Good Sermon, Preacher
Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 33:30-33
Over the past decade or so I have been blessed to have been an interim pastor in 8 churches for varying lengths of time. Before I leave, when the church is about to or has called a man to pastor them, I usually take some time to talk to the church about ways they can encourage their pastor in the days ahead. One of the things I mention is how they respond after morning service to the pastor’s message.
I have been told “Good sermon, preacher,” more times than I can count. I’m sure some have sincerely meant it. More often than not, though, it is politeness. It is akin to saying, “How are you?” when seeing someone you know. You aren’t expecting a recitation of their physical condition. You are just saying “hello,” in a way that sounds like you care. “Good sermon, preacher,” is like that. It is a way of saying, “I was in attendance, and I generally like you as my pastor.”
That’s not a horrible thing to say. But a better way to talk to your pastor about his sermon, a way that will encourage him and make him feel as though his labor is not in vain, is to comment on something specific he said in the message. Was there something that specifically challenged, encouraged, or helped you? Say that. Was there something that you had a question about and want clarification on? Ask that.
But there is something even better you can do about the sermon. It is something that will be an incredible blessing to your pastor. Do it. Don’t just be a hearer of the word, be a doer of the word. Maybe before you leave church today you could tell your pastor how you are going to respond to the word you heard preached.
In our Scripture reading for today, God tells Ezekiel that everybody was going around talking about how great a preacher he was. They were all excited to come and hear him preach. They were even listening to him when he preached. And they all agreed that what he preached was “the word that comes from the LORD.” Well, that is some pretty good stuff for a preacher to hear right there. What pastor wouldn’t want to get word that everyone in town was talking about how great a job he does preaching and they were all inviting each other to show up at church to hear him? That is a dream for most pastors.
But there was a problem. Despite all their big talk (the ESV describes and translates it as “lustful talk”) it was all just talk. “They hear what you say, but they will not do it,” God told Jeremiah. That had to be a crushing blow because do you know what most preachers want as a response to the word of God more than anything else? They just want you to do it.
So, this Lord’s day it won’t be a sin if you say, “Good sermon, preacher.” But maybe you can step up your game a little and tell him something you found especially helpful in the message. And if you want to go crazy, over the top with your response; tell your pastor what you are going to do as a response to what you heard.
