YOU WANT TO BE A PREACHER? THAT"S OUTDATED!

When I was growing up, I wanted to be teacher.  A dream changed those plans for I know God spoke to me in that dream.  When I woke up, I knew I would follow in my father's footsteps and go into the ministry. This happened in December 1964.  Our country was in the midst of major turmoil.  We had troops in Vietnam and the second Civil War was waged over equal rights for All Americans.  Pastors, Preachers, and Priests were very well respected.  They were often at the top of the list of America's most respected professions.  We were dressed in a suit and tie.  Our shoes were polished.  We preached on hell fire and brimstone and sin.  

Turn the page 49 years.  Pastors have lost credibility due to the sex scandals, the embezzlement of funds, and other abuses in the church.  Some have been found guilty of murdering their spouses.  People tend to trust in science and reason now more than ever.  Sin, hellfire, and brimstone are out.  Sermons now focus on love, peace, and harmony.  Some pastors now preach in blue jeans and tee shirt or sport shirt.  Many changes have come and gone yet one aspect of the Worship experience is still with us:  the sermon, the homily, the message, or any other name you may call it.

Paul writes in I Corinthians 1, 

18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

This is why I answered the call of God:  Preaching is God's way of showing us how to have a relationship with God.