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How to Criticize Your Pastor’s Preaching

4. Seek out helpful critics.

Spurgeon said, “A sensible friend who will unsparingly criticize you from week to week will be a far greater blessing to you than a thousand undiscriminating admirers if you have sense enough to bear his treatment, and grace enough to be thankful for it.”

He went on to talk about an “unknown censor of great ability” who sent him a weekly list of mispronounced words and other slips of speech.

Spurgeon never knew the identity of his anonymous corrector, but he grew to appreciate him.

5. Never forget the greatness of the task you’ve been given.

Preaching may be your job, but it’s not about you.

It’s about the glory of God, the magnificence of Jesus, the beauty of the cross, the power of the resurrection and the transforming power of the Spirit-breathed Word.

It’s about building up the saints and converting the lost.

Preaching is an awesome privilege and worth every ounce of effort you can expend in learning to do it better. Part of that effort is learning from our critics.

And one more thing: If you get the opportunity to sit down and discuss your sermon with a critic over coffee or lunch, be sure to pick up the tab.