Fellow pastors, Ineed some quick advice

[PastorSherm]

Tonight I will be preaching a Thanksgiving eve sermon at a Wesylan church. It will be the largest group I've ever spoke to. The number of people is not whats making me a little nervous. I'm only a year into the ministry. I will be speaking also to about a dozen fellow clergy from my ministerium. I am use to being the resident "expert", but tonight some of them have titles like Doctor and Most reverend infront of their names. Any advice?

P.S. Oh yeah I also have a cold on top of that LOL any medications that treat runny noses? It would be really akward if I sneezed all over them LOL

 

[Highland Watchman]

Best advice I could give is to be yourself. First time I ever preached was at a Bible Study that just happened to have all of the pastors from the church I was attending (4 of them, plus 2 pastor emeritus), a few landed missionaries, the resident theologian, and some members of the leadership of the church. I found out whose Bible Study it was when I actually got there, and I admit that I nearly chickened out. But God is very faithful, and I stuck through it.

One thing that helped me was to remember that even though these men (and women) had more theological education than I did (which I had none, except a few books that I've read and 2 years as a Christian), and they were older and way more experienced, and they had way more titles behind their name, they are still men and women who have been created by God, and who long to hear the words of God spoken into their lives. So really, as a preacher, the best thing you can do is "Preach the Word", and let God do the rest.

As for the cold, I really wouldn't know. You could try Fisherman's Friend... though that stuff tastes nasty, and will give you a bad taste in your mouth. Try some hot tea instead.

Anyway, I hope it goes well. God bless!

 

[herev]

as I'm getting to this too late, I pray it went well. God has a way of humbling us preachers by putting us in front of those we admire. I'm sure you did fine!

 

[PastorSherm]

Thanks for the advice. I got several Amens and a few laughs{intentional} LOL I even made the Baptist Pastor smile LOL

 

[Highland Watchman]

Thanks for the advice. I got several Amens and a few laughs{intentional} LOL I even made the Baptist Pastor smile LOL

I take it that you don't encounter many smiling Baptists?

It's good that it worked out.

 

[PastorSherm]

Thanks for the advice.


The sermon was on being thankful for what we precieve as unanswered prayers. I quoted the great theologian Garth Brooks "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers". I truly believe that there is no such thing as an unanswered prayer. It may not be the answer we wanted, but it's God's answer and he knows best.

As for my delemia..I was reminded of what a mentor and fellow pastor told me after my very first sermon....."it doesnt matter how many big words you use, it doesnt matter how many theologians you quote, it doesnt mater if the sermon is 45 minutes or 15 minutes. What matters is, if it's God's message. What matters is what the people take home with them after the sermon"

 

[Highland Watchman]

some very good advice, and something that can be too easily forgotten.

And I agree. God DOES always answer. Sometimes the answer isn't quite what we were looking for at the time. But then HE makes it even better, and reveals to us that the answer that was provided was actually the answer that we were seeking from the very beginning. God bless.