What Not to Say to Your Pastor...

Preaching is a precious, privileged task, in which the preacher has the honor of bringing God's Word of Truth to God's people.

It is also a perilous task. While the preacher prayerfully struggles to find His identity in Christ, Satan is at work to tempt him with opposite temptations--so that he is never safe. One temptation is to say "That was horrible. I don't deserve to preach. I just make a mess of God's Word." Another is to say "That was wonderful. Wow, you're a good preacher. Perhaps you should start a blog."

In either case, Satan is working to lure the pastor away from His identity and confidence in Christ.

Sometimes, God's people serve as angelic messengers, reflecting God's Word back to the preacher through kind, substantive thoughts afterward. Sometimes, with even unintentional cruelty or flattery, they demoralize or puff up the preacher.

Here are a few things I would suggest you avoid saying to your pastor after a sermon:

1) Have you ever listened to one of Tim Keller's sermons. You really should.

2) Did you ever notice that you say "um" a lot? Pay attention to that next time.

3) My favorite part was that illustration you gave.

4) So I was thinking about why my sister won't talk to me while you were preaching, and this is the conclusion I came to...

And to surprise a few of you...

5) Good message, pastor!

The reason why that last one--the most common and one I used to say quite a bit--is not a good one to use is because a sermon has nothing to do with the preacher, but with God addressing His people through His Word.

Whenever God's Word is proclaimed, it is God who should get the praise and the glory. And while the preacher's presentation of the Word might ebb and flow week to week, the Word itself never changes (like He who speaks it) and its powerful is never diminished.

In addition, knowing that there is a little Satan sitting on either shoulder of the pastor--one stoking his pride and another exciting his fears--a comment that explicitly praises the pastor lends more opportunity for Satan to gain a foothold.

Instead, if you are moved by God's Word or grateful to the pastor's labors and care for God's Word and people, then thank the pastor simply for bringing God's Word to His people. Express gratitude to God for His faithfulness and how He manifests His strength in weakness.

And if you want to additionally bless your pastor, be specific in relating how God's Word resonated in your heart. Such comments become like echos, bringing to the pastor the same Word that God cast forth through him. The pastor will likely be encouraged with the irrefutable evidence that God is using a sinner like Him to bless His people. He will also be directed back to the cross himself, and avoid the Tempter's snares.