Don't Waste Your Pulpit

Tonight I've been sitting on the couch working on this December's sermon series and I came across a video by John Piper. I have to say I was in tears by the end of it (I think it has been one of those days where stuff is making me emotional). Anyone can watch it really, but it is mainly for pastors. On second thought, it would be cool to hear what everybody thinks about this.

While watching this video, I couldn't help but think about the sermons I'm writing now and the ones that I have preached in the past. It's so easy to preach from emotion and bias. Of course we preachers are said to preach out of the overflow of our studies, but can that truly be done without messing it up somewhere? I don't think so. Everything we do has to have flaw, right? 

However, that can't be the justification for any of us to preach and say whatever we want. We must strive, not just from the pulpit, but in every day life to preach and share Jesus. I truly want the meditations of my heart and the words of my mouth to be that of Jesus. I don't want to be anything less than what God is calling me to be. 

Anything less than God's best should never be good enough for us. And that's precisely why we should preach and live Jesus. Jesus is the best God has to offer for Jesus is God. May we all strive to live and love like Jesus. May we all be so bold and confident to speak truth, to speak Scripture, into everything.

What are your thoughts on this? Had you rather hear Scripture or a person's opinion? Do you go to church to hear the word of God or to hear your pastor's opinion and/or see friends and hang out?