I like to Say Words to the Peoples

Preached a sermon at church today, Hebrews 12:1-13. Great passage.

Fix your eyes on Jesus that you can run the race with endurance set before you. Along the way, counting all opposition and difficult circumstances as discipline from the Lord. Make the way for others. Fix your eyes on Jesus.

Basically my take on the passage.

It went a little long, 43 Minutes, but the last 5 of that were spent sharing my favorite story, how my High School Volleyball experience helps me understand the need to constantly focus on Jesus. As a high school team, we were undefeatable, that was due to the careful training and consistent coaching of my High School Coach, Coach Ittner. Even on the court, during the game, the only voice we would ever hear was his, booming in our ears, constantly giving us direction and telling us when to act. In this way, we “fixed our ears” on Coach. If we listened to him and responded accordingly, we always succeeded, we always played well.

If we fix our eyes on Jesus, through his word, through prayer, and in our hearts, the same occurs. We will always persevere, always succeed, always run well.

I got a good response, but today more than ever I realize how far I have to go as a preacher. I think I really am gifted for it, but now I realize for maybe the first time in my life, that I’m not a good preacher, at least not yet. It’s like having a gift set but still needing to use it. Like a musician it requires practice and more practice to become competent. I have to learn how to speak clearer, interact with my manuscript better but also interact with the audience. I have to learn how to read the text well, get to the bottom of the meaning and really let the texts shape my sermons. And most of all I’ve got to get a much better grasp on my Bible. Like the kid in movie “Walk the Line” says, “If I’m gonna be a preacher, I gotta know the scriptures forwards and back.” I think I know them pretty well forwards, but it’s time to start working on the back part. This whole process is exceedingly humbling, but I’m grateful for it. If God is going to use me I need to be fully committed to the process he is setting out before me, even if it long and arduous, and embarrassing along the way. I have a great line of “coaches” in front of me who will guide me, either through their interaction or silently as I watch how they have perfected their craft. Darrell Johnson, Tom Nelson, Charles Spurgeon, Bob Sprague, and my Pastor at University Chapel, Geoff Chapman, just to name a few.

Pretty exciting; I’m as humbled as I’ve ever been, but more optimistic than ever. – Dan.