Today I’ll get to do one of my favorite things in the world. I’m going to get preached to. Now that might sound odd because quite honestly many people in the world (and even some in the church) spend most of their time trying to figure out how to avoid listening to preaching. Most people hear it so much that it’s not that big of a deal to them. Just something else to “endure.”
It’s a little different for preachers. When you’re the one doing the preaching you don’t get to hear preaching too often. You spend all of your time preparing to feed others and outside of personal study you get little feeding yourself. Sure there’s the occasional gospel meeting or youth day in the area you may attend to satisfy your hunger. You may even get on the internet and take advantage of any number of good teaching resources that are available. However, sometimes preachers just need to immerse themselves in good, old fashioned preaching.
There’s a few events I try to take advantage of through the course of the year. Today I’ll be going to the Freed-Hardeman University lectureship. At the end of March my family will spend the week at my alma mater, the Memphis School of Preaching, for their lectureship. Phillips Street is blessed to host a first-rate lectureship ourselves during a weekend in April. I try to make it to the lectures at Southaven, MS and Getwell in Memphis, TN at least a day apiece. And then there’s always the icing on the cake, Polishing the Pulpit, each August. Each of these, and others I am able to catch on occasion, give me a good outlet to hear good, powerful preaching. – preaching that fills the heart and strengthens the soul.
I love the life of a preacher. I have been blessed in far more ways that I could possibly number or list. But there are days during the year I look forward to not being the preacher (the one doing the speaking). I look forward to being just another face in the crowd. My Bible will be open, my iPad will be covered with notes, and I will have a smile on my face. After all, preachers need preaching too.
-Andy Brewer
QUESTION: What are some events (lectureships, seminars, workshops, etc.) that you attend throughout the year that give you the opportunity to hear good, powerful preaching?