The following post is from Judith Myers, one CBF’s Collegiate Congregational Interns (CCI) at Fernwood Baptist Church in Spartanburg, S.C. This blog is included as part of a series of posts from CCI-ers who will share about their summer experiences.

I have never studied this much before. I promise if I studied half as much in my undergrad as I did for this 15-minute sermon, I would have made much better grades. I looked at five different commentaries for a passage in Luke that was approximately nine verses. I started weeks ahead of time, praying and allowing the words to soak in. I wrote down every thought I had about the passage and by the time I was ready to start writing it on paper, I had 6 pages of sentences and pictures, quotes and key points.

Jesus was approached by a man who told him he was ready to follow Jesus. Anywhere Jesus went, this man would follow and obey. Jesus tells him to think long and hard about what he’s committing to.

Jesus then asks two men to follow him. The two men make excuse after excuse to procrastinate. One says that he needs to bury his dad, and another that he needs to say goodbye to his family.

Jesus tells these two to seize the day! Don’t miss the moment. 

What a beautiful challenge for all of us. As I was preparing for my sermon during Greensboro Sessions and the CBF General Assembly, I woke up to a crashed hard drive.  As a Millennial, you can understand how hard it is for me to try and deal with lost documents, pictures, music, etc.  I was devastated.

It made me even more nervous since I had lost my sermon and not thought to back anything up. Lesson learned.

I had to start again. Page 1. I finished in the nick of time, grateful for the words God had given me to write down. Sunday morning, I stood in the pulpit with my Pastor.

She asked if I was nervous. Surprisingly, I was calm. I had grown up in this sanctuary. I had stood in that pulpit hundreds of times before; just never for 15-minutes in heels.

The congregation had watched me grow up and I knew there would not be a body in that service that would pray for me to mess up.

I prayed before Worship started. I thanked God that I was in a church full of love and support for me, a woman wanna-be Minister. As I began reading the focal scripture for my sermon, I was overcome with a sense of ease.

I began my sermon, and before I knew it, even though it was almost 20 minutes, I was finished. I had managed to keep the attention of most of the congregation for a whole 20 minutes! It only took 20 minutes for me to truly fall in love with preaching.

I decided I’m going to use this gift as often as I can. I’m eternally grateful for Fernwood Baptist and for CBF for encouraging and supporting women Ministers. Thanks be to God.