By Steven D. Mathewson

Twenty years ago, I entered seminary with visions dancing in my head of smiling faces eagerly listening to my preaching. Today, I’m still energized by preaching and teaching Scripture. But thanks to God’s instructions, I’ve learned to think realistically about this task and the way people respond to my efforts in it. Without a good dose of realism, attempting to remain faithful to your call to preach may leave you discouraged.

In Ezekiel 33:30, God tells the prophet Ezekiel, “Son of man, your people are whispering behind your back. They talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors, saying, `Come on, let’s have some fun! Let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the LORD is saying!’”

That’s encouraging. Usually, when a preacher gets up to preach, the congregation is bored and expects the message to exacerbate their boredom. Most preachers don’t expect their messages will ever be discussed outside church doors or their sermons to incite people to eagerly come back and hear what the Lord is saying through them.

God continues, “‘So they come pretending to be sincere and sit before you listening’” (Ezekiel 33:31a, NLT). That’s somewhat encouraging too. These people are listening, albeit with insincere hearts. Congregations pay about as much attention to sermons as they do to the speeches flight attendants give right before takeoff: three people in the cabin are listening, while the rest are either reading USA Today or dozing.

Then God says, “‘But they have no intention of doing what I tell them. . . . You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t do it!’ ” (Ezekiel 33:31b-32, NLT)

God is basically saying, “Ezekiel, they’re treating you like a rock star.” Faith Hill’s fans may feel passionate when she sings, “Breathe,” but most don’t take that passion into their marriages. Elvis Presley could croon, “Are You Lonely Tonight?” and half the audience might burst into tears. But when they leave, they don’t act in response to the experience. They were entertained, but chances are, what they heard didn’t lead to life change.

That’s what we face when we preach. Some listeners will respond as “doers” and not merely “hearers” of God’s Word. But many will not practice what they hear, even though they tell you “Nice sermon!” (or, “Great football story!”) as they leave.

Such responses may cause you to doubt your calling. But the truth is, such responses actually confirm it.

I am confident of this because God wrapped up his instruction to Ezekiel by saying, “‘But when all these terrible things happen to them—as they certainly will—then they will know a prophet has been among them” (Ezekiel 33:33, NLT). Ultimately, you’re not responsible for the response of your listeners. You’re only responsible to deliver “what the LORD is saying!’ ” (Ezekiel 33:30).

Eventually, he will vindicate you, and people will know a preacher has been among them. Keeping this in mind will keep you true to your calling, even when the lack of life change in your listeners causes you to doubt.