Preacher- tell your story (fb)

I recently finished Brennan Manning's The Furious Longing of God.  It begins...

I'm Brennan. I'm an alcoholic
How I got there, why I left there, why I went back is the story of my life.
But it's not the whole story.


I'm Brennan. I'm a Catholic
How I got there, why I left there, why I went back is also the story of my life.
But it's not the whole story.


I'm Brennan.  I was a priest but am no longer a priest.  I was a married man but am no longer a married man.
How I got to those places, why I left those places is the story of my life too.
But it's not the whole story.


I'm Brennan.  I'm a sinner saved by grace.  That is the larger and more important story.  Only God, in his fury, knows the whole of it.


I've read everything Brennan Manning has ever written, most of his books multiple times.  He basically says the same thing in every book- God is "knocked out in love" with you not because of what you do but because of who he is.  His books are dripping with scripture but he doesn't teach, he tells.  Mostly he tells stories.  Mostly he tells his story.  One of these days I'll count the number of "Brennans" and "I's" and "me's" in one of his books- it would be a bunch.

The first time I was asked to speak publicly was when a business colleague asked me if I would speak at a baptist men's retreat at Falls Creek, Oklahoma.  I was asked to speak on the topic of "personal worship."  I was 25 years old.  I stood before that room of 30-40 "old guys" and absolutely poured out my heart- it was all about God and all about me.  How else can you talk about "personal worship" than to tell your story- the story of a God who is real and purses and speaks and loves and wants you to sense His presence and reflect back to him all of the glory he's pouring out on you?  Those guys sat there like, "huh?"  But a couple of them got it and, more importantly, the process changed me.

Before I ever became a "preacher" I sat down with Ron Johnson, church planter and founder of Pathways Church in Denver.  Pathways was one of the first urban church plants in the country really going after young "cultural creatives" in a large US city (I love pioneers!).  At the time there were many Christian leaders who were super concerned that churches like Ron's were in danger of watering down the gospel because of the emphasis on story and distance from traditional, didactic, exegetical teaching.  It bugs me when people vilify people and movements that they've had no relational connection with.  So I just called Ron, a pioneer, and asked if he'd meet with me.  "Ron, how do you approach preaching?"  He said "Lance, every week I stand up and tell my people what God is doing in my life- I tell the ongoing story of how God is changing me." That one sentence is probably the most freeing thing anyone ever said to me about preaching.

Last night I read the manuscript of a new book by a good friend.  He is only 25 and he wanted to shout from the mountaintops "God is real and good and he is mostly trying to make you new and he does that on the journey- so be excited about God and life and people!"  He did it by telling his story, his stories.  It reminded me of why I love Jesus so much.  I believe.

So preacher- tell us your story.  Don't be afraid- it will connect us with your heart and with His heart.  We need to feel how this truth is changing you- what it looks like in your life- how hard it is and how much hope it brings.  Sometimes you'll say it wrong- you'll say too much, or not enough- who cares- these people know you and love you.  "But I'll be exposed."  Hell yes you'll be exposed- we'll see your pride and your failures and we'll love you all the more for it.  Remember, God didn't call you to preach because he thinks you're talented.  He called you to preach so that he can make YOU more like Jesus.  "But I'm supposed to teach."  Then teach- do your prep work, pour over the text and the commentaries, pray over it with fear and trembling, and know what the hell you're talking BUT if we want the best teaching on your topic we'll read or listen to someone who knows it better than you.  Teach us through your life.   Preaching is worship- so model worship.  Pour your heart out before Him, before us.

I'm Lance.  I'm a sinner saved by grace.  That is the larger and more important story.  Only God, in his fury, knows the whole of it.