'How Effective Is Your Delivery?'

When do you know that you've preached the best sermon?  How and when can you gage the results of what you've said and how you've said it?  Are you so trained that you dare

not 'hoop' or are you such a great 'Hooper' that you dare not train?  Are you satisfied with the sermonic relationship you have with the people?  Are you getting your point across or are you getting the Lord's point across?  Perhaps you'll find some interest in the following story.

A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates.  Ahead of him is a guy who's dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket and jeans.  Saint Peter addresses this guy, "Who are you so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom ofHeaven?  "The guy replies, "I'm Joe, taxi-driver, of Noo Yawk City".  Saint Peter consults his list.  He smiles and says to the taxi-driver, "Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven".  The taxi-driver goes into Heaven with his robe and staff and it's the minister's turn.  He stands erect and booms out "I amJoseph Snow, pastor of Saint Mary's for the last forty three years".  Saint Peter consults his list.  He says to the minister, "Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of heaven".  "Just a minute," says the minister.  "That man was a taxi-driver and he gets a silken robe and golden staff.  How can this be?"  "Up here, we work by results," says Saint Peter.  "While you preached, people slept; while he drove, people prayed."