This Is Not The Kitchen!

Just a short thought and reminder regarding preaching — “The pulpit is not the kitchen, but the dining room!”

In recent days I was reminded on three different occasions about where “serial listeners” are coming from in regards to the pulpit ministry.

#1) “I find the pastor’s messages uninspiring.”

#2) “I am just lost as I listen to my pastor.”

#3) “There were some great ideas and biblical concepts in the message, but it never spoke to what that means to my life this week.”

When I heard such comments, my mind called up different specific words which reflect what is being said about the message.

“I find the pastor’s messages uninspiring.” — That would be the word “boring.”

“I’m just lost as I listen to my pastor.” — That would be the word — “muddled.”

“”There were some great ideas and biblical concepts in the message, but it never spoke to what that means to my life this week.” — That would be the word — “unusable (impractical).”

Boring — Muddled — Unusable

The cause?

It may well be because . . . .

. . . . the pastor has brought the kitchen into the pulpit.

. . . . the pastor hasn’t distinguished the difference between the kitchen from the dining room.

. . . . what is done in the kitchen (the study) is thought to be interesting to those sitting in the dining room (the pews).

. . . . what is done in preparation (and which is absolutely necessary) is not then assembled and presented into a meaningful spiritual dinner plate which allows one to walk out with enough for a second and third meal for the week.

 

The reality is:  Not all speakers and preachers are as effective as they . . . .

should be
could be
think they are . . . .

. . . . and it is time that some come back down to reality and consistently work at being more effective communicators, not just theologies.

You do not have to be the best.  Indeed, some speakers are outstanding and highly effective.  Others are really good.  Still others — are more often than not reasonably effective!   However, some speakers and preachers are boring, muddled, and/or impractical!

“Boring . . . . Muddled . . . . Unusable” are not good words to characterize the pulpit ministry and some listeners are fair in such criticisms!

As a speaker/preacher you are expected to be open to fair pulpit criticism, and you are required to keep working at improving your communication skills.