Are You Challenged by What You Preach?
I have listened to thousands of sermons. Some I have felt like “did this person who is preaching listen to their own message?” “Was it real to them personally?” “What experiences did they go through to come to that conclusion?”
To be honest, there are many messages I have heard in my lifetime that did not feel like the messenger was challenged by their own message. I have delivered messages that didn’t challenge me personally. I must say that the one’s I remember the most are the ones that have challenged me as well! In preparation for Journey’s upcoming Men’s Retreat, I have been personally challenged in areas that God wants me to change as a father, husband, and as a man. It has been rough going for a few months as God is refining His message on my heart and not just on paper.
As communicators we should “walk the talk” before we do a “talk on the walk.” Are you being challenged by what you are communicating? Does the Word bring conviction to your heart? Do you feel the pull of God’s Spirit challenging you to set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col 3:2)? Will we accept the challenge to worship the Father in spirit and truth(John 4:23)? Will we not allow ourselves to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind (Romans 12:2)? Talking about these things are needed, but how much powerful will that message be when it is being experienced first hand by the person communicating?
Let us allow God to move us from a knowledge of what we are preaching, to a life-changing experience of God’s power to change in our own lives!
Kevin
