We have been blessed with four wonderful children.  As a father I am very aware of my influence on my children.  Perhaps you’ve heard something along the lines of, “a child’s view of God is largely shaped by their experience with their Dad.”  If their Dad is cold and aloof, this will leave a mark on their spiritual perception.  If their Dad is harsh and legalistic, a different mark is left.  If this is true, and I believe it is, it places a huge burden of responsibility on parents.

I wonder whether this is also true of us as preachers?  Not only do we present God’s Word to people by way of explanation and application, but we also represent God to people.  I would suggest the parents of children leave a deeper mark in those early years than anyone, but still, as preachers we are marking our listeners.  What mark will we leave today?

As well as what we say, we need to think about how we say it.  What is our tone and attitude during preaching?  Just like a parent, we will do harm if we are always harsh and legalistic in our tone.  We don’t help if we constantly demonstrate fear that our charges might hurt themselves.  Equally, we do not help if we are always fun and light-hearted either.

Let’s pray that today, as we head to church, we will represent God well.  In the pulpit, and out of it.  Let’s make sure people get the subconscious impression that the God we know and represent is loving, gracious, inviting, and welcoming, as well as clear on what is right and wrong.  Perhaps preaching, like parenting, is something of a mystery when you consider how much influence God has entrusted to such fallible and weak creatures as you and I!