I did something today which I have never done before in my entire life, and I’m pretty ashamed of myself. And on Easter Sunday of all days! I feel so bad, I don’t think I will ever do it again. Maybe.
So, I figured “Where better to air my dirty laundry than on a public blog?”
What did I do?
I lifted a sermon. Stole it. Yes, I preached someone else’s Easter message.
I’m not going to tell you whose it was, where I got it, or what it was about. But one thing I do know, is that it was by far the worst sermon I have ever preached in my entire life. When I first read it earlier this week, I thought, “Well, that’s creative, interesting, memorable. Nice stories. Nice application. Nice three-point outline.” So I copy-pasted it into Word, made a few tweaks, and voila! my Easter sermon.
But when I got up to preach it today, I was bored out of my mind within five minutes. And I could tell the congregation was too. I have never seen so many people looking back at the clock and checking their watch. I realized that it is impossible for me to preach someone else’s sermon, no matter how good it was when they preached it. I am not them, and cannot preach the way they do, and I have trouble getting excited or passionate about something that I didn’t research and write.
And the worst thing about it is that today was Easter! Attendance was up by about 50%, so there were several people in church who haven’t been there since last Easter. And today, of all days, I decide to preach the worst sermon in the history of the world.
So, I’m ashamed. I’m sorry, church members! I’m sorry, Jesus.
I’m sorry that on this, the most important day of the year, I failed.
That will teach you to not preach for more than five minutes!
That’s what I like about you Jeremy; You’re so honest.
Keep preaching!
Jo Ann
Epiphanist,
You know, the funny thing is that at the five minute mark, when I was boring myself to tears, I just about sat down right there. I really don’t think anybody would have minded. Especially not all the kids who just wanted to get outside for the Easter Egg hunt.
I remember when I was a kid and the pastor only preached for five minutes once. I remember thinking, “That was the best sermon ever!” Ha ha.
Jo Ann,
Thanks for the encouragement!
Jeremy, I am curious – what would you have wanted to say instead?
Missy,
The problem is that my focus and outlook on preaching and teaching is changing. See my post called “Good Friday Mourning.” In the past, my Easter sermons have been doctrinal summaries about the death and resurrection of Jesus. While true explanations, they were not life-changing, encouraging, or edifying.
So, I am already beginning to think more on what I might preach on next Easter. Any suggestions?
Yeah, it’s hard to figure out what to talk about when your in the midst of change – pivotal change. I can’t imagine what it’s like when its your calling and life support!
My suggestion is overtly general – anything authentic. 🙂 Some of the things that Jesus had to say were downright disheartening, so edifying and encouraging isn’t always the foundation of a good sermon. One of the reasons I am drawn to reading here is because you’ve presented to me a real man with a real struggle as ugly and as beautiful as it can be, and I am intrigued with the example of your wife right there in the middle of it with you. The authenticity I experienced at my church back home came with family-like fellowship – I really could have cared less about the Sunday message. In my church here in New Hampshire it comes by example and every word from leadership here is like a drop of honey. I have a feeling that authenticity is what you crave. It’s like love (maybe it even IS love) – you have to give it to get it.
Sorry for the know-it-all tone. This is one of the few things I am sure of – I think. 😉
Missy,
Thanks for the input. I didn’t take it as a “know-it-all tone.” You write with grace and tact.
You are exactly right that I want to speak with authenticity. My main problem is that I have never really seen this modelled in any church I have ever attended.
Right before I got up on Sunday to preach, my wife sensed that I was not excited about my message, and so she said, “Just dump it and share from your heart what you wrote in your blog on Friday.”
I almost did that, but my problem is that I have trouble thinking on my feet, and didn’t feel like I had enough content from Friday to share. It’s probably what I should have done, since sharing something authentic from my heart for five minutes is WAY better than sharing something fake (and stolen) for 30 minutes.
Wow. We had one teacher at the School of Theatre who constantly reminded us, “If you’re going to steal something, don’t steal bad stuff. Only steal good stuff.”
🙂
Bullet,
HA HA HA. YOU ARE AWESOME! I hope I get to meet you sometime.
That’s kind of what my wife hinted at too… when we were driving home after church, I said, “So, how’d you like the sermon?” She knew I had “borrowed” it, and so she said, “And why did you pick that one to preach?”
By the way, I tell my wife about you and your blog, and she thinks you are hilarious also.
Hey Jeremy,
It seems like you added some more sh*t to your soil. That could be a good thing. Maybe good sermons come from fertile soil. Most of the good speakers/preachers I’ve heard are so full of sh*t that it comes out their ears, but what comes out of their mouths is beautiful (mostly hypocritical, but beautiful nonetheless).
I guess I’m in a negative mood today, well o.k., it’s every day, but I’m sure you won’t be borrowing any more sermons for a while. If, however, you decide to make a career of it, I know the perfect church for you to get a job at. It’s my old church in little elm and the pastor their couldn’t write his own sermon if he tried.
I’m going to go read your blog-off, or whatever it’s called and vote for you even if you suck.
Later