We wrapped up our Greater Things series this weekend.

If I had to summarize my approach to preaching right now it’d be: let it rip. I feel like I’m speaking out of the overflow of what God is doing in my heart. That is when ministry is pure joy. I feel like part of maturing as a preacher is becoming less theoretical and more experiential. You’re not preaching points. You’re preaching convictions. Why? Because you haven’t just studied it. You’ve experienced it.

Having said that, let me share some encouragement with pastors. Even when you feel like you’re hitting on all eight-cylinders, people will still snore during your messages and send you scathing emails. How do I know this? Because both things happened today.

Granted, the snorer was one of our homeless friends who was probably on the streets all night. He might have needed the sleep more than he needed my message. But the email may be the most scathing email I’ve ever gotten. I don’t say that to invoke any sort of sympathy. I honestly welcome those letters. They keep you grounded. And I get a hundred complimenting emails for every one critical email. I share it to share this: you’ve got to preach for an audience of one. Otherwise you’ll ride the roller coaster of people’s opinion.

There is only one litmus test for our sermons: did I say what God wanted me to say? If I did, then all the criticism in the world doesn’t matter. If I didn’t, all the compliments in the world don’t matter.

All in all, awesome weekend. Tough to end this series! We’ve got a ton of momentum as a church right now. The spiritual intensity is rising. And I don’t know if I’ve ever felt more fire or more hunger.