Booming Voice

Booming Voice

When [John] saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath?”

Matthew 3:7

Many pastors get really fired up when delivering a powerful sermon. They use dramatic gestures and pace back and forth as they preach. The pitch and volume of their voices rise to match the urgency of their message.

Speaking loudly is a good way to wake up a sleepy congregation—it makes nodding off a lot more difficult. If the women in the congregation are thinking about the noon meal, the pastor’s booming voice calls their focus back to the spoken Word.

Our small congregation is made up mostly of elderly folks, but occasionally young children also attend, even though a nursery is available for those who wish to make use of it. Parents or grandparents typically care for the little visitors when small children come to “big church”—they snuggle up in a lap, look at books, or draw pictures. It is a good church-learning experience. All ages are welcome in our worship services. And if children become rambunctious, the pastor just speaks a little louder.

On one particular Sunday morning, Brother Joe got very excited about his message, and he nearly raised the roof. When three-year-old Malakai heard the pastor’s booming voice, he raised his own and boomed out, “Is he mad?”

I don’t really remember the morning message that day, but I will never forget the logical response of Malakai.

Those listening to John the Baptist might have reacted the same way. His unorthodox clothes, eating habits, and bold words made people sit up and listen—no snoozing when John spoke. His message about Jesus was too important.

—Pam Ford Davis

Heavenly Father, help me to remember the urgency of your message. I want to listen with attentive ears and a receptive heart. Amen.