When I was in High school my home Church had a preacher named Ron DeLong come and preach one Sunday. I really know nothing about the rest of his story. I don’t know where he came from or any of his background. I don’t remember how many weeks he preached for our Church or why. I believe we were between ministers and he was a retired preacher. Honestly, I do not remember a word of any of his sermons.

But I remember him and what he said by way of introduction. He walked to the front of the Church pews and started talking from there. Every preacher I had ever seen preached from a big wooden pulpit up on the stage. He walked to the front of the Church and he opened his Bible where he had only one little note clipped inside of it to help him. As an introduction he told us his name and then he said something to the effect of, “I don’t like to preach up there at the pulpit. I like to preach down here among the people. This (he held up his Bible) is a word from God for his people.” From there he launched into his sermon.

I wish I could remember all that he said. I really wish I could remember any of it. What I remember was being held spellbound for 30 minutes by a guy who could preach without a pulpit and extended notes. In those moments a seed was born that made me the preacher I am today.

I type my sermon out in long form each week. I do that so that I have completely thought everything through and so I will have it for future reference. I then take those long form notes with me to a music stand just in case I need them. Last Sunday I needed them once. Then I preach down on the floor among the people because God’s word is for his people.

I tell you this story for several reasons:

1. I want you to know a little bit more about me.
2. You never know when God is going to touch your soul and affect your life.
3. Words and actions are intimately linked. Both hold the power of influence
4. Do you remember all the little moments your life was altered by God in some way?
5. What will people remember about you?

The sad truth is that even great sermons will be forgotten. But that point where God touches the life of another person through you will never be lost.