{"id":3800,"date":"2014-11-12T12:21:19","date_gmt":"2014-11-12T10:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/?p=3800"},"modified":"2014-11-12T12:21:19","modified_gmt":"2014-11-12T10:21:19","slug":"never-say-this-to-a-preacher-after-his-sermon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/never-say-this-to-a-preacher-after-his-sermon\/","title":{"rendered":"Never Say This to a Preacher After His Sermon!"},"content":{"rendered":"

I know you mean well and you probably just want to communicate your gratitude but will you do your pastor a favor and stop saying this after his sermons?<\/p>\n

\"preaching<\/p>\n

Don’t worry you’re not the only one who says it, I hear it pretty much every Sunday. \u00a0It goes something like this:<\/p>\n

“Pastor, I really enjoyed your sermon today.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I usually smile and thank them for coming and listening but there’s something inside me that says, “ugh.”<\/p>\n

Maybe this sounds picky and trivial but it’s not.<\/p>\n

The truth is\u00a0I did not preach that sermon for their enjoyment. I didn’t preach that sermon for my enjoyment either! So whether anyone enjoyed my sermon doesn’t tell me how\u00a0good it was.<\/p>\n

The goal of preaching isn’t to give people an enjoyable experience but rather to give them truth that can be applied to their lives! \u00a0I’ll admit there is a certain joy that comes along with truth but there is also often a discomfort.<\/p>\n

The truth of God’s Word motivates me to preach! It motivates me to study when it’s uncomfortable, it drives me dig deeper into Scripture and let it shine the light of truth on my life before I begin to shine it on the lives of others.<\/p>\n

This is a painful process!<\/p>\n

It’s called conviction and repentance!<\/p>\n

It’s painful because it reveals our flaws and mistakes. It shows us that we are often not the person we claim to be, it reveals deeper problems that lie silently below the surface.<\/p>\n

This is what God’s Word does to me before I even get in the pulpit! It’s not an enjoyable experience but it does bring great joy in the end!<\/p>\n

I think C.S. \u00a0Lewis captured this process best when he told the story of how Aslan peeled the dragon skin off of Edmund.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen the lion said \u2014 but I don\u2019t know if it spoke \u2014 You will have to let me undress you. I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I\u2019ve ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was jut the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off.\u00a0 You know \u2014 if you\u2019ve ever picked the scab of a sore place.\u00a0 It hurts like billy-oh but it is<\/em> such fun to see it coming away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know exactly what you mean,\u201d said Edmund.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he peeled the beastly stuff right off \u2013 just as I thought I\u2019d done it myself the other three times, only they hadn\u2019t hurt \u2013 and there it was lying on the grass, only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly-looking than the others had been. And there was I smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me \u2013 I didn\u2019t like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I\u2019d no skin on \u2014 and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I\u2019d turned into a boy again. . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The goal of preaching God’s Word isn’t to give you an enjoyable experience but rather to peel your dragon skin!<\/p>\n

The best sermons aren’t the most enjoyable sermons but rather those sermons that strike at the heart with the hammer and chisel of God’s Word!<\/p>\n

The best preachers are those who can pull truth like darts from the pages of Scripture and deliver them with pinpoint accuracy, popping our inflated pride and bloated self-image!<\/p>\n

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The best preachers will always find that God’s Word must deal with their own heart first. They feel the grip of conviction in their own spirit long before they stand in the pulpit!<\/p>\n

What is the proper response to a good sermon?<\/h2>\n

The next time you hear a sermon try saying one of these phrases below and I’m sure you’ll encourage the preacher.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Thank you for communicating God’s Word.<\/li>\n
  • Thank you for helping me understand that passage better.<\/li>\n
  • Thank you for enabling me to see my problems more clearly.<\/li>\n
  • Thank you for showing me what to do.<\/li>\n
  • Thank you for encouraging my spirit.<\/li>\n
  • Thank you for blessing us.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Question: What other responses can you add?<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    I know you mean well and you probably just want to communicate your gratitude but will you do your pastor a favor and stop saying this after his sermons?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4460,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[31],"tags":[228],"class_list":["post-3800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing","tag-preaching"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/preaching-2.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3izZc-Zi","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5459,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/nine-confessions-of-a-struggling-preacher\/","url_meta":{"origin":3800,"position":0},"title":"Nine Confessions of a Struggling Preacher","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"May 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been preaching for almost 20 years and I still struggle at the task. Here are 9 struggles that I often experience in my preaching life. I never have enough time to prepare. I can't say I've ever gone to the pulpit with a new sermon and thought, \"Wow, I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New"","block_context":{"text":"New","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/new\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/photodune-6236060-young-student-overwhelmed-s.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/photodune-6236060-young-student-overwhelmed-s.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/photodune-6236060-young-student-overwhelmed-s.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12083,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/pastor-al-franklin\/","url_meta":{"origin":3800,"position":1},"title":"Pastor Al Franklin","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"October 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I was 19 years old when I began my first year at Shasta Bible College, which I was sure would be my only year at the time. I had just returned from 6 months with missionaries in the jungles of South America, I had a desire to serve God but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DSC07951.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DSC07951.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DSC07951.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DSC07951.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DSC07951.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DSC07951.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9704,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/why-youre-not-getting-anything-out-of-the-sunday-morning-sermon\/","url_meta":{"origin":3800,"position":2},"title":"Why You’re Not Getting Anything Out of the Sunday Morning Sermon","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"September 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"For many Christians Sunday afternoons are a time to relax, have a bite to eat, and discuss the shortcomings of the Sunday morning sermon. Few realize how much damage they are doing to themselves spiritually.\u00a0 Here are 3 barriers that will keep you from benefiting spiritually from the Sunday morning\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/nycholas-souza-747453-unsplash.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/nycholas-souza-747453-unsplash.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/nycholas-souza-747453-unsplash.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/nycholas-souza-747453-unsplash.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/nycholas-souza-747453-unsplash.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/nycholas-souza-747453-unsplash.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1668,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/4-things-a-preacher-should-never-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":3800,"position":3},"title":"4 Things a Preacher Should Never Do","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"November 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I preached my first sermon when I was 14 so that means technically I have been preaching for over 20 years! However, I didn't start regularly preaching until I was 19, which means that I have about 16 year of preaching experience. In those 16 years I've made my share\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/DSC00730.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/DSC00730.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/DSC00730.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/a-fainting-experience\/","url_meta":{"origin":3800,"position":4},"title":"A Fainting Experience","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"April 6, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"After communion they asked me to preach. The church is in the process of building and so far they have only the basement finished. Thus the church meets in the basement. They have a small wood stove they use to heat with. It works ok, but it can make it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Updates"","block_context":{"text":"General Updates","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/updates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9636,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/the-best-worst-sermon-ever-preached-at-stephen-furticks-elevation-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":3800,"position":5},"title":"The Best\/Worst Sermon Ever Preached at Steven Furtick’s Elevation Church","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"August 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"If you're at all familiar with Elevation Church and Pastor Steven Furtick then you know that Furtick's preaching and his church generally downplay the role of doctrine, discipleship and Bible teaching while emphasizes numbers, evangelism, and over the top\u00a0 attention getting methods to draw in big crowds. That's exactly why\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_Elevation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_Elevation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_Elevation.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_Elevation.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_Elevation.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3800"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9047,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3800\/revisions\/9047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}