The 5 Comments Preachers Hate Most
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5. "The Lord told me to tell you …" "… that you look tired," "… that you hurt my feelings," "… that this church needs more messages about stewardship/missions/culture wars/the Colbert Report," "… that you chose the wrong clothes." This sentence can end in a hundred ways, none of them happy.
Preaching is a mysterious business, and in some ways it's more mysterious to me now than when I started out. Sometimes the message you wish you could put in the discard pile will be the one God uses to change someone's life. Giving a bad message can bring just the humility you need to remember that preaching—and the kingdom in general—is never subject to human management or control.
What should we aim to hear when we're done preaching? After Jesus' first sermon, people were cut to the heart, and they asked what they needed to do to be saved. That's not a bad response to pray for. It sure beats Ruga Ruga Ruga.
John Ortberg is pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California.
Copyright © 2012 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal.
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John Ortberg is pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California.
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Displaying 1–5 of 48 comments
Scott
I remember one time I told a pastor that he had a good lecture.
Dee
One of my recent favorites, "You look younger in bright colors."
Anne S
The Lord told me to tell you this was a very good post :) I wonder if those who say "I am not being fed" recognize that they have responsibility in this matter. The weekly sermon should never be your sole source of Bible-food -- if you're running dry, seek out more points of edification! And if you find the soil at your church so barren -- why do you stay? Sadly, I suppose it's easier to complain and blame others than take that ownership over your own walk. PS I've visited MPPC and I know that Ortberg's sermons are very good -- he's talented at communicating deep truths in an approachable manner.
Frank
I agree. The worst ones though are those that come up to me and point out that God doesn't exist and what I've said is based in part on a collection of historically fictitous doctrine and the rest on contemorary moral relativism. I don't hate it, because that isn't very Christian, but it does render me irrelevant to the modern world.
markr
LOL, I have heard all of these comments after the sermon. Most of the time, I do not look to entertain these off the cuff comments. I have made it a rule if someone would like to say something about the sermon they have to go to front of the worship center to comment, debate, confront, back-hand compliment, or genuinely comment about the sermon. This has cut down on the awkward firing from the hip, that most pastors in churches of less than 250 will endure week in and week out as they stand by the back door. Stand at the front and you find that those who are really concerned one way or the other will stay and speak to you. Those that are just firing from the hip will find their way out to the chicken dinner. Just saying, after eleven years of back door comments, I finally decided to stay at the front upon dismissal and for four years, I have found nine out of ten that come forward to comment have some great comments, questions, and critiques to listen to.
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