This past week I attempted to give advice to one of my grandsons. He was working on a Sudoku problem. “Let me show you a little trick,” I said to him. “It will help you when you get stuck like this.” Soon it became obvious to me that he didn’t want my help. He was going to do this puzzle on his own even if it took him all day.
The experience prompted me to look at myself to see how open I am to the help of others. My conclusion was that as a young man I was a whole lot like my grandson. But somewhere along the way, I’m not sure when, I came to realize that I could learn a lot from others if I just opened myself to what they had to share.
Over the years I have worked with many different preachers. Some of them are still like my grandson was this last week. They’re going to do things their own way, even if the attendance is dropping and they have put their church in jeopardy. Talk to them about other approaches to sermonizing and the conversation is over in a matter of minutes.
On the other hand, there are those who are open to the expertise of someone else. They listen closely to what such teachers have to say. They weigh this input and decide what has value for them and what doesn’t. They continue to learn alternative ways of approaching things.
Would you believe there are exceptional preachers in both categories? But, I believe by far the greater number are in group two.
What about you?
———————————————
You can learn how to develop highly relevant Sunday sermons that grab the attention of your congregation and help your listeners respond effectively to the deep truths of God’s Word. David Mains and Mainstay Ministries have a whole range of helpful solutions. Do you need to prepare a Topical Sermon, an Advent Sermon, a Christmas Sermon, an Easter Sermon, a Sermon Series, or any other Sunday Sermon? You can find help on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons. Just click here to visit David Mains’ website.
