I was once foolish enough to think that since I served God full-time, I would be exempt from suffering, for all-time. What a naïve thought, right?

For the first thirty-six years of life, I could honestly say that I had a care-free life of sorts, sans major hardships. Over the last twelve years, however, my life has been nothing short of unexpected sufferings.

If you’re interested, I’ve documented many of these struggles in Preaching to People in Pain (you can also listen to my appearance on Monday Morning Preacher, where I talk about this topic) and in an article, “We are Not Immune: Lessons from a Mental Health Crisis” in Influence Magazine.

What I’ve learned over these dozen years or so is that our sermonic effectiveness is a by-product of our overall health: mental, emotional, physical, relational, financial, spiritual, and otherwise. Focusing on the mental: I propose that to be healthy sermonically means we seek to be mentally healthy. Here are some tips to engage in sermonic self-care for long-term preaching health.

Stop Your Inner-Critic

I know that I’m not doing well in spirit when I find myself complaining, grumbling, or venting habitually, especially about others. My mental health condition is often manifested in self-talk and external speech.

Jesus said it this way, “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). To a different audience, Jesus explained: “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).

When we consume our thoughts with evil, sin, envy, jealousy, hatred, frustration, anger, we will naturally speak pejoratively or critically about others or external factors.

The same type of criticism toward others can envelope our inner-sermonic-voice as well. Have you ever listened to or watched your Sunday sermon on Monday morning? I’m sure many of us have. What’d you think of it? On the rare occasion, we might exhibit some hubris and say, “That wasn’t too bad!” or for the brasher among us, “I must say I’m pretty good at this!” Most of the time, however, we locate any number of sermonic faux pas and mishaps whether exegetical or communicational.

What comes next? The inner-critic within bursts forth and smacks us across the face: hermeneutical and homiletical blunders and blinders alike. The enemy whispers: Hear all the mistakes you made on Sunday? That’s not what the text means. You were the hero of the sermon, not Jesus. You failed to deliver the good news. And listen to your tone. Doesn’t it sound whiny, irritated, or mean? Now watch your facial expressions. See how you glared uncharitably at you know who?

Next comes the negative self-talk. I’m not a good preacher. I’m tired of this. I want to preach to different people. This is getting old. When will God give me a break? All the way to despair: I don’t want to be a pastor anymore.

While I never discourage sermonic feedback to engender growth in preaching, we want to tame the inner-critic, so it doesn’t devour us. Remember, it’s not about you or me.

Compare Less, Celebrate Not (Too Much)

As studies on mental health continue, social media, for the most part, hasn’t benefited us in being optimistic about life and ministry. While there are certain communicational benefits, social media is innately covetous and critical. Perhaps, more than ever, I have struggled with the disease of comparison, reading on social media all that everyone else seems to be accomplishing and celebrating.

When I began full-time vocational ministry as a first-time senior pastor, our small congregation was less than fifty people including the children, it was hard not to look around and be gut-envious of the burgeoning congregations far and near. A simple practice to maintain and flourish in our mental health is to compare less and celebrate not (too much).

There will always be a more skilled and capable pastor, preacher, teacher, author, worship leader, ministry servant, counselor, than me. When I compare myself with others, I’m telling God he either made a mistake or that he did too much of a good thing in creating me. Humility compares less and celebrates not (too much).

If our comparison leads to greater connectedness to the Lord and dependence on him, then praise the Lord. But, if our comparison leads to judgment, insecurity/pride, or criticism, then our mental health will continue to slide. Celebration is a way to thank and praise God for his mercy and grace. Too much celebration can lead to hubris and a diminishment of giving God glory for what he has done.

Preaching Less Is Preaching More

I still remember when a church leader asked me one Sunday after I didn’t preach, “Do you really have to let the others [part-time pastors and seminarians] preach? Let them practice somewhere else!” It was her not-so-subtle hint that I needed to be preaching (all or as much as “all the time” as possible) as the senior pastor.

As the church provided only two weeks of vacation per year (and never two weeks consecutively), time away from the pulpit was few and far between. I was preaching on Sundays anywhere from 46-50 weeks in addition to preaching sermons at Friday night worship service or teaching Bible studies at Tuesday night small group or on Sunday afternoons for the church at-large.

A salient way for preachers to care for mental health is to preach less often. It seems counterintuitive to the average congregant, but less is more when it comes to the preaching ministry.

When I preached sixteen and sometimes even twenty-weeks in a row, I had very little left to give the church sermonically. If preparing Sunday sermons was the only thing I did as a senior pastor, then I would expect myself to preach every Sunday as well. You know that’s not our only pastoral responsibility.

To preserve our sermonic longevity, please make this request of your church leadership, ask for regular times away from the pulpit. Request for one Sunday off per month or per quarter. Find out if you can take two to four weeks away consecutively from preaching during one of the Summer months. Compensate a local pastor to preach for you or train your staff and leaders to preach in your absence. Give yourself time to rest your mind as you feed your soul.

Feed Your Soul

Preaching is hard work. Some have said it’s “soul work.” While some preachers make the preaching moment seem easier than others, every sermon takes a toll on the body, mind, and spirit. To replenish oneself, make space to sit in solitude, retreat, hibernate, recreate, whatever you want to call it, so that you can refill your spiritual tank.

Many of us are driving the sermon bus on fumes. How do we know? The sermon is less powerful, less transformational, less Scriptural, less creative, less relevant, less loving, and dare I say, less prayer-filled.

How do we feed our souls as preachers? What are your spiritual habits to cultivate a fertile and healthy mind and heart? I always thought that taking time for myself was self-serving. Particularly, as an introverted pastor and person, it took a lot out of me to always be in giving mode. Ultimately, what I didn’t realize is that if I could’ve served-the-self and cared for my body and mental health more intentionally, I would have avoided speeding down Burnout Highway without a brake pedal.

Conclusion

The church is in a critical moment in the year 2024. Not only is it an election year, but we are also losing a spiritual battle at present with so many young people rejecting or leaving the Christian faith. Pastors are retiring or quitting with few taking their places. Seminary enrollments continue to decline across the nation and globe.

Preachers, it’s time to care for the self today. How are you doing, really? Are you quietly making a daily exit plan to leave your church or leave the ministry, all together? Are you tired of preaching? Are you tired of serving your flock?

We all find ourselves in seasons of discouragement, weakness, or vulnerability. Ministry is a grind, at times, as much as it is a joy. Preaching can be a thankless slog, especially when we fail to witness the fruit of transformation. Monitoring and improving mental health for ministers is church-critical. Mental health is a daily dose of surrender and commitment of the self to the Lord. As your cheerleader and fellow ministry colleague, I want to encourage you to take time for yourself, for your family, for your ministry, and sermonic longevity.

Whatever it takes, pay attention to your mental health and mental clarity. First Samuel 30:6 reads, “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.” Practice daily the words of our Lord Jesus, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30). Positive mental health leads to positive preaching health. So, take your sermonic self-care seriously.

Matthew D. Kim is Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Leadership and holder of the George W. Truett Endowed Chair of Preaching and Evangelism at Baylor University's Truett Seminary.