Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
You studied all week. You exegeted the passage, prayed over it and through it. You mulled it over in your mind throughout the week. You changed the outline several times. Even on Sunday morning, something new came to mind and you added it to your notes.
Sunday arrives and you mount the pulpit ready to deliver the goods. God in His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit enable you to speak the Words of Life.
The final “Amen” is said and now it’s time to speak with folks on their way home, and you will be headed that way shortly.
What are your thoughts about the sermon as you drive home; as you gather with your family at home for dinner or a group of folk at the restaurant? Did you succeed or fail? Was it too long or too short? Was it true to the text? Was the sentence sermon clearly given and articulated throughout the message?
Oh yes, how many folk commented on the sermon at the door? Few or many? No comments at all?
For all of us who currently preach or have had the privilege of preaching God’s Word are faced with an array of emotions and questions afterwards.
May I encourage you . . .
- Guard your heart.
- The Word always works. You can count on it!
- God is doing so much more than you can even imagine in the hearts of those gathered as well as in your own heart.
- How people respond is not your responsibility. You are to preach the Truth and let it change you.
- You are not the agent of change, the Holy Spirit is.
- The goal is faithfulness and the exaltation of Christ.
- Your reputation is not important and/or what the crowd thinks of you. Christ is the issue. Your confidence is grounded in your position in Christ.
- The perfect sermon doesn’t exist.
- Seriously, I am often reminded that God even used a donkey to speak for Him. That’ll humble you.
- If think you failed, confess it to the Lord, and get back in the game for next Sunday! Don’t brood over it!
- Pray, pray, pray and when you think you have prayed, then pray as you prepare for next Sunday!
- God will not share His glory with anyone, therefore, stay humble.
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4:10-12)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
Enjoy your Monday as you rest in Christ alone!! See you next Sunday!!
fromapastorsheart.com 
So true for all kinds of ministry.