Most preachers get too little sermon feedback that is any use to them.  However, it is possible to get too much.  Here are three more thoughts:

1. Most “feedback” is not very helpful.  After preaching, people feel obliged to make a comment if they speak to the preacher.  A simple thank you is always appreciated and usually appropriate.  Unfortunately for us as preachers, we will often get feedback that is of less value than that.  At one extreme we may get a comment like, “that was the best message I ever heard!”  At the other extreme we may get someone taking us to task over something we said, or something they thought we said.  Neither extreme is helpful.  After preaching we are usually vulnerable.  We tend to be emotionally drained and may struggle to handle high praise or strong criticism.

2. Process it all at the throne of grace.  I got into a healthy habit as a young preacher when I was serving on the OM ship (see www.omships.org).  After preaching I would head to my cabin, lock the door and boldly approach the heavenly throne.  I knew I couldn’t handle the extreme feedback.  I knew I didn’t want to let pride creep in from the exaggerated praise, or despair from the criticism.  So I would bring every comment I could remember and place it before the throne.  If there was criticism, I would need God’s grace to process it and discern what was fair and helpful.  If there was praise, it would really be His anyway.

3. You can get too much good feedback.  Even if you are appropriately handling the post-sermon comments and have in place a way to get genuine and constructive feedback, you can still get too much.  It is good to listen to yourself, or watch a video.  It is good to get input from others.  I would suggest you do this regularly, but not all the time.  Constantly processing genuine feedback can become a draining experience.  Constantly listening to yourself can be like going twelve rounds with a young Tyson.  It’s worse than that.  You can be your own harshest critic.  So get regular feedback, but give yourself a rest from it too.  Do your best, keep improving as a good steward, but rest in the Lord at the same time.