“If you preached like that…”
“Chris Miller gives a good sermon” is one of the many compliments I have heard about Chris’ preaching over the years. He has preached at Morningside on a number of occasions, and has always been well received. About 13 years ago he came to preach for us and, as usual, he did a good job. In the van, on the way home from church, my kids were giving their weekly commentary on the Sunday morning’s events, and all was well. In a brief moment of silence, Suzie leaned forward, and said, “You know, dad, if you preached like that, more people would listen to you.”
[Naturally, I took it hard. I handed in my notice as the preacher at Morningside and I have never preached since. After years of therapy I finally came to grips with my oratory short-comings, and my relationship with my daughter has been restored. Of course, none of that is true, but you already know that—I hope.] However, Suzie actually did make that comment. How did I feel about it at the time? Well, exactly the way I feel about it now.
When a preacher engages the heart and imagination of a 10 year old with God’s word, I’ll take it for what it is: God being glorified! Praise God for good preaching! Hallelujah! Anyone, bringing souls closer to the cross of Christ, is to be encouraged. “I rejoiced with those who rejoiced!” The gospel is forcefully advancing. It is the work of the Holy Spirit thus it can do nothing else. Preachers must preach. Like Ezra, he must Proclaim and Explain the word of God (Neh.8). Like Jeremiah, when paralyzing discouragement descends upon him, the word of God will be like a fire shut up in his bones—he won’t be able to stay quiet (Jer.20:8). But most of all, like the apostle Paul, after telling the Corinthians that he wanted no part of a preacher popularity contest, he said, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1Cor.2:2). Preaching can only be considered ‘good,’ when it has at its core: The Gospel Message—The Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ (1Cor.15:1-4). So, when a person says, “John, if you preached like that, more people would listen to you.” I say, “Amen!”
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