preached.
It is a dangerous thing to study in isolation for hours, prepare a sermon, and then go and preach it. If you’re anything like me there is tremendous potential to err when left to your own devices. After all, the Bible is a communal book, so why would anyone approach, study, or teach it alone?