We Ought Not Be Surprised

[264 words] How should a preacher evaluate his sermon? More importantly, how should he evaluate his preaching ministry? Hershel York, professor of preaching at a Louisville seminary has published a guideline to address those questions. One of his tools is this question: Does the sermon divide the audience? Solid preaching leads to some amens and some criticisms. When “toes are stepped on,” the heart will determine how fast they heal. Hopefully negative reactions do not come from a speaker’s insensitivity or arrogance or caustic judgments. However, the truth spoken in love will result in some enemies. Jesus warned His disciples in Luke 6:26, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets the same way.” l believe this principle is true in the arena of life as much as it is in the Sunday pulpit. As we live our Christian…