Saturday, February 23, 2008

Confessions of a Preacher

Lord, I come to you a miserable sinner, a sinner with a pulpit.

I repent for every time I preached something other than the good news of the gospel.

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I made parishioners feel that they needed to try harder to be accepted by you.

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I turned biblical narratives into morality lessons.

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I reduced the gospel to a transaction.

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I believed that everything depended upon my eloquence.

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I focused on the people who didn't come instead of those who did.

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I said, "This is what the Bible says you should do."

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I pretended to have it all together.

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I turned a sermon into a seminary lecture.

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I proclaimed a Christianity of tips and techniques.

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I spent more time preparing the message than I did preparing the messenger.

Lord, have mercy.

I repent for every time I depended upon my cleverness instead of the scandal of the cross.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord, have mercy upon me, a wretched offender. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to humankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, most merciful Father, for his sake that I may hereafter proclaim the true gospel with courage and confidence to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

Pastor Rod

"Helping You Become the Person God Created You to Be"