Randy Wray’s Blog

I appreciate greatly the gracious remarks from all those who’ve commented and especially grateful for the posts of my ghost writers.  It felt something like a living funeral so it’s time to get back to reality and have some nonsensical comments.  Greg & Cecil, I trust you will lead the way.  I wanted to conclude this installment on preaching with some random thoughts and general rambling. 

The trauma of the bobbie pin incident aside, I’ve never been much of a "stand in the back after service" kind of preacher.  I find it an exercise in false modesty and forced affirmation.  Yes, I realize it is an effective method to shake a lot of hands but it fails to provide any venue for dialog or discussion.  The first person that stops to say anything besides "good sermon preacher" clogs up the line and the rest of the relieved congregants quietly escape unscathed.  You can see those looks directed at the person who stopped to talk with the preacher and thus allowing everyone else to exit.  In their expression you can hear the words, "Thanks for taking one for the team!"  I would much rather some one seek me out to dialog about the message than to stand in the back and feel like a person is compelled to say something nice.  The upside, of course, is that a few years of standing in the back preps you for a fall back career as a flight attendant.  Preachers must be secure in their calling and in their presentation that they not feel compelled to rush to the back for an ego stroke.

If the preacher delivers a good message speak to him / her personally and go beyond the "it was a good sermon."  Share with the speaker specifics that caused you to think, made you want to take the words of the text seriously and apply them to your life.  If you have questions about a sermon talk to the speaker about it.  If you disagree with the speaker the right thing to do is to make an appointment and be gracious with your words.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve delivered a message that I thought went nowhere only to have several people find me later and talk about how specific things in that message were exactly what they needed to hear.  I’ve also delivered what I thought were spectacular messages only to find out the response of my trusted informants to be "it was ok."  There might not be a phrase that I detest more than "it was ok." 

Preparation and Prayer is the key to a message that speaks for God and touches the hearts of the hearers.  Without either you might as well be on stage reading from "Field & Stream" or "Stop Wasting My Time Quarterly."  Preparation and prayer are to a message as peanut butter is to jelly.  They go hand in hand and you must have the adequate amount of each ingredient.  Before each delivery a pray something like "God help to say only the things you want me to say.  Make me forget to say those things that come only from me and not from you."

You may be a gifted orator but the message from God is not about your gift as an orator.  The message is about the word from God to those who will hear.  I’m embarrassed and ashamed when I find myself believing more in my giftedness and less in mystery of God speaking through me.  It is quite evident to all - even in the midst of delivery - when the cart is before the horse.

In conclusion (your cue to reach for a songbook) don’t shy away from the difficult texts and don’t create a pompous air about you that you know everything.  If you struggle or wrestle with the passage be honest about that.  If you struggle with the application of the text be honest about that.  Quit telling stories that make you look good and make you appear to be a spiritual super-hero.  No one, and I mean no one, will listen to a pompous, egotistical, self-superior speaker.  Preaching for some is simply an excuse to extol their inflated personal virtues.  You don’t need the church to show up to hear you go on about yourself  In the spirit of Forrest Gump, that’s all I’ve got to say about that. 

So, go on, do something productive and worthwhile today as we stand and sing . . .