Is Preaching a Tiring Task? (opinion alert)

 

hat a privilege I had to attend a wonderful one day conference centered on expository preaching, the Priority of Preaching conference sponsored by Oklahoma Baptists. And at a location within an hour from my house! It seemed like over 500 men were there learning, getting a checkup, maybe critiquing the presenters, maybe all of the above? Anyway, I didn't quite know what to expect, but I was flabbergasted to see that many in attendance! And all ages of grown men, it brings hope!

I'll be spending today going through my notes of the event and applying them to my weekly preparation. I hemmed and hawed about going, thinking it wouldn't be much of a help. I already preach expositionally, there are other areas in ministry where (I think) I could use more help, and it's, seemingly, the area hardly anyone in the congregation cares about. 

Then generally, it's sort of strange a conference like this even happens. Preaching is often seen as a expectation of the old-timers and maybe something that is killing the church (or at least keeping young people from being involved). That's one of the reasons I appreciated the words of one of the presenters, a pastor from North Carolina named Tony Merida. Tony called preaching a tiring work for several reasons, such as long hours of study and prayer, juggling the other pastoral roles along with preaching, regularly confronting controversial messages (if done right), and maybe fielding a bunch of critical responses (for example, one of the guys I knew at the conference recently got fired from a church for a controversial sermon). But what if you don't get the complaints or any other reasonable feedback? 

The main reason preaching is so tiring is because most pastors have no idea how effective their preaching even is. Sure, they work hard, and they may diligently craft a thoughtful, clear, and engaging message. But they don't know what is in the hearts of their parishioners and listeners, so they have no clue if the message is making any difference. That is, unless their listeners give them a helpful response. A simple "good job" or "fine sermon" is appreciated, but it's a blessing to get something more substantive. 

And I can relate to this concern, for the moment I finish preaching, it feels like more weight has been added. You might think a weight would be shed after preaching, and it can feel that way after finishing a sermon on a difficult subject. But when the message is more encouraging and I get little helpful response after the service, it is too easy to get down. Now, I don't go to the church staffing websites on Sunday afternoon/Monday morning anymore (that's a stupid game I have played too often over the years, plus those sites have become worse and I'd rather not start that rant), but I do have certain ways I cope with these issues or to take my mind off of them temporarily. That sounds like another post (and, no, it's not marijuana!).

If you share this concern,  consider Colossians 1:29 - "For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me." 'This" is proclaiming the revealed mystery of "Christ in you, the hope of glory." And the Apostle Paul's tireless toil is possible because of the Lord's energy at work within him and through him. 

As a pastor who regularly preaches, I need to be spiritually fed and, through the Holy Spirit's power, preaching to myself before anyone else. I need to apply the messages to my life and circumstances before I think to apply them to anyone else. And all of this with reliance on God's energy. This comes through regularity, with faith, and with honest confession and repentance.

Anyway, I appreciated the conference, the great number in attendance hopefully boding well for Oklahoma Baptists and Christianity in general, and I'll probably write more about what I've learned. Now, off to my notes!