Comments and Compliments

Those of us who preach receive a variety of post-sermon responses. One of my most remembered, was a good-intentioned, yet devastating comment from a dear lady who said, “Bro. Dan, every sermon you preach is better than the next one.” Think about it. That’s a comment, not a compliment. We who preach cringe when someone comments that they enjoyed our talk. Not complementary. Speeches are talked. Sermons are preached. There is a huge difference. Fellow-preachers also know that skill in sermon preparation is crucial, yet secondary. To paraphrase a verse, “Unless the Lord builds the sermon, they labor in vain who build it” (Ps. 127:1). Delivery is yet another challenge – to a mixed-age audience where the young members do not understand the significance of a Pearl Harbor illustration and the older members do not understand the use of hi-tech terminology. And yet we preach on, fearing with Paul, that when, “I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:27). A few Sundays ago, I received one of my best responses. Following a sermon, a man I did not know, came to me and said, “Dr. Dan, when you preach, God speaks.” Now that’s a compliment – a compliment that needs no comment. So preachers, preach on! And listeners, consider whether your post-sermon responses are compliments or comments.

Join me in remembering the following global concerns this week:
• Pray for a week-end Prayer-walking conference at Gethsemane Church in Donetsk, Ukraine.
• Pray for a new Home Bible Study group beginning on January 22 in Montreal.
• Pray for missionaries who will use Chinese New Year which begins on January 23, as a means of outreach and fellowship.
• Pray for Tommy and Beth as they begin an intensive study of five modules of the School of Cross-cultural Missions in January and February, in Peru.