Words are powerful. Chances are, you can remeber things that others have said to you in your past. Words have serious hang time. As a pastor, you have a huge responsibility for you to communicate on behalf of God. This is a sobering reality and an exciting privilege that I think about on a weekly basis.
While reading Paul’s words in 1 Thess. 2:13, have been bouncing around my head.
“Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God–which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.”
That is a powerful verse…read it again.
Are your messages merely human ideas or God’s word? We have the privilege to speak on behalf of God! People will receive his message from us! That is a HUGE responsibility!
Pastors, do your words point people toward Jesus or away from him? Do they put Jesus in the spotlight or do they push him out of it? Are your words causing Jesus to increase while you decrease? How are you using your words?
One of my prayers every Sunday is that God would allow me to fade into as Jesus takes center stage.
I pray that for you also.
I’ve got no problem with topical sermons. I’m not one of those guys who says unless you’re preaching expository sermons you’re sinning. However, it is pretty easy to tell when a topic emerges from the Word, rather than the Word finding a place within the topic. I have loved reading this series of blogs Pastor. Very thoughtful and very insightful. U da man!