Currently I have been reading through the book, The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter.  He lived in the 17th century.  His insights to pastoral ministry are extraordinary.  In one section he was writing regarding delivering sermons.  Here are some of the awesome quotes.

“This is not a burden for the shoulders of a child”

“to preach a sermon; what skill is necessary to make the truth plain; to convince the hearers, to let irresistable light in to their consciences, and to keep it there, and, drive all home; to screw the truth into their minds, and work Christ into their affections”

“How often have carnal hearers gone home jeering at the palpable and dishonourable failings of the preacher!”

There is literally too much to quote.  But one more regarding preachers who do not study.

“I know that laziness hath learned to allege the vanity of all our studies, and how entirely the Spirit must qualify us for and assist us in our work; as if God commanded us the use of means, and then warranted us to neglect them; as if it were his way to cause us to thrive in a course of idleness, and to bring us to knowledge by dreams when we are asleep, or to take us up into heaven, and show us his counsels, while we think of no such matter, but are idling away our time on earth!”

WOW!

If you read all of that, then, I love you and God loves you.  Ha ha.