Feedback.

Tim Keller once shared that his preaching monumentally improved when he moved to New York. This is because New Yorkers say what they’re thinking.

Feedback - from congregants, non-Christians, mature, immature, video, audio - is an essential ingredient in improving my preaching. After seeing some video of myself this week, I was stunned by the totally subconscious mannerisms/habits/speech patterns I’m blind to in the pulpit.

Again, this feels “inauthentic”. But my main critique of myself was: “That isn’t me.” Or, “That’s not what I was trying to say.”

Authenticity takes work.

Communication takes work.

It requires the surgical pain of feedback.