It hardly seems possible, but it’s been almost 12 years now since I first stepped into a pulpit to preach. In fact, it was the second Sunday in June 1987. How well I remember that terrifying experience!

Shortly after I had gone to my pastor and talked with him concerning this vague sense of calling to ministry that I was experiencing, he suggested that I preach while he was on vacation. By doing that, I could get some sense of what preaching was about and perhaps help to determine if that was the direction God was leading me. That sounded reasonable enough, so I agreed.

As I thought about that upcoming first venture into the realm of preaching, I asked my pastor, who is now my best friend in spite of the fact that he got me into this, "What should I preach about?" With a twinkle in his eye,…