Proclaimer Blog
Things never to say to a preacher pt. 94
A funny thing happened to me on the way to the pulpit last Sunday. Just before the service, my dear senior minister told me of a time when he heard of a preacher preaching just my passage and making a real hash of it by taking a certain approach. “At least you won’t be doing that!” That was the gist of the conversation: except that I was doing exactly that! I had a heart stopping moment, but we know each other well enough to laugh about it and realise, actually I wasn’t doing exactly that! Not exactly, anyway. And – it goes without saying – my sermon could have been better.
It reminded me of my time in training when I sat at the feet of someone much wiser than me. I’d meet with him for a day reading and praying towards the end of the week and the conversation would invariably turn to Sunday’s passage. “Of course, you’ll be mentioning this, or taking that line” he would say. Of course I would, once I had redone all my work at the last minute!
I do the same all the time, and have tried very hard to train myself not to give preachers – new preachers in particular – last minute tips. Confirmations help a little, but contradictions hinder a lot. That’s not a burden to lay on someone who is quite probably overwhelmed anyway. During preparation, encourage and direct as necessary. After the event, give them all the help and feedback they need. Pray for them always. But last minute tips are invariably a mistake.