I began preaching as a teenager in the church my father pastored. I reckon I have preached a couple thousand sermons at this point in my ministry.
Over the years I have admired and sought to emulate a number of preachers.
Early on, I suppose, it was impossible to not emulate my own father. He has both an energy and a warmth that can only come from a sincere man who has a burden for souls.
In high school and college I listened to a lot of Matt Chandler as well as a few other “Young, Restless, and Reformed” men and always appreciated their direct approach.
Also in college, I was introduced to the preaching of both Tim Keller and Mark Dever.
Tim believed the goal of the sermon was to cause the listener to worship. He preached messages aimed at the heart, holding up Christ as the answer. They are still the most beautiful sermons I’ve ever heard. I still weep with love and adoration for Christ when I listen to them.
Mark clearly believed all of Scripture was profitable. He explained, theologized, and applied with breadth and depth. And he’s a true shepherd. There can be no doubt that this man loves the flock of Christ.
As I have progressed in my own preaching ministry the biggest surprise has been that I’ve never been able to settle into a single style for myself. I’ve gone through seasons preaching 30 minute “Kelleresque” sermons that move toward Christ. In other seasons I’ve felt the need for to give my people 50 minute sermons with loads of “meat.” And I typically feel when I am in one season, the want of the other.
Preaching is the most difficult thing I do in the ministry. Effective preaching requires so much more than understanding and explaining a text. It requires knowing a church and explaining themselves to them. It requires constant attention to one’s own spiritual life. Preachers know when they are spiritually dry, and my guess is that our churches do as well. Only, they are patient enough to continue listening as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.
As I write this post, I’m half way through a 12 week sabbatical. I miss my church so much. I do not yet miss preaching, though I have outlined 3 series of sermons for the Fall and Winter of this year.
Preaching is a grind, and I believe one of the ways you know you are called to the ministry of the Word is that you embrace and even enjoy that grind. You know the sermon is there, you just have to dig it out of the dirt.
If you are a preacher, I admire you. I don’t care how big your church is, or where it’s located. If you are opening your Bible every week, trusting the Lord Jesus lead you to food for his sheep, you have my respect. And your labor is not in vain. The worst sermon you’ve ever preached, if done in faith and trust in the Word, won’t return void.
So, whether we ever feel comfortable in the study and the pulpit (and perhaps we dare not) let’s press on because Sunday is coming and the sheep need to be fed.