One of the classes I both dreaded and loved while preparing for ministry was Homiletics—preaching class. We spent hours learning how to craft a sermon, organize our thoughts, explain Scripture, and motivate people toward obedience. The most intimidating part came when it was our turn to preach. Half the class would receive evaluation forms and critique everything we said and how we said it. NO PRESSURE!
As I look back on those days, I sometimes pull out one of those old evaluation forms (yes I still have a couple of them) and laugh. Yet over the years I’ve realized something important: preaching is not something reserved for pastors standing behind a pulpit on Sunday mornings. Every follower of Jesus is called to preach a sermon every day.
Not with a microphone. Not from a stage. With our lives.
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). He went on to explain that a lamp is meant to be placed where everyone can benefit from its light. In the same way, our lives are meant to shine so that others see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
That means every day we should ask ourselves a simple question: What will I preach today?
The people around us are constantly reading the sermon of our lives. They see how we treat our family, respond to stress, handle disappointment, speak about others, and interact with coworkers. Long before they listen to what we say about Jesus, they are watching how we live for Him.
One of the most important questions we learned to ask when preparing a sermon was, “What is the main point?” Every good sermon has one. So does every life. What would people say is the main point of your life? Is it success? Comfort? Achievement? Pleasure? Or is it Jesus?
Illustrations are another important part of a sermon, and our lives should provide a clear illustration of the gospel. People need to see that following Christ actually makes a difference. They need to see hope in the middle of hardship, peace in the middle of uncertainty, and joy that isn’t dependent on circumstances. Many people are not looking for a theological debate; they are looking for evidence that Jesus is real and that He is worth following.
The good news is that God doesn’t require us to be polished speakers. He simply asks us to let His light shine. As we walk closely with Him, our lives become living sermons that point others toward Christ.
Today, someone will watch how you respond, listen, speak, serve, or forgive. Someone will hear the message your life is preaching.
Sheldon Vanauken in his book A Severe Mercy, “The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians; when they are somber and joyless, when they are self righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths.”
The question is not whether you will preach today.
The question is: What will you preach?
Ted Harris
Associate Pastor