Whenever someone asks me "So, do you enjoy speaking in public?", I always hesitate in answering. The quick answer is that I do enjoy the process of communicating what I'm passionate about to a large group of interested listeners (or captive listeners in some cases). But when it comes to preaching I have to add one caveat and it is that I'm absolutely terrified of preaching the word of God.
And I think that is the way it should be. The Bible is unlike any other text in existence in that it comes from Yahweh. What He says matters far more than what has been written in all other books combined through the history of the world. His Word saves (1 Corinthians 1:18), it changes people (2 Corinthians 5:17), and most importantly it speaks about His son Jesus. It gives us the reasons why we are what we are, why we deal with the issues we deal with, and how sin has infiltrated into every aspect of our lives. I cannot think of anything that gives a pastor or preacher more power or authority than this. But too often we whither away from difficult passages, or assume the audience won't understand some of the finer nuances of well-known stories, and in the end it does not give full glory to God. The entire Bible is the counsel of God and is sufficient for our needs. It is like having the key to the entire nuclear arsenal of the U.S. military...and if that wouldn't make your hands shake in awe and fear I'm not sure what would.
This Sunday, as I preach on the topic of forgiveness, I will pray that God gives me a steady voice, but an even steadier heart. May my love for Him overwhelm whatever fear I may have.
-Mike
