February 7, 2007
The Ten Deadly Sins of Preaching
John Ortberg’s insights from the National Pastors Convention
Monday was a great day to leave Chicago. The wind-chill was thirty degrees below zero and the Bears had just lost the Super Bowl. This week I’m in sunny San Diego for the National Pastors Convention. Although the main sessions don’t start until later today, on Tuesday I attended a five hour “Critical Concerns” course on preaching.
John Ortberg, pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, CA, and the author of numerous books with really long titles, presented about preparing the soul to preach. His focus was not simply getting spiritually juiced for Sunday morning, but rather becoming the kind of person that preaching flows out of that pleases God. It was really about character formation.
Part of Ortberg’s discussion included a list of the ten deadly sins of preaching. (John said he originally intended to create a list of seven deadly sins, but preaching offered so many temptations that he had to expand the list.)
1. The temptation to be inauthentic
We want to present an image to others that makes us appear more holy, intelligent, or godly than we actually are. In the end this is a foolish pursuit because the truth of who we are will always leak out.
2. The temptation to live for recognition
After finishing a sermon the question that runs through most of our minds is, did they like it? But we need to learn to root our identity in something other than applause. Ortberg cited Dallas Willard’s ability to present his material and give no thought to people’s reactions. He’s like a child who releases a helium balloon. He says what God’s given him to say, and simply lets it go.
3. The temptation to live in fear
What if I fail? That question plagues many pastors. But there is a difference between failing at something and being a failure. You are not a failure. Again, our identity must been hidden in Christ and not our accomplishments.
4. The temptation to compare
With the radio, television, and the internet our generation faces this temptation more than any previous generation. Our culture of celebrity pastors causes us to compare ourselves to others. This does nothing good for the soul.
5. The temptation to exaggerate
This seems closely linked to temptation number one. Overstating facts is how we often try to manage our image and appear better than we are. John also linked this to plagiarism—passing someone else’s story, sermon, or idea off as our own to win approval.
6. The temptation to feel chronically inadequate
(I couldn’t write fast enough to take notes on this point. Does that make me an inadequate blogger?)
7. The temptation of pride
Having people listen to you give a monologue every week can make you prideful. The antidote? A wife. (Ortberg’s joke, not mine.)
8. The temptation to manipulate
Having a pulpit and speaking the words of God might give some a power rush. We mustn’t use our position to manipulate people into doing what we want them to do.
9. The temptation of envy
This seems related to number four, the temptation to compare. But envy carries the nuance of desire and ambition. We not only compare ourselves to another preacher, but we seek to achieve what they have. Such selfish motivations will undermine our spiritual health.
10. The temptation of anger
John read this quote from Henri Nouwen that says it all:
Anger in particular seems close to a professional vice in the contemporary ministry. Pastors are angry at their leaders for not leading and at their followers for not following. They are angry at those who do not come to church for not coming and angry at those who do come for coming without enthusiasm. They are angry at their families, who make them feel guilty, and angry at themselves for not being who they want to be. This is not an open, blatant, roaring anger, but an anger hidden behind the smooth word, the smiling face, and the polite handshake. It is a frozen anger, an anger which settles into a biting resentment and slowly paralyzes a generous heart. If there is anything that makes the ministry look grim and dull, it is this dark, insidious anger in the servants of Christ.
An article based on John Ortberg’s presentation will be published in a future issue of Leadership. And more reflections from NPC will be coming later this week on Out of Ur.
Posted by Skye Jethani on February 7, 2007
Comments
#7 (and it's solution!) is on the money.
Brilliant quote from Henri Nouwen as well. Some good stuff to ponder here.
Posted by: Matt Wiebe at February 7, 2007
Those are some excellent thoughts. Thanks for sharing, Skye. You know, that would be a great list to read through and then pray about each Sunday before and after you preach!
Posted by: John Mark at February 7, 2007
Skye, this is right up there in the top 10 of the best posts I've seen on here; that quote on Nouwen at #10 is convicting!
Posted by: bishopdave at February 7, 2007
Absolutely fantastic list. It almost seems a little repetitive in some ways, but I think that mimics the way that we think during the service. I thought it was really great that this list DID move from the temptations of when I start to prepare to preach to after I say "Amen". Great job!
Posted by: jWinters at February 7, 2007
Great stuff!
It inspired me to annotate it for Business as Mission practitioners: 10 deadly sins of Business as Mission
Posted by: Jon Hatch at February 7, 2007
Thanks for posting this Skye. All of these points are valid and well thought out. As a female pastor, I guess my husband would be my antidote on number seven, eh? :)
Shawna R. B. Atteberry
Posted by: Shawna R. B. Atteberry at February 7, 2007
Ouch! A good reminder for me to first preach facing the mirror.
Posted by: Mick Green at February 7, 2007
I recently left my church after being heavily involved there for over twelve years precisely because of several of the reasons above, but especially because of pride and anger on the part of the senior pastor. For the leaders reading this: Recognize that those of us in the pews may tolerate these sins for a season, being too intimidated to say anything, but sooner or later each of us reaches our limit...
