Barnabas File

I don’t preach often these days--at least, not from a pulpit!  When I was younger, I found myself on the circuit practically every weekend, often in smaller churches in the Baptist associations where I did collegiate ministry.  This was a good way to get to know people and for them to get to know me. From time to time, I would hear myself preaching and suddenly realize that I was trying to sound like Billy Graham or, later on, John Claypool.  Imagine how surprised I was one morning when I found myself channeling Bill Clinton! As ministers study and practice preaching, they often pick up not only the theology but the style of a homiletic hero.  Perhaps we think this provides a sense of authority that we don’t personally feel or we are “giving the people what they want.”  As you will agree, there is some danger in either of these approaches. Talking with a preacher friend recently, we began discussing what keeps us from using our authentic voices....