Doug Green: Passion Lost

Consider these steps to recapturing your lost passion, turning a wilted speech into a strong and vibrant sermon.

Ever find your enthusiasm for a particular passage of Scripture to be flatter than a tortilla? Even though you know it's God's Word, you know you are not connected, and it shows.

It happens to preachers, even good ones like you. Pastors can easily lose passion in the study.

Every professional knows it is difficult to invest energy where there is no passion. However, preaching is no ordinary job. Handling God's Word is a unique calling. It is God speaking to your congregation through you; and, if you do not have any passion for your sermon, how can you expect it from anybody else?

Simply put, without passion, you are sunk. So, what does passion for the biblical text look like? It's the intuitive, gut-level feeling that goes off inside, ignited by the power of God, charging you with a rush of energy and fervor. In these moments, the words come faster than you can record them. Your mind gushes with an overload of expression. You are in the zone and you cannot wait to start preaching.

These moments are precious. There is nothing quite like them. When you find this feeling, you can do a day's work in an hour. Most important, your preparation is fresh and vibrant, not stale and limp. You can hardly wait to tell others because you know exactly why the sermon is important to you. You want to share the experience you are feeling with the congregation so they can experience it too.

So, what happens when this is not the case? Is there any way to rejuvenate your enthusiasm for the text? Consider these steps to recapturing your lost passion, turning a wilted speech into a strong and vibrant sermon.... Keep reading