Posted by: Jim at February 7, 2007
What about the temptations to rehash and second guess and self-flagellate with statements like "if only I'd..."?
I like Mark Driscoll's advice that we should be staunch Calvinists after the final Amen. (But easier said than done!)
Posted by: Len at February 7, 2007
i can't help but chime in number 11: the sin of being long-winded.
i find it amazing that pastors think they can grip an audience for 40+ minutes. unless they are a short bald guy from eastern college chances are they simply aren't that good...
Posted by: scott williams at February 7, 2007
Thanks for the details. I'm volunteering at NPC this week and am the guy you may see running between sessions wildly snapping photos. I'm thankful for your overview of this session as I wasn't able to stay around for it.
Thanks!
-jonathan
http://npc2007.wordpress.com
Posted by: Jonathan at February 7, 2007
It's probably related to #8, but I would add 11. The temptation to preach our own message rather than God's. I don't necessarily mean eisegesis; it's more like the idea that we as pastors preach on favorite subject-areas or pet peeves, when God is actually leading us to preach on the things He cares about. The symptoms are when we spend more time searching for proof-texts than being directed by the Holy Spirit to specific texts; and when we too often stretch the meaning of the scriptures rather than let the true meaning of the scriptures stretch us.
Posted by: K.W. Leslie at February 8, 2007
This list will go beside "Wesley's 22 questions" on my wall.
Just a thought I picked up from the talking heads on TV: the idea of "authentic" (as now well defined by our culture) does not mean "genuine" (as defined by the dictionary).
The point was that people can roleplay "authentic." (What will postmodernism think of next?) But it was an interesting point.
Posted by: daniel at February 9, 2007
Guilty of #'s 3, 6, 9, and when I'm not careful, sometimes 10.
The list provides a helpful perspective. It's good to name that which bugs me, starting this weekend I'll be more diligent about fearlessness, confidence, contentment and hope.
Posted by: Tim Hallman at February 9, 2007
I love what my pastor once wrote... " The chief end of a Christian is not to partake of the Divine Nature of God, that is their begining."
My place of employment emphesized " Core Values " for many months sateting that we should know them until they are "second nature" to us. ( Pointing out that there is that rascel in us that can choose not to - which is our first nature.)
That rascel was dealt with on the cross of Christ, as we know, and is no longer swayed by "performance" but by the indwelling God All Mighty in daily existance as a taste of eternity.
So what is the chief end of a Christian? That is of course to experience and express salvation which is the Greatest work of God and can only be realized by the love and faith of God and that makes us "fit" at home, work or even church.
What I'm saying friends is that the focus before the cross was me/us and still is after the cross. Aren't we the ones dear Jesus went through Hell for? Aren't we the ones the focus is on when we exclaim that all should have a personal relationship with Christ? Aren't we the ones to judge angels?
The Father came running to the wayward son and they embraced but the son got to wear the cloak of many colors and the fatted calf.
Posted by: Richard at February 10, 2007
hmm good stuff. tho i as leslie said i think a #11 should be added, The temptation to preach our own message rather than God's. as well as the temptation to be a people pleaser rather than speak the truth
Posted by: tim at February 10, 2007
Thanks so much Skye for posting these. These are really important.
Posted by: Jim Martin at February 13, 2007
Enjoyed the article on pastors. So true in what you shared. Thank you.
Posted by: Nancy at February 13, 2007
Good stuff, but let's not jump over #5 too quickly. I have a feeling a lot more of us are guilty of #5, specifically the issue of plagiarism, than are willing to admit. I'm one that never preaches word for word someone else's sermon, but I definetly will pick and borrow the best of what I see as a way to help grow people's faith.
Posted by: Mike at February 13, 2007
Ahhhh. Freedom.
Posted by: Eric Spangler at February 13, 2007
I am not a pastor, but all the lessons, including some of the 11's are applicable to Christians in their work outside the church.
We are guilty of many of these same errors in our ministry outside the church, and sometimes, the results of our inadequacy in our witness are just as damaging. In regard to K.R.Leslie's comments, there is also another temptation.
I was speaking to a group of politicians, and made the point that so often we have our message ready, and then we look up the Bible to find texts that support our message. We should instead be looking for what the Bible has to say to us and then, find illustrations from our lives to enhance the message. It is then His word, not mine.
Posted by: Laurence Simpson at February 13, 2007
Thank you very much for all the important correspodences and for me as a pastor this very one was very spot on.
God bless you.
Your brother in Christ and his Vineyard.
From Uganda.
James.
Posted by: Pr James Kaitaba at February 16, 2007
Very good article. I think most of it is right on. I am not a pastor but I find myself struggling with those same things in ministry settings. The Henri Nouwen is also very good and convicting.
Posted by: Jon at February 18, 2007
Applicable to teachers and (small group) leaders as well ... thank you.
Posted by: Stella at February 19, 2007
Great article. Pastoring a small church is very easy to fall into thinking you are the only one in the world with these type of feelings. It's helpful to know these experiences are felt worldwide. Whew! Muchas gracias.
Posted by: Raquel at February 21, 2007