? Good job, good sermon?And the list of phrases a pastor can hear when members leave the church at the end of the service continues. Inevitably, whether the sermon is good or not, these brief comments will be directed to us with different levels of sincerity and it is important that we know how to respond in a way that honors God. Here are four suggestions:
It is sad when a pastor tries to use false humility to hide his insecurities or his inability to know how to receive a kind word, this usually appears in a pastor’s response after an encouraging comment like this:?Oh, no, it wasn’t a good sermon. I got lost here, stumbled upon my words there. Stop and say “thank you for your kind words. “
- Regardless of the comment.
- If it was to cheer you up.
- Thank the person for his words of encouragement.
- Be grateful.
- No matter how small the comment.
- Simple or even superficial.
- Someone took the time to share their thoughts with you.
- Be grateful and receive the comment in this way.
What should humiliate us more than a listener who spends time animating us about our sermon is the fact that God chooses to use broken glasses like us week after week, Sunday after Sunday to feed God’s people with the word. Every time we are addressed a kind word, when it ceases to amaze us, we must begin to worry.
The great temptation, when we are praised by a sermon, is to think that the fruit of our work is, in the end, upon us and for us. When we are addressed a kind word about our sermon, we must verify that credit. it is given to God and he is praised, not superficially, but honestly. We can respond by giving glory to God with our lips, while inside we are full of pride.
In light of these suggestions, here are some ways in which I think it is appropriate to respond to a kind word that came to us after a sermon:
“Thank you for your kind words, isn’t God wonderful in the way he speaks to each of us through his word?
“Thank you for your encouragement, I thank God you used your word this way. “
“I am grateful that you have shared the way the word of God touched you. This passage touched me in the same way, is God very merciful?
Pastors, receive the kind words that are offered to you. Cheer up with this, this will help them overcome the discouragement that usually occurs on Mondays and stay humble, because in six days you will do it again.