Some Sermons Suck

I believe for the most part we all have good pastors who we really respect. Generally they have good sermons that point us to Christ and admonish us to be godly. But let's face it; sometimes their sermons leave something to be desired. They just aren't getting through to us.

Maybe they were really busy this week.

Maybe they were sick.

Maybe there was a family issue. We think.

Or, maybe you weren't praying for him throughout the week. Yes that's right, maybe the pastor was working really hard all week, studying a ton, spending much time in prayer, and he thought he put together a great sermon, but because you weren't praying for him 1. your heart wasn't ready to listen, and 2. he didn't receive the encouragement and blessings he would have gotten from your prayers.

Next time you complain about a sermon you heard that you didn't like, ask yourself this question; how much time did I spend in prayer for my pastor this week? How much did I encourage him this week? Because if you have not been praying for your pastor you have no right to speak against him in your heart or to anybody else.

Pray for your pastor. Especially on Mondays--a lot of pastors say that's their hardest day.

Comments

Surprise Sin

Over Easter weekend I had the opportunity to visit my grandparents. We caught up over soup and egg salad sandwiches and then migrated to the living room with cups of tea. Gradually the conversation turned to a couple young siblings from their church whom they've observed seldom fight. Sometimes these kids do get angry or annoyed with each other and then they fight, but that is not their normal relationship. My grandfather made this observation, "isn't that just like sin? You are living your life of obedience and then all of a sudden its like sin gets the better of you." It was a comforting statement coming from my elderly grandfather who has been walking with the Lord for over 80 years. Even as a seasoned saint, sin still creeps up on him. But it has also made me think quite a bit. Sometimes I am tempted to think that if I do everything right (regular devotions, get enough sleep, listen to good music, eat well, have Christian fellowship, exercise) then I won't fal...

Delayed Grief

Grief is a crazy thing. Sometimes you cry till you fall asleep, sometimes you're angry, sometimes you can't feel anything, and sometimes you're so, so tried. Grief is also unpredictable in that it can take a long time to heal...and sometimes it feels like its been healed and then you're crying on your way home from the grocery store and you aren't even sure why. Grief is not logical and polite and convenient. It interrupts our lives on its terms. A couple mornings ago I was thinking about how tired I am. I'm not weepy or angry or even really sad, just tired, and this tiredness is physical, mental, and emotional. Which surprises me because my life is actually really great and I haven't had anything in recent months to be sad about. However, the more I contemplated it, I think the tiredness is a long term symptom of a deep sadness that I lived in a couple years ago. Which is the first thing I wanted to share with you. Maybe, like me, there has been nothing r...

Actually, I'm engaged

If you are a Christian you are part of the greatest love story every told to mankind. This story begins with God speaking and it ends with an "amen". It's found between the covers of this book called "The Bible" and if you haven't read it I suggest you begin immediately because you will be amazed at the love recorded there. If you are a Christian you are described as a member of God's church and if you are a member of His church you are also part of the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5). You might say that Israel in the Old Testament was God's church and He made His love story very clear to them as well...though not because they deserved it. Song of Solomon tells the deep, intimate love of Christ for His church and the adoration of the church for Jesus; it's the story of how it should always be . Sadly, in a few books later we read a story that is heart wrenching. Ezekiel 16 is titled "The Lord's Faithless Bride" because this bride, t...

by jot and tittle

Search This Blog