I have decided that I am NOT arrogant. 

Last week a read a quote in a Christian Century article that said it was prideful for pastor to feel the need to write a new sermon every week.  That quote has been ringing in my ears, mind and heart ever since I read it (See "Sermon Stealing" below).  Writing new sermons each and every week is not about being prideful, but about being faithful.  A pastor is called to a particular congregation.  The pastor reads and lives the scripture text.  The pastor then comes FROM the congregation to preach a word to the people. This is not arrogance — it is being faithful to the Word of God spoken to each of us where we are at in a particular time and place.  To take a sermon preached previously and preach it now is to cheat people.  Joy left a very good comment about sermon stealing in my previous post when she said: "I think that’s terribly misleading (when pastors steal sermons), and could really damage the pastor/congregation relationship if discovered. If sermons are gifts from God, why would you even want to "steal" them from others? God will give pastors the right words for the right time."  Amen Joy, thank you for that comment.

But think of it this way as well:  What if your pastor were to ask you to share your faith story in worship some Sunday – would you go and find a "really good one" some place; someone who has a "better" faith story than you and use that?  Of course not.  You would share your story; the story God has written for you through Jesus Christ.  If I wanted to hear someone else’s story I would have asked them.  I understand that the sermon is not necessarily the pastor’s faith story, but in a way it is.  The sermon deals with the pastor’s/preacher’s encounter with the Word.  As Joy said the sermon/Word is a gift from God.  The message is different for everyone.  You are not going to preach the same sermon preached in Virginia in the aftermath of the shootings as you would in Minnesota.  You might have similar themes, but the Word is different.  God comes to each person in different ways and gives each us the words we need to say and hear.

And this is a lesson for all people.  When you are asked to share your faith story, don’t try to embellish it to make it more entertaining, but share your story.  We all have a story.  Be faithful and honest with people.  Take the time to listen to God and trust that when the time is right, the Holy Spirit will inspire you to share a Word with people.  Whether you are on the street or at work or in the pulpit.  When a Word needs to be shared with people, God will provide those words.  So be faith and honest and trusting.  Sermons and faith stories are not about us but rather about God.

I am NOT arrogant.  I am just a person trying to listen to God in order to share the Good News with people HERE and NOW.  What’s YOUR story? -edh-