EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was originally featured on chucklawless.com.

Here are some key self-reflection questions for those who are preparing to preach or teach on Sunday:

1. Do I count all my achievements as rubbish as compared to knowing Christ? That’s where the apostle Paul landed (Phil. 3:7-8). Being in relationship with Jesus meant so much more to him. . . than anything else.

2. Am I willing to point others to Jesus even if my name is never recorded in the story? I’m thinking of unnamed biblical characters like the persons who surely directed the synagogue leader and the bleeding woman toward Jesus in Mark 5. God used them to change lives—but He did not name them in His Word.

3. Is it truly my heart’s desire for people to get saved? Paul allowed us to enter his heart in Romans 9 and 10, where we learn again of his deep burden for his people.

4. Have I pushed away from the busyness of ministry this week to be with the Father, knowing I need His blessing and power when I stand before His people? Jesus intentionally left the crowds behind at times to pray (Luke 5:15-16), and He called His disciples to do the same on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:28).

5. Have I considered this week the weight and responsibility of shepherding God’s people? The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we will give an account of how we cared for the souls of people (Heb. 13:17). If we never pause to consider that, we will not have adequately prepared our hearts to lead.

6. Have I asked God through His Spirit to show me any sin that might get in the way of my Christian service this weekend? The Spirit convicts of wrong and calls to righteousness (John 16:8-11), and it is right for us to invite His inspection. And, by the way, you might also find helpful my earlier post about “daily cleaning out our junk.”

7. Do I rejoice in weakness, so God is my strength, or do I function most in my own strength? Paul is again helpful to us here (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Indeed, he learned more forcefully in his weakness that God’s grace is sufficient. When you learn that truth, you can follow God with even more abandon.

 

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash