The Bigger Part

When Charles Spurgeon, the great 19th century English preacher known as the "Prince of Preaching"  was converted, it was at a church he did not intend to attend, but one to which he went because of a snowstorm.  The weather was so bad not even the preacher showed up, so "At last, a very thin-looking man, a shoemaker, or tailor or something of that sort, went up to the pulpit to preach.  Now, is is well that preachers should be instructed, but this man was really stupid.  He was obliged to stick to his text for the simple reason he had little else to say....'Look to Me and be saved...'  Isaiah 45:22)   ("The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon)     

At the end of the ten minute sermon, Spurgeon found himself standing in the presence of Christ in a life changing way.   Every preacher has preached too many sermons which belong in the "Never Preach Again" file.  My own file got fairly big before I stepped away from the pulpit, but one of the things learned over the years is that even bad, ill prepared sermons can be transformed into something which accomplishes the unexpected work of the Spirit.  Like any preacher, I have memories of people responding to sermons which never seemed to come together.     

There is nothing which takes the place of praying over a sermon.  There is no substitution for faithful work.  And what should never surprise any preacher is that what seems to be the best sermons fall flat while the sermons which seemed to be only a measure better than terrible touch the heart of some unexpected soul.  The preacher is an important part of the sermon process, but the Holy Spirit always has the bigger part.