Well, who knew that sermons would be the latest topic to emerge in our ongoing social-media controversies? And while we’re on the subject, I’m not here to get mired in the intricacies of the debate, but to encourage you with these simple words: pastor, preach your sermon.
Two reminders:
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You have a people given to you by God to shepherd.
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You have the Word given to you by God to shepherd your people with.
Here’s what gospel preachers are called to do with the Word (among other things):
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Pray the Word
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Observe the Word
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Explain the Word
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Illustrate the Word
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Apply the Word
I’m not your schoolteacher. I know you know this. And I know I’m writing to faithful preachers who labor week in and week out to shepherd their people with the grace and truth of God’s word.
But here’s what is also true. We preachers share a common enemy who would like to obscure our hearts and clutter our minds during the painstaking process of preparing to preach God’s Word. He knows we’re still going to preach it, but He would love for our consciences to feel as condemned as possible when we step into the pulpit on Sunday.
He would like us to feel empowered to preach with the wrong motivations. He would like us to be motivated to preach with the wrong inspirations.
So don’t cave into his whims. Don’t let your integrity be ravaged by your adversary, the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion (1 Pet. 5:8). Instead, preach your sermon during this out-of-season moment and be confounded once again that the Word you speak is a death-defying proclamation of illuminating light that has the power to bring lost souls back into the land of the living.