Preaching: How has your preaching changed over these past few years?
Lucado: I used to yell. I was pretty ambitious, I was back and forth across the podium, and now I’m very conversational. And the reason is because I developed vocal nodules -- nodules on my vocal chords. That took place about 1998 or ’99. I mean, my throat would just ache after services, so I had to go in for some vocal training. I had to start taking some medication. I just had to learn to talk differently. So now it’s very conversational.
Preaching: Do you think it’s better than it was?
Lucado: I think it is! I do. I think there is a place for a really “Ra-ra” sermon, but few and far between. What that does though -- when I do elevate the volume during the sermon, it’s more powerful.
Preaching: What have you learned about preaching over those 19 years?
Lucado: Number one, how much I love it. Just this morning in my devotional reading, I was in I Corinthians 9, and Paul said, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.” I really can understand that. I think I’ll always preach, Michael. I have to. I don’t know if I’ll always be a pastor. That’s something I’ve learned, as the church has grown larger. I struggle with trying to be a good pastor of a large church. There are so many decisions in which I would like to be stronger, more confident in making in terms of expanding the campus, adding staff; I feel some self-doubt in those areas. But I am very confident in preaching.
Michael Jordan once said that the most peaceful moments of his life were on a basketball court, because that’s the only place he knew exactly what to do. And to me the most peaceful moments in my ministry are in the pulpit because that’s when I really know what I’m going to do. Sometimes in staff meetings I’ll look around and say: I have no clue how to lead these guys. And they know it. I mean, sometimes in budget meetings -- which I try to only attend a few of them -- I’ll say, “I don’t know what to do.” But in the pulpit, I really feel like I’m in my sweet spot, I’m in my stride. I just love preaching.