Thursday, 15th December 2011

A few thoughts on preaching and what you have to trust God for:

• Trust God hat you have heard from Him on what you are to preach on. This could be when you feel He is giving you a specific topic for a specific church at a specific time. This was true for me last Sunday when I felt God had asked me to bring Psalm 112 to King's Church. The circumstances around me even preaching on that day were quite remarkable as I was not due to be preaching that day and even three weeks before I was still not scheduled to be preaching that day. Someone else pulled out with about two-and-a-half weeks remaining and I was asked if I wanted to step in. God had put Psalm 112 on my heart to bring to King's several months before but I had no idea when that would happen as I tend to preach only at Explorer Sundays. God's timing and influence of circumstances was incredible. 
• Trust God, that even if given a specific title, that God was in that and, in both situations of being given a title or having a free week, trust that God is in your preparation, that He will lead you to the right Bible references, books, articles, websites, conversations etc. This tends to work in partnership with genuine self-devotion to the cause (1 Timothy 4: 13). 
• Trust God that the words you give are the words He wants you to give to the people He wants to hear them. Trust that anything you forgot to mention is not going to be harmful in  it's absence. Trust also that anything you do say God can use according to His great plan.
• Trust God for protection before, during and after a preach. The enemy is sure to want to lead you astray in any way he can. He will try, be ready for it.
• Trust God will help you in your journey in improving you as a preacher and/or teacher. This will include helpful comments from people in Eldership, leadership and others in the congregation or who may here it on-line.