the cutting room floor

I had a wonderful conversation today with a church member who wished I had added something to my sermon this past week about the Lord's Prayer.  They made a great point and I agree that what they wanted to hear was both true and good...but, I just can't teach everything that is true about every verse in the Bible; it's just not possible.  So, sometimes really good stuff ends up on "the cutting room floor" not because it isn't good or true.

In fact, on a regular basis, there are things I WANT to talk about that I don't; because it might not be helpful or would take too long or distract from my main point...or just because people will get hungry and mentally check out.  So I edit and cut and it's painful; but necessary.  

A lot of the stuff that gets cut ends up in other places, like a class I am planning for this Spring that started as a sermon that I'm not going to give or a sermon I might preach in the future.  
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But I want to focus less on what I DON'T say and remember that God will take what I DO say (or teach or write) and use it for His purpose.  I believe that the Holy Spirit is just as present in my sermon prep and editing as He is when I am delivering the sermon.  I trust that God will take my words (and more importantly His WORD which I deliver) and use it to teach, convict, move and challenge.  I leave it in His hands and pray that what is given will be received and bear fruit.
 
Mark 4:23 "If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear."  
 
In Christ,
Pastor Scott