Learn more about what it means to be a Christian

Why would a pastor put his sermons on the internet?  That's a good question.  I certainly do not imagine that my sermons are any better than the sermons preached by thousands of pastors each week.  My sermons represent my best effort under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to understand and communicate the Scripture to my congregation on a regular basis.  Some use the analogy of "feeding" when they refer to preaching.  For me, the picture is like that of tracks that are left on a path.  My sermons represent something of my own spiritual journey, and I would hope that my tracks help guide others along their own spiritual journey.

In the early days of my ministry I did not always like being called, "Preacher."  When someone would say, "Hello, Preacher," I would want to respond, "Hello Mechanic," or "Hello Mid-level Manager."  Eventually, I got over that.

As I rapidly move into middle age, I recognize that preaching has absorbed more and more of my identity.  Preaching is not just something I do, a preacher is what I am. I confess that many of my friends are far better preachers than I, but as Popeye would say, "Iyam what Iyam."  God has blessed others with the grand ability to be gurus of church growth strategy and leadership. To me He has given the gift and task of proclaiming Scripture in such a way that others can be drawn to Christ and grow in their ability to follow Christ.

Since preaching is oral interpretation, much is lost when just reading a manuscript.  I have placed these sermons online primarily for those who hear me from week to week.  I would love for my sermons to have an ongoing and interactive nature to them, so that those who listen can respond with questions, comments, or even share an additional thought that the Lord might give them.  I suppose that we could have a dialogue time at the end of the service, but then we would never beat the Methodists to Luby's (all credit to the late Grady Nutt).  So, I place them here in the hope that the sermon doesn't end with the handshakes and well-meaning, "Good message, Preacher," at the back door (or is that the front door?) on Sunday morning.

Still, those who are not present on Sunday may find something useful in the tracks I leave behind.  I used to work for a man who had a sign on the wall which read, "Be careful whose footprints you follow, you never know what they might have stepped in."  I promise to always be careful where I step, but I make no guarantee that my steps will always be perfect.

So feel free to join the discussion.  Even if you disagree with something I have said, I respect your right to a different opinion.  We may even learn something from one another.  I feel no burden to conform anyone to my opinion, but please remember that I feel no burden to be conformed to your opinion either.  Hopefully, we will become pilgrims together on the journey of being conformed to Christ.

That leads me to say a word to those who may feel that your mission in life is to "set everybody else straight."  You will not be happy here.  I will only frustrate you with my complete lack of concern that you think I am too conservative, or too liberal, or too literal, or not literal enough, or whatever.  I have neither the time nor the energy to argue with you, and I am quite content to let you go on your way believing that you are right.  Maybe you are.

 For everyone else, thank you for visiting this site.  Click here to go back to the sermon page, and here to go to the weblog.