This summer our pastor started a Preaching Lab for some of the men in the church. Ivan was invited to join and, with about 10 other guys, he met regularly with the pastor learning and practicing sermon preparation. Last night, Ivan had the opportunity to preach at our Wednesday night service. It has been quite awhile since Ivan has preached (unless you count teaching 5th-6th graders at our church in California), so there was a fair amount of nervousness. Ivan took the day off work to finalize his notes and then spent the bulk of the day practicing. His assigned topic was "Bearing One Another's Burdens" (we're doing a "One Another's" series on Wednesday nights) and his main text was Galatians 6:1-6. I must say he did a fabulous job. Sure there were some hiccups (for example, he started out talking far too quietly and there was microphone feedback), but overall it went quite well. I consider a "good" sermon to be one where I learn something new (or am reminded of something that I already know, but need to hear again) and where there's an applicable "call to action" or suggestion for change. I got both of those last night and thus his sermon was a booming success in my opinion. Sitting in the audience I was nervous for Ivan and I'm really in awe of those pastors' wives who sit through their husbands sermons week after week. How do they do it?!

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