A Saturday-Night Reminder for Preachers

It happened not long ago that I had a Sunday where I was not preaching somewhere. And it also happened that I had had a hard week. To be more specific, I was grouchy and out of sorts most of the week. I knew in my soul that I didn’t feel things were quite right so I prayed that I might hear a word from the Lord on Sunday morning. I went to church longing to hear some word from heaven.

I am loathe to offer criticism of any of my preacher brethren because I know how great the burden is on Sunday morning. So let me simply say that I came to church hungry and went away hungry. It is not an outline we need to hear–it is the Word of the Living God. I am not calling for a particular style of preaching or a particular manner of delivery.

But, oh my preacher friends, please remember this. Tomorrow morning, hungry sheep are coming to hear you. Give them the Word of the Lord. Bring a message hot from heaven. It’s not an outline that we need. We are hungry and hurting and some of us are distracted by many cares.

Feed my sheep, Jesus said. Do that and we will all be better off.