Good Communication���The First Step

I don���t mind being called a preacher. One of my lifetime goals has been to be a good preacher. That takes hard work. You know that. Good communication is never automatic. Sometimes you may think you���re coming through clearly only to be surprised when a member of the congregation, or even your wife, without your asking, shares with you that your message didn���t come through. We���ve all been there!

I want to write in the next few posts about helping your message come through.

The greatest privilege in the world is to have people listen when we speak. But I never assume that the congregation comes to listen���to really listen. Rather, I usually assume they approach my message with a ho-hum spirit. Therefore, I have to earn the right to be heard every Lord���s day. We owe it to our congregations to prepare and then present good meals. I think that���s what Solomon had in mind when he wrote about the Preacher:

In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. (Ecclesiastes 12:9)

Did you notice where preaching should begin? With being . . . before doing. Before you teach the people you are to be a wise man. Remember how Jesus chose twelve men, ���that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach��� (Mark 3:14). Notice the order? First they were with Jesus . . . then they preached.

The hard work of good preaching begins with the fear of the Lord���true wisdom. Don���t assume its presence. As you work hard to cultivate a genuine, growing relationship with God, wisdom will come.

Don���t take any shortcuts with that first step.

                ���Chuck