The Reformed Life

You can fill a room by telling people what they want to hear.

Water down the truth. Avoid controversy. Preach peace, positivity, and personal empowerment—and you’ll probably grow a following. But is that what we’re called to do?

We live in a time when many pulpits have gone quiet on sin, soft on holiness, and vague on Christ. Sermons sound more like TED Talks than prophetic truth. And behind it all, there’s often a subtle fear: If I say what the Bible says, they might leave. They might stop giving. I might lose my job.

But this isn’t new. In Micah’s day, the prophets preached what paid. They offered peace to those who gave them food… and hostility to those who didn’t. They weren’t servants of God—they were salesmen of comfort.

And into that spiritual fog, Micah thundered with clarity and conviction:

“But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord…” (Micah 3:8)

This post is a plea to pastors and to the people who hear them. Don’t settle for sermons that tickle your ears. Don’t preach just to be liked. Preach the truth. Love the truth. Support those who stand on the truth—even when it’s hard.

Because faithful preaching is rarer and more vital than ever.

A Word to Pastors and Preachers

Brothers, let’s be honest: the temptation is real.

It’s easy to preach for applause, to soften the message so it lands better in the ears of the congregation—or the ears of the deacons, or the donors, or the social media audience.

But if we are to be faithful shepherds, we must resist the urge to preach peace when there is no peace. We cannot tickle ears when the Spirit is calling us to pierce hearts. We are not chefs serving a five-star meal to consumers. We are heralds, proclaiming the Word of the King.

Preach the whole counsel of God, not just what keeps people happy. Not just what grows the crowd, preach truth, even when it cuts. Preach Christ, even when it costs.

Let your ministry be marked by Micah 3:8, not Micah 3:5.

Better to be rejected for preaching the truth than to be rewarded for selling it out.

Warning Signs You’re Preaching for Applause

Every pastor wants to be effective. But there’s a thin—and often invisible—line between being Spirit-led and being applause-driven. The danger isn’t always in what you say, but why you say it.

Think of the warning lights on your car’s dashboard. They don’t mean the car’s dead—but they do mean something needs attention. You can ignore the signs… but eventually, something will break.

Here are a few “dashboard lights” to watch for in the pulpit:

• You avoid certain topics—not out of wisdom, but fear.
  (You know the text talks about sin, wrath, or repentance… but you steer around it.)
• You feel discouraged when the response is quiet, even when you were faithful.
  (Preaching becomes performance. The silence in the room feels like failure.)
• You secretly rehearse how to phrase things to impress or protect your reputation.
  (Instead of asking, “What does God say?” you think, “How will this sound?”)
• You change tone depending on who’s in the room.
  (You’d preach differently if that elder weren’t here… or that family who gives a lot.)
• You crave compliments more than conversions.
  (You’re more excited to hear “That was amazing” than “God convicted me.”)

Friend, these signs don’t mean you’re a hireling. But they might mean you’re drifting. Let Micah’s resolve stir something fresh in you:

“But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord…” (Micah 3:8)

Let Paul’s Charge Resound

Micah’s boldness wasn’t a one-off moment in redemptive history. Paul gave Timothy—and every pastor since—a charge that echoes Micah’s Spirit-filled resolve:

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
— 2 Timothy 4:1–5

That time isn’t just coming—it’s here.

The pressure to entertain rather than equip is growing. The temptation to soften the edge of Scripture is strong. But Paul didn’t tell Timothy to draw a crowd. He told him to preach the Word—clearly, consistently, courageously.

Let that be the measure of success: not how many clap, but how many are conformed to Christ. Not how many feel good, but how many walk in truth.

Don’t measure success by applause—measure it by faithfulness. God doesn’t call you to be impressive. He calls you to be obedient.

Staying Faithful in the Long Run: Practical Steps for Preachers

Preaching the truth is not a one-time act of courage—it’s a long obedience in the same direction. And if we’re going to be Micah-like in our generation, we need more than just conviction—we need habits that anchor us, guardrails that protect us, and brothers who walk with us.

Here are some practical, hands-on ways to cultivate long-term faithfulness in the pulpit:

Saturate Your Heart in Private Before You Speak in Public

Before your sermon stirs others, let it shape you. Preach to your own soul before you preach to your people. Pray, confess, worship, and adore Christ in secret, and your public ministry will overflow with authenticity and power.

