Never Apologize for Preaching the Word

You walk to the pulpit knowing you feel unready. Maybe your week was consumed with sickness in your home, an avalanche of pastoral needs, or a personal battle with fatigue. You had hoped for more time in study and prayer, but life had other plans. God had other plans.

The worship songs fade, and your mind races: This outline feels too thin. That wandering sheep picked today to return. A new visitor is here. Will I let them down? In a moment of self-consciousness, you greet the congregation with an apology:

“Good morning … I’m sorry, my son has been sick all week, and I had less time to prepare.”
Or, “Please excuse my voice. I’m still recovering from a cold.”

Is this wrong? Not necessarily. But too often, these apologies don’t flow from love for the people or humility before God. They come from pride a fear of not looking polished enough, a need to explain away our weakness.

Pride in Disguise

When we excuse ourselves from the pulpit, we may be trying to protect our reputation rather than exalting Christ. Pride can surface not only in boasting but also in insecurity. It’s the subtle voice that says, I want them to think well of me, to know that I am usually better than this.

Richard Baxter, in The Reformed Pastor, warned of preachers who crave compliments:

“Were it not for shame, [some preachers] could find in their hearts to ask people how they liked them, and to draw out their commendations. If they perceive that they are highly thought of, they rejoice, as having attained their end; but if they see that they are considered but weak and common men, they are displeased, as having missed the prize they had in view.”

A preacher who is overly sensitive to human approval is like an actor on stage, performing for critics rather than heralding the message of the King.

Imagine a town crier who interrupts the royal proclamation with, “Before I begin, I must tell you my week was hard, and my voice isn’t at its best. Please excuse me if I stumble.” Would that inspire confidence in the King’s message? The messenger’s role is not to draw attention to himself but to faithfully deliver what has been entrusted to him.

Paul’s Example of Weakness

The apostle Paul understood this well. He openly admitted his weaknesses not to make excuses, but to magnify the power of God. “If I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me” (2 Corinthians 12:6).

Paul boasted in his weakness because it highlighted the strength of Christ. He refused to build a reputation on human skill or eloquence. His identity was no longer wrapped up in personal accomplishments:

“Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7–8).

Instead of apologizing for being unimpressive, Paul embraced it because when he was weak, Christ’s power rested on him (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Preach Without Excuses

Pastors, if God has called you to the pulpit, stand with whatever preparation or limitations you have and proclaim Christ with confidence. Your worth as a preacher is not in flawless delivery but in your faithfulness to point people to Jesus.

• If you feel weak, let that weakness become a vessel for God’s power. The congregation does not need you at your strongest; they need Christ through you.

• If the sermon feels unpolished, trust that God’s Spirit is not hindered by your imperfect words. He has often used “foolish” and “weak” things to display His wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:27).

• If you fear what people will think, remember you are speaking before an audience of One. Your task is not to impress but to proclaim.

The next time you step into the pulpit tempted to explain or excuse yourself, resist. Lift your eyes off yourself and onto the Savior. Forget how thin your outline feels or how tired your voice sounds. Simply open the Word and let Christ’s truth shine through.

For when you are weakest, His strength is clearest. And that is far better than any sermon that earns human applause.

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