Like this:

I know it’s taboo among those of us that preach, but I’m thinking about the “bad” sermon – not someone else’s, but mine. Have any of my fellow pastors ever had an off-day?

I did yesterday. I don’t know what happened. I was well-prepared and excited about the message. I was eager to share an insight into the scripture that I hadn’t read anywhere else. But when the moment came to preach, it just felt like it didn’t come together.

I could blame it on the snow – that did throw me out of my normal routine – but that’s just an excuse. I could blame it on not feeling well, but I’ve felt worse and overcome it. What happened yesterday?

Mostly, I was distracted by my inner monologue. I read a novel years ago called For the Love of the Game that records the thoughts of a pitcher in a baseball game. I wish I were gifted enough to write that novel for preachers. What goes through my mind during a sermon would be just as interesting.

But here it is on Monday afternoon, and I’m still feeling bad about a sermon delivered more than 24 hours ago. What do I do with this feeling?

One of my former pastors, Russ Shivers, told me this story about sermons. I don’t know if it’s original to him, but I love it. It goes something like this.

A man came up to him one Sunday and said, “Good sermon, Pastor.”

“They’re all good,” he purportedly replied, “some are just better than others.”

I wish I felt like that, like all of my sermons were good. But I’m pretty sure I’ve put some out there that were… well… stinkers – at least by the standards of my seminary preaching professors. Like yesterday would have gotten a C if the professor was feeling generous. The transitions were awkward. My phrasing was poor. My speed was lousy. But that’s not really what matters, is it? Technique and style are great, but it’s the message that really matters once you get out of the classroom.

I can’t handle a compliment on a good day, so when people came up and complimented me on yesterday’s message, I really didn’t know what to do with it. Maybe they were just being nice. But maybe there’s more to it than that. Maybe something happens even when it’s not “good” that still makes it “good.” Maybe God has a way of using our mumblings to his glory.

I guess the question really boils down to if we really believe what we say. I wonder if I am truly convinced that if one person heard something they needed to it was worth it. Maybe that one person came yesterday. Maybe that’s what makes it good.

God, forgive me for not giving my best yesterday, and thank you for taking my meager offerings and multiplying them in your kingdom.

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