One last category to consider:
13. When we feel alone as a preacher. When you stand to preach today, you are not alone. Even in a church with several preachers, it can feel so lonely to sense that others view preaching differently. Perhaps you are committed to expository preaching, while others persist in another approach. Perhaps you are the only preacher. Perhaps you’ve tried to influence other preachers, but they have not responded and your motivation is drained. Feeling like you’re the only one committed to expository preaching is a tough place to be. And it can be hard to talk about because it sounds like condemnation of other preachers, or arrogance. But remember this, you are not alone in your commitment to expository preaching. As you stand and try to present the true meaning of the text with effective communication and applied relevance to your listeners, you are one of many preachers doing the same. Obviously it would be better if there were more, but don’t despair and fail to recognize that there are many training institutions teaching expository preaching, there are many organisations advocating for expository preaching, there are many expositors seeking to do the same as you. We may not be the majority, we may not feel the camaraderie or support where we stand and serve, but we are not alone.
Pray for other expository preachers who you know will be preaching the Word today.
Thanks Peter,
this has met many of my current worries and problems and helped me to get things straight in my head again. Lot’s of really helpful advice, especially when I look back on my last sermon and know so many things I could have said better and can easily knock myself down about.