M I N I S T RY | P R E A C H I N G
Preaching With Character Heart qualities for effective pulpit ministry By ROBERT M. EBY
T
he pattern was solid as granite. Monday: Begin studying the passage. Tuesday: Continue the study. Wednesday: Complete the study and begin forming the sermon. Thursday: Finalize the sermon. Sunday: Preach the sermon. Sunday afternoon: Ruminate about all the shortcomings of the sermon, sink into despair, question my calling, and wonder whether what I was doing mattered for eternity.
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Spring 2022
Regardless of the response by the congregation or the technical precision of the message, these feelings usually settled into my heart like a heavy mist that clouded my vision for hours, and even days, following a service. As much as I knew in my head that this cycle was imbalanced and destructive to my ability to follow the calling of God on my life, the root of the issue became apparent only recently.