Have a Post-Service Debrief with Trusted Men

Gather a few godly men—elders, fellow pastors, or spiritually mature brothers—who can review the sermon with you honestly. Ask:

• “Was it faithful to the text?”
• “Did I dodge anything hard?”
• “Did the tone reflect Christ?”

This isn’t about performance. It’s about accountability and sharpening.

Stay Planted in the Life of the Church

Don’t just preach to the people—live among them. Join the corporate prayer gatherings. Sit under the Word when others preach. Show up to members’ meetings, meals, funerals, and late-night hospital visits. Staying faithful in the pulpit is easier when your heart beats with the people, not apart from them.

Surround Yourself with Men Who Don’t Need You to Impress Them

Find mentors or gospel friendships outside your church—men who will challenge, encourage, and ask hard questions. Faithfulness flourishes in humble, Christ-centered fellowship. Don’t isolate.

Keep a Journal of God’s Faithfulness

Ministry can be brutal—and it’s easy to forget how God has sustained you. Keep a log of answered prayers, spiritual breakthroughs, meaningful moments, and quiet mercies. Review it when you’re discouraged. It will remind you: God is at work.

Feed Your Soul More Than You Feed the Machine

Don’t let sermon prep be your only spiritual meal. Read Scripture devotionally. Feast on good books. Listen to preaching that nourishes you. Prioritize the health of your soul above the production of your sermons.

Faithful preaching flows from a faithful life. It doesn’t require perfection, but it does require intentionality. So guard your heart, surround yourself with the right people, and never stop marveling at the Christ you preach.

A Word to Church Members

If you have a pastor who preaches the truth, thank God. Encourage him. Pray for him. Tell him you’re grateful. He may never say it out loud, but preaching faithfully is often lonely and exhausting.

We live in a time when many pulpits have gone soft. Biblical preaching is increasingly rare. Gospel conviction is treated as harshness. And pastors who speak plainly about sin, judgment, repentance, and the exclusive sufficiency of Christ often take heat, not from the world, but from within the church.

So if your pastor preaches faithfully—even when it convicts you—don’t resist him. Rejoice. Don’t just say “good sermon.” Say, “Thank you for being faithful to the Word.” Let him know that you don’t need your ears tickled—you need your soul fed. Stand with him, because he stands with God. 

Practical Ways to Encourage Your Pastor

Encouragement doesn’t have to be grand, but it does have to be intentional. Pastors often pour themselves out with little feedback, spiritual resistance, and a high emotional toll. Here are some tangible ways to lift up your pastor, especially if he’s preaching the truth in love:

Say Something Specific

Instead of a generic “Good sermon,” say:

• “Thank you for preaching that hard truth—I needed it.”
• “That message helped me see Christ more clearly.”
• “You’ve been faithful to Scripture week after week, and I’m grateful.”

Specific encouragement fuels the soul more than vague praise.

Pray for Him—and Tell Him You Did

Don’t underestimate the power of a text on Sunday morning or midweek that simply says, “I prayed for you today. Keep preaching the Word.” It may land in a moment of discouragement you don’t even know about.

Send Him to a Solid Conference

Offer to cover (or contribute to) the cost of a trusted, gospel-centered conference/workshop, like Cutting it Straight, Simeon Trust, Ligonier, The Shepherd’s Conference, or a local pastors’ retreat. These events refuel, refresh, and sharpen pastors.

Stock His Library

Ask him for a short list of books he’s been wanting, and buy one. Or give a bookstore gift card with a note that says, “For your study and soul.” Better sermons come from better-fed shepherds.

Defend Him Graciously When Others Criticize

If someone starts gossiping, grumbling, or nitpicking his sermon or leadership, speak up. Redirect the conversation. Don’t tolerate passive-aggressive critiques in the hallway. Love your pastor by guarding his back.

Give Him Rest Without Guilt

If your church is able, encourage scheduled days off for rest and renewal. Don’t see this as a “vacation from preaching”—see it as wise stewardship for longevity. A rested pastor is a better pastor.

Be a Doer of the Word

There’s no greater joy for a pastor than seeing his people walk in the truth. Listen actively. Take notes. Obey the Word. Live it out. Let your life be living evidence that God is at work through the preaching.

Encouraging your pastor doesn’t take much—it just takes intentionality. It’s not about flattery. It’s about fueling faithfulness.

In a day of compromise, truth is costly. But it is worth it.

So let us be pastors who preach like Micah—and church members who listen with joy when the Word cuts and heals.

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Col. 3:16) Not shallowly. Not selectively. Richly.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh Chambers

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