It was one of the first times in a while that my wife asked me if I wanted some company at church. I was encouraged that she asked me, and then she followed up with where and what time? Good basic questions for a planner both physically and spiritually.
I then proceeded to research who was speaking, and not knowing the individual figured that a guest speaker would be refreshing.
It started off innocently enough with the speaker talking about his family. A polite and funny introduction to a taste of his journey brought some levity to the opening, but that did not last long. It was the beginning of a service that was probably one of the most negative I have heard in a long while.
Basic Tips
My wife and I are used to a few things being married for 30+ years and we don’t ask for much, but there are a few rules that should be adhered to as a speaker.
- Please don’t tear yourselves down so that others can be lifted up.
- When you declare anything while preaching do it in the positive.
- Please do not project your shortcomings or unbeliefs onto the audience so that the response to prayer is bigger.
- Teaching from a counterfeit example doesn’t benefit anyone.
- Assuming you are anything other than a peer is a bad place to start.
Tearing yourself down starts a self-fulfilling prophetic cycle that only ends when you stop. I counted how many times the same negative statement was made and after the fourth time, my wife looked at me and did “the exhale”. If you have been married long enough, you know the one, it comes with an exclusive eye roll.
God spoke things into existence and with that created a model that we should carry forward. Life and death is in the power of the tongue.
Why do something in life if you don’t believe in it?
The gifts are free but maturity will cost you something.
