- no matter how many weeks you take to prepare, it will change the morning of the delivery
- even if you read all the books you have found on the subject, one more will pop up the day before
- picking fewer than 5 Bible verses dealing with the Cross is hard
- it is easier to deliver your first sermon when your wife is there
- it is also encouraging to have your friends (thanks Kirk) and in-laws there
- hearing "oh, I wouldn't miss this for anything Lowell" is, well, only a bit of pressure
- even if you write the whole thing out word for word, ad-lib is going to happen
- carry a tissue next time for the sniffles
- you cannot pray and prepare enough, but the Holy Spirit will work through it
- you critique other's sermons less after you have done it yourself...
and finally, God is gracious and extends much grace to those who are willing to try.
The week before I was scheduled to preach, I was getting a bit angry actually, at God and at our Pastor Sam for asking me to preach on the Cross and atonement. Tough subject, first time preaching, not qualified, scared, nervous, all of that. I sat down a few days prior, opened my Bible, and there was Jeremiah. This is what I read:
The Call of Jeremiah (Chapter 1)
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6 “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”
7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.
The way I read that was: I asked you to do this, you are following My call, so just do it. After that, I was less grumbly...
If you want to listen to a bit of what I learned about the Cross, you can find it here:
What else is in store for this calling? I am walking in faith that it will be doable, that I will learn from it, and that somehow, in it all, I will be effective for the Kingdom.
May God bless you as you follow Him in your calling.
Lowell
