It’s tough to preach your first sermon at a new church. Most pastors experience at least a few jitters as they head to a new church to preach. Can they remember the main points to their sermon? Will the sound system work? Will the congregation stay awake? It’s nerve-wracking. Not exactly on par with the stresses faced by police officers or brain surgeons or middle school teachers, but nerve-wracking in its own way.

So I appreciate a story Pastor John Jewell shared about his first time preaching as a supply pastor at Good Hope Church in a small town in Missouri. A local minister gave Jewell directions to the church and sent him off with the words, “They’ll be expecting you.” That made Pastor Jewell feel good. He hoped it meant the congregation was ready to welcome him.

But when Pastor Jew…