Preaching: What’s the greatest challenge for you in preaching?
Watson: Tom Long said that preparing sermons is like light poles when you’re driving down the street—Sundays just keep coming! So one of the challenges would be to preach at a high level consistently, in light of the fact that I’m a busy pastor with members or congregants who have needs, and sometimes I’m pulled away from study to go and see about their needs. That’s just part of what pastoring is.
I think it’s a challenge for most of us to keep preaching at a high and consistent level and to have to deal with the ongoing needs of the congregation.
Preaching: You’ve been going at this for about 40 years. If you could back and talk to young Maurice at the age of 16 or 21, and offer a piece of advice about preaching, something you’ve learned through the years, what would it be?
Watson: I would encourage him to complete his educational path before starting a family. Because once you get married and you have children, your life changes. That would be one of the things I would tell him.
Another one would be, don’t put so much pressure on yourself to try to preach great sermons. Try to make sure you preach helpful sermons, and every now and then maybe one of them will be great. I would tell him that.
I would also tell him to make sure you maintain a healthy devotional life. I would tell him of the importance of reading; if you want to stay fresh, you must be an avid reader. Read, read, read! It helps to keep you fresh.
And I would tell him lastly, do not let the church take the place of your family. While preaching and church work is important, your first ministry is to your family.