5 Ways To Resist Pulpit Peer Pressure

By Mark Dance

Preaching is not a competitive sport, but it sometimes feels that way. Our church members are listening to other pastors’ sermons on various media outlets, which means comparisons are inevitable and uncomfortable. We might get mad at them if we were not doing the same thing.

For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.  (2 Corinthians 10:12, CSB)

We naturally want to please God and His people, but how do you stop short of becoming people pleasers? Here are five ways I try to resist pulpit peer pressure.

1. Crucify cleverness

I am not 100% sure cleverness is the right word, but I like it and you understand it, so I’m rolling the dice here. Titles for sermons and series are important, but titles themselves aren’t imperative for our mission. Preaching should less about cleverness and more about the cross.

My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, CSB)

2. Hear directly from God

When’s the last time you got off campus for the sole purpose of devoting yourself to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4)?

When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13, CSB)

When I draw my sermon ideas straight from Scripture, it’s easier to resist the lure of plagiarism. In order for me to hear directly from God, I need to intentionally tune out the voices of other members and preachers.

3. Plan your series further out

You can relieve some of your pulpit pressure by using a portion of your off-campus study time to dream about what comes next. Don’t get bogged down in titles and text divisions. Simply ask God what your church needs to hear next.

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2, CSB)

In the three decades I served as a lead pastor I tried to do sermon planning six months out so I could read the text devotionally before I got to work on the sermons.

4. Share your pulpit

You can take the pressure off of your pulpit simply by sharing it with other faithful, able men. Nothing in your Bible suggests that preaching is just for professionals. Summer is a great time for you and your congregation to take a break from the norm by bringing in fresh voices.

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2, CSB)

5. Be an original

Do you remember who was voted best Old Testament preacher by the only judge on the panel? Jesus awarded that title to a bug-eating baptizer named John. I think it’s interesting the apostle John was the one who gave John the Baptist this stellar tribute:

John was a burning and shining lamp. (John 5:35a, CSB)

Instead of wasting time coveting the gifts of other preachers, thank God for your unique voice and audience – then give Him all the glory when He uses it to advance the gospel.

For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.