Not posting a sermon this week because the one I’ve got is kinda blah. I’ve been working on it for a while and it’s just not what I want… but there you go. I’ll keep working a bit more, but I doubt it will be fabulous this week.
You know, that is one of the most disappointing things when you are a pastor: working hard on a sermon and it just been so-so. If it were a complete fail, we’ll that’s one thing. I could always say I didn’t work hard enough and use it as an impetus to put in more effort or time the next week. Or perhaps I might even be able to see it as a way to better figure out how to get out of the way of the Spirit preaching through me. But when it’s just a meh kinda sermon, that’s the most disappointing of all.
In the second lesson for this Sunday St Paul writes, “Woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16-23) No pressure, right? We’ll, St Paul, I counter with your very own words from another epistle to the same town, “Therefore since it is by God’s mercy we are engaged in this ministry we shall not lose heart.” (2 Cor 4:1)
Maybe proclaiming the gospel just can’t always be about doing it perfectly every time… even if I really want it to be. Maybe it is about doing the very best I can and being grateful for the chance every single time.
Shepherdess Writes 
I think that you might have made a point without meaning to. The title of your post is “Loosing Heart” and you meant “Losing Heart”. I think what you have done here in your post is to “loosen” your heart by exposing your imperfect self and reminding us that even a pastor is human sometimes. In this way, you have shown what a big heart you have and you haven’t lost it at all!
I’m glad you caught that! Somewhat famously amongst some people who know me often missspell lose with two oos.This time it was intentional for just that reason 😉
Thank you for your words!!!! 😀
When the Word is in you, the sermon just flows out, it’s not supposed to be a stressful process of putting something together:) Keep your head up, sister, let the Lord use you just as you are:)
Thank you for the words of encouragement! And for taking the time to give them 🙂
We all have dry periods of our preaching ministry. I’m sure Paul did too. Over my now close to 30 years of preaching, what I remind myself of is two things. The dryness helps me look more to God for inspiration. Even in the dry periods, when I preach what I think is a dud, the Holy Spirit, on several occasions, has worked with the sermon to reach others in a meaningful way.
Me too… cheering for the Holy Spirit to use the opportunity to speak through the beauty of your imperfection. (Ah, if only I could be so gentle with myself.) Blessings to you on this day. I feel encouraged by your post!
Reblogged this on Shepherdess Writes and commented:
As I ponder the final polishing of this week’s sermon, I reflect upon this same week some years ago. It seems I struggled with the text then, too!
Ironically, I misspelled the title: Loosing rather than Losing Heart. This is a typical misspelling for me and I left it that way on purpose. I am reminded that the Gospel does not cause us to lose heart but it may cause us to loosen our hearts.