The Scary Truth

I just returned from a week at Camp Allen in Navasota where I gather with other Methodist young clergy to continue to develop my leadership skills. There are fifteen clergy from around Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and a few from Arkansas and Louisiana. We spent the week with a preaching professor who helped develop our preaching skills. The most nerve-racking part is for this professional, who watches around 50 sermons a week, to watch your sermon and give you constructive feedback.

As a Christian, we are all called to grow. We are all called to continue to look more like Christ. And sometimes the best way to do that is to be willing to hear from others where we might need to improve. And, I can tell you first hand, that is hard. All of us preachers this week were scared and nervous for others to watch us and point out areas for improvement. It is like bearing your soul. And yet, that is what is needed to get better.

I hope that you have people in your life that can speak the truth to you, in a loving and encouraging way. Ephesians 4:15 says, "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ," Those moments of hearing ways to improve can be scary and extremely vulnerable. But, sometimes, those moments of uncomfortableness are exactly what we need to let the light of Christ shine brighter in our lives.
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