The garden was plowed and tilled and ready to plant. My job was to cut straight furrows with the hoe from one end of the garden to the other. Billy would follow me and plant the seeds in the furrow. Dale would come behind with the rake and cover the seeds. We three could get a garden out pretty quick. That evening, Billy boasted that he was a good PLANTER by virtue of his planting skills. Not to be outdone, Dale announced that he was a great RAKER by virtue of his use of the rake. I proudly (and loudly) proclaimed what I was by virtue of my use of the hoe! Billy busted out laughing, Pamela giggled, Mama left the room. Dale and I looked at each other puzzled. What did I say? Daddy explained that sometimes what we mean to say is not what our hearers actually hear.
I preached my first sermon when I was 17. I started preaching regularly in 1986. Have I ever said something that came out wrong? SURE! Has the audience ever heard something I didn't mean to say? Of course! Have I ever flat out preached error? I'm afraid so! The key is for the audience to love you enough to forgive you and for you to love them enough to genuinely appreciate their correction. Remember what Solomon said in Proverbs 17:10 "A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool." So remember, you don't have to beat me up, just reprove me. That will get the job done!
I preached my first sermon when I was 17. I started preaching regularly in 1986. Have I ever said something that came out wrong? SURE! Has the audience ever heard something I didn't mean to say? Of course! Have I ever flat out preached error? I'm afraid so! The key is for the audience to love you enough to forgive you and for you to love them enough to genuinely appreciate their correction. Remember what Solomon said in Proverbs 17:10 "A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool." So remember, you don't have to beat me up, just reprove me. That will get the job done!