The work of sharing the Word of God by preaching or teaching is a very demanding work.  Sometimes those of us who are engaged in such a work are tempted to cut corners and share something we have not experienced.

     I well remember a "sermon" I preached February 28, 1948.  I had been a preacher for less than a year, so I had little experience.  I had been asked to preach to a fairly large congregation and I wanted to do a good job (read, "make a good impression").  So I searched some sermon books until a found a sermon I thought I could handle.  I read it over and over, made some notes, and preached the sermon at the appointed time.

     It was a real "dud".  I had not experienced what I was talking about.  I spoke of things I wanted to be true in my life, but they were not even beginning to be true at that time.  I was simply a parrot in the pulpit, repeating what someone else had said.

     I am convinced that there are many parrots in our pulpits today, repeating things someone else has said, talking about things someone else has experienced.  The words are empty and the message is weak because the messenger has not submitted his life in obedience to the Word of God.

     And the real tragedy, it seems to me, is that because we have parrots in the pulpit, we have pygmies in the pews.  The messenger has not tried to live authentic Christianity.  The message has not been filtered through his life.  So the people are not confronted with true prophetic preaching, which is needed for change and growth on their part.

     But there is hope.  I sense a growing desire among preachers and people to experience real Christianity.  They are tired of going through the motions.  They are weary of "business as usual" in their lives and and in their churches.  They want to change things.  But how can that be done?

     The answer will not be found in another program.  Programs do not change people.  The power of the Holy Spirit does that.  And that power works only when we are obedient to the Word.

     Perhaps the most effective thing we can do is to pray for those who share the Word.  Pray that God will teach them, and that He will direct their lives so they can experience what they preach.  When that happens, the message will have the power to transform other lives also.  And we will all benefit.