Thursday, November 05, 2009

The virtues of preaching bad sermons

This advice from Russell Moore's to young preachers is sound:
Your first few sermons are always terrible, no matter who you are.

If you think your first few sermons are great, you’re probably self-deceived. If the folks in your home church think your first few sermons are great, it’s probably because they love you and they’re proud of you. If it’s a good, supportive church there’s as much objectivity there as a grandparent evaluating the “I Love You Grandma” artwork handed to them by the five year-old in their family. . . .

Great preachers are the ones who preach really bad sermons. The difference is that they preach really bad sermons when they’re young, and are sharpened for life by critique.
Amen. Thanks to both Justin Taylor and Paul Lamey for the link.

Related: Are you growing in your preaching?

2 Comments:

Blogger Byron Harvey said...

I cringe to no greater degree than when I consider the first "sermons" I ever preached. "Dreadful" isn't too strong a word; good word from Russell (and you, my brother!).

10:45 AM, November 06, 2009  
Blogger Milton Stanley said...

I'm with you there, Byron. Some of my early sermons were, well, dreadful. Praise God that he put me in touch with a couple of fine sermon instructors and a few even better mentors. Thanks for commenting.

6:07 PM, November 09, 2009  

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