I
never realized how hard it is to write sermon. You read the Bible
and pick a topic. You find out where the Bible talks about that
topic, you gather all the Scriptures together, taking into account
the context. You begin to see God's mind on that particular subject.
If you know the original languages (I don't) and are well versed in
interpreting the original languages (I'm not) there is an even
greater nuance given to the topic. Then you search other authors,
pastors, commentaries, etc., and see what they have to say on the
topic. You then begin your draft.
You
flesh out those areas that kind of hit you but you NEVER stray from
the original intent of the author. As the sermon begins to take
shape you realize that YOU are the one being taught. You never
understood this topic in that way before. Your understanding is
being challenged and then, as you submit to the Word of God, your
understanding is being changed. This is just AMAZING! And this is
all taking place right there at your table, or your desk, in your home, in your office, etc.
Then
reality hits you. You have a choice to make. Will you actually
preach this? Will you stand up there and tell people this. You know
that what you have just learned, even though it's so cool and
amazing, flies in the face of where our culture is at today. It
flies in the face of what is being advocated by other pastors, other
teachers in the church. As you think more and more about this you
realize that maybe it would be easier to just trim it down a bit.
Take off the “hard edges”, not wanting to offend your listeners.
After all, these are nice people. Sure, they make mistakes. But who
doesn't? Why not tell them something that will bring them comfort
after a hard week of being out there “in the world”? You know,
build them up, encourage them. If you do this what will they say to
you? What will they do to you? The more you think about it the more
you realize that you don't need THAT kind of trouble! What will you
do?
Being
a preacher of God's Word means you must have courage. You must have
the courage to stand there and deliver the Word of God to people, to
His chosen people, regardless of how hard it is or how it may offend.
If you don't faithfully proclaim the truth of the Word of God then
you are useless. It takes a lot of courage to remain faithful and do
this.
I
recently read a blog post from a pastor, who also teaches at a Bible
school I once attended. He
discusses homosexuality and what he sees in the gay people he knows
and how the way they are appears to be in conflict with the most
common reading of Romans 1. He says, “I know the
right answer here is “don’t let your experience determine your
interpretation”, but after meetings dozens of gay people who read
their Bibles regularly, pray, and desperately want to honor God with
their lives, I’m beginning to wonder if the standard interpretation
might be wrong...”
The Apostle in Romans 1 says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes...” The Apostle was not ashamed of the Gospel...and he pulled no punches when proclaiming the Word. Read his encounters with angry crowds in the Book of Acts to see the outcome of this.
