Tag: preaching

Neal Pollard

Perhaps the most frequent question I have been asked through the years immediately after I have finished preaching is, “Were you preaching to me?”  Unfortunately, I have not always answered that as effectively as I should.  Then, one day while listening to a great lesson on leadership by James Rogers, I heard his response.  A young man asked him that question, to which he replied, “Were you here this morning?”  “Yes.”  “Of course I was preaching to you.”  The young man was glad.  It would not have made sense for him to come and the sermon not be preached to him.

I have always worked hard to never write a sermon with a specific individual in mind.  I may preach sermons that address certain personalities or characteristic traits, but I was wisely warned when training to preach that using the pulpit to address personal vendettas, grievances, or grudges was extreme cowardice.  Doing that is unfair and abusive!

However, I would say to every hearer of my every sermon, I am indeed preaching to you!  Please take each sermon to heart (as I do!).  As you inspect it for truth, accept it if it is truth, and inspect your life by that truth.  There are those who are too hard on themselves and beat themselves up with unnecessary guilt as they hear sermons.  Yet, others who need to apply the lesson fail to make (or fight against making) personal application.

If the sermon is on making the Lord most important in life by faithfully attending services and you allow sports, occupation, homework, company, or other things to persistently replace that, the sermon is being preached to you.  If it is on making an effort to know your brethren better or visit the sick, widows, orphans, and needy and you are not doing it, take the sermon personally!  In fact, whatever the subject, apply it to yourself.  A good brother once told me, “I always take the sermon personally because I could always be doing my Christian duty better.”  Amen, brother!  So could I!

Please take each and every sermon personally!  It makes me feel like the time studying and preparing it was worthwhile.  And, always respond to it—not publicly, unless you need to do so.  Let it help make you a better Christian and better prepare you for heaven.  Hopefully, we can come to appreciate that the preacher is always preaching to each one of us, including himself!

Neal Pollard

Of course, not all preachers wear ties anymore.  Some among denominational preachers wear robes and collars, but that is an article for a different time.  Why do preachers wear neckties today?

To answer this requires some knowledge of the origin of neckties.  It is said that early Roman orators wore neckerchiefs to keep their vocal chords warm. Military members of ancient nations and civilizations, like China, Croatia, and France, wore them as visual accessories.  They have long been tied, pun intended, to status and wealth, and early predecessors were even used to mop up perspiration.  For many years, though, it has become a component of fashion that goes with the button-down shirt and suit or slacks and blazer.  It has come to signify dignity, formality, and solemnity, a recognition of the importance of an occasion.  Grooms typically adorn formal wear, including a bow tie, for the wedding.  People, though not as often as in days gone by, wear such apparel to funerals.  Galas and formal events, charities or other organized functions, are occasions where suits and ties are found.  Though society grows increasingly informal, many still recognize occasions where such attire, including the tie, is fitting.

As one who sat at the feet of Wendell Winkler, I will likely never preach without wearing a tie–outside of Bible camp, foreign mission trips, and similar situations.  A balanced, reasonable man, brother Winkler helped us see that the occasion of preaching commands as much dignity, respect, and reverence as we could muster.  This included a coat and tie.

We do not wear a tie for our vocal chords, but it is no doubt a visual accessory.  We do not don them as a symbol of wealth, and we should not be seeking status.  Most wear them out of respect, some out of habit, and others still out of a sense of others’ expectations.

But, here is the point.  A sound gospel preacher is not measured by what he puts around his neck.  Such a man is identified by what comes out of his mouth.  Such a man is determined by his thoughts, his character, and his fruits.  Far better is an honest truth-teller with his top button unfastened than a slick, deceptive orator who nonetheless is adorned with coat and cravat.  It is unlikely that Peter, Paul, or Jesus wore a tie.  It is fine and for many preferred for the preacher to have on a tie.  Just let him be sure that His heart is fastened to the Lord and His will (cf. Titus 2:10).