Expectations?

You will never live up to all the platitudes of preaching. All the things your mentor and heroes and guys you respect will say you must do or never do to be your best. 

Never go to the pulpit unprepared.

Never preach your doubts

Never preach your opinions

You should study one hour for every minute you are in the pulpit

A good sermon takes 10, 20, 40 hours to prepare

Preach from the overflow - fill yourself up with God and His Word every week and on Sunday let it come out

Never re-preach an old sermon

Don’t preach unless you can’t do anything else

You shouldn’t preach just because you have to say something but because you have something to say

Looking over this list it’s not surprising that a recent study said that 70% of preachers feel inadequate to the task.  And you could probably add three or four other directives you’ve encountered that I didn't list here. 

The fact is these are all true or at least there is truth in all of them and I certainly wish I could tell you I’ve lived up to all of them.  And you know we’d never suggest you not try to be BETTER - but I’ve been preaching for nearly 40 years and I’d be dishonest if I claimed I’ve lived up to each of these all the time.  The burden to live up to the heroes of the past, the expectations that are put on preaching and the pressures of preaching cliches can be, if you all it to be, overwhelming.  

Aren't you glad the Spirit’s simple word is “preach the word…” You may have struck out on one or more of the list that men have come up with above but I doubt any of your were a disappointment to the Spirit’s admonition.