Because of my role in helping select preachers for the Pastor’s Conference I’ve listened to quite a few sermons (or at least parts of quite a few sermons) this past year. Honestly, I was blown away by all of the sound preaching that we have in the SBC. We could easily have filled up the next five years worth of solid preachers.
There was actually something I expected to hear quite a bit of but I only heard it a handful of times. But when I did…oh, boy. It might be accidental, but I’m almost certain it is not. What I’m talking about are preachers who must listen to their favorite celebrity preacher so much that they start to sound like them. I heard a few David Platt’s and even a couple Adrian Rogers’. I know I’ve done it too. Who hasn’t listened to a Paul Washer sermon and then the very next time you preach have a tendency to get a bit more fired up and dramatic in your pauses?
But like I said, for the most part what I heard where several unique preachers. That was refreshing. It tells me that college and seminary professors telling us to be ourselves is being heeded. It looks like this was even a topic in the late 1700’s. Speaking to the Eclectic Society, Josiah Pratt said this:
Every man is unique, both in mind and experience. Every man, therefore, has his own way: and is natural and graceful only in that way. But it is a great error to think there is no danger peculiar to him. Every man has his peculiar danger, as well as his peculiar forte. A wise man will remember this, and guard. –Josiah Pratt
Pratt makes an interesting point here, though. Being ourselves isn’t only a positive thing—there are also peculiar dangers which accompany our unique preaching styles and personalities. We would do well to consider these potential dangers.
Those with a great sense of humor can be engaging in the pulpit, but they can also distract from God’s Word by their wit. Those who are very learned can make stellar arguments but might struggle with losing their audience.
So what are your strengths of personality and style and what peculiar dangers might accompany these?
Be yourself, but be aware.
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Photo source: here
