Sometimes, a good intention may not be enough when trying to evangelize people. You have to be prepared. And you have to be humble enough to recognize your weaknesses so you could do better the next time.
Every person has a blind spot. And while we can all improve from the feedback of people around us, such may not always be the case. This is especially true if you are a well-respected priest or pastor. People may fear offending you and so they choose to simply remain silent instead of providing you with constructive criticisms.
With that said, please find below a list of some suggestions to help you preach the Gospel better. You may or may not find everything applicable to your situation. But I hope that this would somehow be a reminder to avoid some of the things that could hinder you from reaching out to people and preaching the Good News.
Here are five tips to keep in mind when preaching:
1. Don’t assume
Please try not to assume where your listeners are coming from. You can’t lump people in one neat category and judge them for what you assume they are guilty of.
Don’t assume that people don’t pray or read their Bible everyday. Don’t assume that everyone is not seeking intimacy with God. And don’t assume that it’s so easy to forgive someone when you don’t know what another person has gone through.
2. Don’t look down on people
Your mind may be full of helpful information and you may think that you are leading a holy life, but please don’t look down on people. Don’t look at them as though they don’t know the most basic things about the faith.
Even children who may know little about the faith should be respected for their dignity. You may realize later on how much other people actually know.
3. Don’t drive people to despair
Many people are already struggling so much in life. They may have just lost a loved one. Or they may be suffering from an incurable disease.
Don’t preach as though there is no hope for them. Don’t ever drive people to despair.
4. Don’t exempt yourself
Never exempt yourself from your speech or sermon. Don’t take the stance of someone who is exempt from the things one is speaking about.
You may have avoided many temptations as of the moment, but you don’t know until when you can keep a clean slate. Always speak considering your own human limitations.
5. Don’t forget to pray
No matter how smart or intelligent you may be, don’t forget to pray. Prayer is the best preparation for preaching because it gets you in touch with the Source of all Wisdom.
By praying, you begin with an act of humility. You don’t just look at yourself or other people. You look at the One who loves you and the very people you’re about to evangelize.
God is the One who alone can help you preach with both Truth and Love.
Final Thoughts
It isn’t easy to preach the Good News. Although your heart is overflowing with joy, you have to keep your gaze upon Jesus. Only by focusing on Him can you preach without misjudging others, bringing everyone the balm of healing, hope and peace.
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes.” – James 3:1-2 (NRSVCE)
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:6 (NRSVCE)
You may also want to read “Why It’s Easy To Assume That Religious People Are Hypocrites”.
Jocelyn Soriano is the author of Mend My Broken Heart, Defending My Catholic Faith and 366 Days of Compassion. She also writes about faith and writing at Single Catholic Writer.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In