Preachers at peace

I attended a preaching consultation last week, and one of the questions was what preachers should be trained to be and do. One person came up with an answer that surprised me. He said that preachers really need to learn to be at peace. I didn’t buy it at first, but I could tell others agreed. Some talked about former pastors preaching every week out of anger or hurt. I could relate – I’ve heard the same, and I’ve done it. While I never would have though of this as an answer, I think it’s exactly right. In the end, the most powerful sermon comes out of someone who is healthy and at peace. This remark has been a good reminder to me that character is one of the most important things we bring to any task, including preaching.