Mouth to Speak; Ears To Hear

Preachers are a funny lot.

We work like crazy to deliver messages that are acurate, biblically sound, powerful, moving, God honoring, timely, and memorable for our churches and all who hear them.

But we often hate to listen to ourselves.

This could be for a number of reasons:

• Arrogance - Not feeling a need to improve.

• Lack of Confidence - Can't bear to hear ourselves.

• Ignorance - Not realizing the need and advantages of listening to ourselves.
  

I had a pastor friend who refused to listen to recordings of his sermons. He'd preached it, why should he have to listen to it? I responded to him with a good natured laugh and said, "Well, we had to listen to it! Why shouldn't you?"

I believe that all preachers should listen to their own sermons. Not for self focused or arrogant reasons, but for the purpose of constantly improving their communication skills. If you listen to your own sermons because you think you're brilliant and you just love the melodious sound of your voice, you have other issues to deal with...

The truth is, if you preached it, you haven't really heard it.

Here are some things I've learned from listening to my own messages:

• Some messages were not as good as I thought they were.

• Some messages were better than I thought they were.

• I have annoying habits that I need to work on:
  

• Repetitive phrases like, "you know," and "and ah.."

• Nervous laugh

• Talking too fast

• My introduction was too long.

• My timing was off.

• My energy level was not what I thought it was.

• I can see through the "baloney."

• I was trying too hard.

• I was not trying hard enough.

• The joke was lame.

• The message was too long.

• The message was not long enough.

• I hear what really worked and connected.

There's more, but I think you get the idea.

I know you can obsess in this process but the point is not to beat yourself up every week. The idea is to sharpen and hone your ability to communicate the Word of God in a creative and compelling way.

James 1:19-20 says:
"19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." - NIV

So a word to my preaching pals:

Be quick to listen.
Be careful (slow) about what and how you preach (speak).
Don't get offended (angry) that I'm suggesting that you should listen to your own words.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.