With the increase in TV, radio and internet, it is easier to hear preaching than ever before.  Along with the blessing this may bring, there is also an added pressure.  Perhaps you sense it, or even hear about it?  People in your pews are listening to the superstars as they drive to work, then when they come to church they get you.  Pressure.

Remember this, even the “great” preachers sometimes preach a weak sermon!  I was just chatting with two friends who travelled many hours to attend a preaching conference.  A great few days of preaching culminated in the last session with the most famous preacher at the conference.  He flopped.  The sermon was as flat as any they had heard anywhere.  They went away encouraged.  Even he preaches poorly sometimes.

I always think back to sitting in the library at seminary and watching a video of a famous preacher, excited to see him in action.  Standing without pulpit or music stand he had his Bible in one hand and one hand free for gesturing.  With that one hand he tried to pull his glasses out of his shirt pocket, then endeavored to open out the arms, in the end resorting to biting one part of the glasses so he could then put them on.  Five minutes.  He preached throughout.  He probably preached well.  But I (and I suspect, the live audience) was distracted.  Distracted and encouraged.  Remember this, no one nails it every time!

Without naming names, what examples do you remember when you feel the pressure of the selected and edited sermons that make it onto the radio or internet?