I did something yesterday I don’t think I have ever done before.  I started the sermon with a disclaimer that it probably wasn’t going to be that profound.  “If you want to hear a really good sermon, come back last week.”

I felt I had done my usual preparation, but just didn’t feel like things came together like they usually do.  Although many members yesterday and today (by e-mail) have said something along the lines of “It wasn’t that bad,” I just didn’t want listeners to feel that their inability to follow the sermon was their fault.  That’s not fair.

I wondered later if John Calvin would ever have said such a thing in a sermon.  Probably not.  He comes across in everything I’ve read about him as quite confident that he speaks for God on every occasion.  The reason for his confidence is that he preaches the Bible.

Well, so do I, but there are times when I’m not as sure as Calvin was that I know exactly what the Bible is trying to say.  And even if I am fairly confident what the text means, I’m not as confident that I can express it.

Nevertheless, pondering Calvin’s life and ministry for the last few weeks is part of why I felt such a peace about admitting that I didn’t have it all together.

Calvin taught that God is in control.  He is God and I am not, and the work that God wants to do in the hearts of people is not ultimately up to me.

Calvin taught humility.  Though I’m not sure he always modeled it, my conviction is that the pastor should admit his or her flaws rather than trying to cover them.

Calvin taught that the Bible has its own power.  It is God’s Word that changes people, not a dazzling sermon.