The Joy and Privilege of Preaching

Last Sunday morning as I was preparing for church, I felt afresh the immense privilege it has been to be able to preach in this Share Life season; to preach the news that you can find Peace Like a River in Jesus. As I pondered the feeling I realised that there were a few reasons for it.

First, I know it is no small thing to step out of your comfort zone and invite a friend to church. Like you, I have done it lots of times and had lots of “no” responses. I have also had some “yes” responses and have seen friends become Christians. When you make that invite though, you are both trusting God with the situation and trusting your church that they will proclaim Jesus with all wisdom, clearly and helpfully. 

With this in mind, last Sunday I felt afresh the enormous privilege it is to be trusted by you with your family and friends. I don’t take this lightly and as I prepare again this week I am praying that God would give me wisdom, clarity and thoughtfulness in my words as I seek to share the message of peace. It has also been a privilege to have met so many of your friends and family who have come into church again after a long hiatus or for the first time. I look forward to meeting more of them this week! 

Second, it is just an immense privilege to preach the gospel. Jesus' death and resurrection is awesomely good news and the fact that God has given us the privilege of sharing his news with the world is overwhelming at times. God uses means to bring people to know him and the most common means he uses are you and me! How extraordinary and what a great joy to be involved in God’s work of bringing the world to salvation through Jesus. I was reminded yesterday of Colossians 1:28-29: 

“Jesus is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”

Isn’t that amazing. When we do church, we are proclaiming Christ, with all the energy of Christ, so that everyone may be mature in Christ! Yet not I but Christ in me! How can one not feel overwhelmed with the privilege of preaching?

So there is a little insight into the mind of the preacher. I hope it is an encouragement to you and my prayer is that in Share Life Week 3 we might have more people than we have had in the first two weeks. I am praying that your friends and family might say “yes” to an invite, “yes” to peace and “yes” to Jesus. Let’s get inviting and pray it in. Amen!