Yesterday I had the privilege of evaluating fifteen sermons at the end of a preaching course.  For five days the students had been working through an introductory course in preaching at Tilsley College, many of them never having preached before.  I’ve heard negative comments from preaching instructors before about having to listen to student sermons.  I have to be honest, I enjoy it.

Nerves sometimes show, some mistakes may be made, but ministry happens.  Even though in every case there are helpful suggestions made by the listeners to improve in the future, at the same time there are positive affirmations and encouragements also shared.  I may sit there with my evaluation sheet and be making notes, but still there are moments of real encouragement, real conviction, and real ministry in my life.

There is something about the in-class preaching experience that I wish could be experienced in the church too.  A sense of excitement, of openness, of camaraderie.  A lot of that has to do with the attitude of the listeners.  Perhaps we need to consider training our listeners how to listen to sermons.  At the same time perhaps we need to make sure we have not lost that sense of dependency on God, that awareness of someone evaluating what we do, that sense of relief at the end, maybe even a momentary inner cry of “I did it!” which quickly gives way to “thank you Lord, we did it!”

If you are married, it is healthy to think back to that first date, first kiss, first sensation of being in love.  If you are a preacher, think back to that first in-class message.  Not as romantic, but it may stir some helpful feelings though!