Write your sermon

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect”.  1 Peter 3:15 NIV

     First, I just have to be thankful for my current surroundings.  I am sitting in the greenhouse in our back yard.  It is below zero wind chill outside and snowing.  But from where I sit, I feel 65 degrees with 60 percent humidity.  It is so beautiful watching it snow, surrounded by plants.  We all have a lot to be thankful for.  This is just one. 

     I am thinking about our church service this past week.  Our preacher was sick, so I hope he is feeling better.  We have been blessed to have heart driven preachers in our life.  But if I am being honest I have always enjoyed hearing people who don’t normally preach.  I have spoken a few times in years past and it really is a better faith lesson for me than for anyone listening. 

     As he explained how the calling tree sort of fell to him, he called himself the third choice for a relief pitcher.  I hope he realizes that he was God’s chosen relief preacher that day.  I was smiling a little as I wondered how many layers deep it would be for me to be called.  Maybe if rapture had occurred, I might be around to get the call.  In that case it would be terribly disappointing. 

     He preached about Jonah that day and he did a great job.  But as he led into it he said something that has stuck with me.  He said everyone should write a sermon just in case they are ever called to deliver one.

     It has me thinking.  I have a job that allows me to meet people all over the state.  I go into houses and have some pretty interesting clients.  When my job is clicking for me is not when I speed up and rush to get to the next potential sale.  My heart clicks better when I slow down.  I enjoy the job a lot more when the sales come and go but the interactions expand into life.  Actually, my sales are better when I am less concerned about the transaction sitting in front of me than I am about the story sitting in front of me.

     Our now old, retired pastor (hey Kyle) used to always ask “How many ministers are there in this room?”  He always repeated that question until everyone raised their hand.  His point was always to make sure we all knew that he was not supposed to be the only one spreading the message of a Savior who loves us enough to die for us.  That job falls to all of us. 

     I think the issue is usually that we do not think we are “qualified” to preach.  We are not, so we can get over that.  None of us are actually qualified in that we deserve it.  But we are all qualified in that Jesus did what He did for all of us, not just the ordained pastors.  Really if there is one preacher speaking and 300 people listening and the message stops, that only helps the first round of people listening.  But if 300 people are ready to spread that word around, love could break out like an epidemic. 

Have you ever tried to prepare yourself to speak to anyone in your life about Jesus?  Maybe a friend or a family member or a coworker.  If they are in your life, you may be the person they not only will listen to, but you may be the person they want to hear from. 

Have you ever been the person someone else shared Jesus with?  If you believe in Him someone told you about Him at some point.  What if they had stayed silent?

Challenge:  We do not have to start a church.  We do not have to attend seminary.  We do not have to be eloquent.  You don’t have to know everything about any topic.  But once in a while we get an opportunity.  What will you say?  Keep it simple.  But like my friend this past Sunday, when it is obvious you care, people will listen.  It may be the most important thing someone has ever heard. 

Rick Claiborn