The Rev. Zan Holmes, pastor of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas, presented the points during a Jan. 10 plenary session on preaching authority. Pastors have other functions, too, Holmes noted. Before preachers can become the pastors God wants them to be, they must let go of the image of the preacher that God does not want them to be.
Every pastor can learn something from any preacher.
Pastors must realize that authentic preaching is grounded in a disciplined and devotional life. Holmes noted that his sermon preparation is to sit before the Word and let the Word happen for him. We cannot forget that pastors are sinners too. Preaching is most effective when the preacher and the congregation are grounded in the authority of the Bible. Having the Bible at the center of life in the church makes a tremendous difference.