The other day, I received mixed signals on my preaching. First, a young couple told me that they were attracted to our church because of my preaching. An hour later, someone else made it a point to say, “I loved your Father’s Day sermon. It spoke to my heart.” Four hours later, I received an e-mail informing me that a couple was leaving our church. The straw that broke the camel’s back was that the husband thought the Father’s Day sermon was too negative!
Predictably, a fleshly response kicked in for the next half hour or so. I fretted over the negative remark. What was negative about a sermon challenging men from Proverbs 4 to acquire, treasure, and protect the gift of wisdom?! This was a manly sermon delivered to men with a manly ethos! It was inspiring, not negative!
Later, as I wrestled with all the day’s remarks before the Lord in prayer (and that’s always the first step when dealing with criticism or mixed signals), I revisited three core convictions about the responses I get to my preaching (and that’s the value of criticism or mixed signals: forcing me to look at the big picture).
First, I can’t get too upset about negative responses or too euphoric about positive responses. After all, God told Isaiah and Jeremiah to expect resistance(see Isaiah 6:9-10; Jeremiah 1:17-19). He also told Ezekiel that people would love to hear him preach and would treat him like Elvis Presley or Shania Twain (my paraphrase of Ezekiel 33:30-32). The problem is, they would not put his words into practice.
Second, I must weigh criticism and critics. I look for patterns in responses, and I try to be careful not to put too much stock in isolated responses – whether negative or positive. I try to look at the big picture. Sometimes, I’m aware that a comment – whether positive or negative – reflects an underlying frustration, desire, or agenda. Years ago, a prominent family in our church told me that I was going to be the next Chuck Swindoll. Yeah, right! But their response to my ministry grew more tepid over the years when I didn’t conform to their expectations and agenda. Another way that I weigh criticism and critics is to get the feeback of allies who put the interests of God’s kingdom first and know how to speak the truth in love.
Third, I must move on. Feedback causes me to pause momentarily. But then I’ve got to move ahead and either set aside the input or else adjust in response to its insights. I don’t have time to revel in a positive comment or anguish over a negative one. That’s easier said than done, but I’m able to do it a lot more quickly after twenty years of preaching than after five years of preaching! After all, my calling is to proclaim Scripture for the glory of God and good of His people. I can’t take too much time to stress out over mixed signals.
Posted by Steve Mathewson at 9:31 AM on July 27, 2007
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why are people coming to/going from your church as a result of your preaching?
Posted by: mccarnan no. 3 on July 27, 2007
Steve,
Thanks for another great article...and for your honest comments about people and ministry. As you say, we preachers need to put comments in the context of the Big Picture. First off, I understand that to mean that we ultimately have an audience of One. We must please Him in all we say. In addition, we need to also put our preaching in the context of pastoral ministry. People not only need to hear our sermons, but we need to laugh with them, cry with them, and...be silent in the context of their needs. This second perspective often helps us get a hearing when we preach.
Harry Shields
Posted by: Harry Shields on July 28, 2007
Steve,
Just wanted to say thanks for the blog. I check it regularly and it is helpful and encouraging. I may be doing a series on Proverbs in the future.
I'm a chaplain in Iraq right now, so know that your blog helps even halfway around the world.
God bless,
Chaplain Patrick Lowthian
Posted by: Patrick Lowthian on July 30, 2007