Put Some Fire In That Sermon

Brother Jim H. Warren, my mentor and father in the faith; had witnessed my preaching on several occasions while I was in training under him, in Biloxi, MS, in 1967. He was a dynamic preacher; full of faith and powerful in his delivery of the word of God. After hearing my second sermon, he felt the need to give me a little critique in my preaching.

After things had quieted down around the church building; he took me aside and said: “Brother Freeman, you need to get more excited about your preaching; you don’t seem to be ‘fervent in the spirit.’” I asked: “Pops, what do you mean?” He paused for a good while; before responding. He desired to be gentle, as a servant of the Lord; in his words unto me, his son in the faith!

He looked me straight in the eyes and spoke with frankness: “Son, you need to put some fire in that sermon; or, put that sermon in the fire!” I learned later, he was making reference to Apollos in his preaching.

Luke wrote of Apollos: “(He) was an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures... This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and was fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord,” Acts 18:24-28.

Do you see why I am animated and full of fire in my preaching? I took his words to heart.