THE BACK UP SERMON

A MINISTER WAS CALLED AWAY

UNEXPECTEDLY BY THE ILLNESS

OF A CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER.

HE ENTRUSTED HIS NEW ASSISTANT

WITH FILLING THE PULPIT.

THE PASTOR'S WIFE STAYED HOME.

WHEN HE RETURNED,

THE PASTOR ASKED HIS WIFE

WHAT SHE THOUGHT OF THE

YOUNG MAN'S SERMON. 

"THE POOREST I'VE EVER HEARD,"

SHE SAID.

"THERE WAS NOTHING IN IT,

NOTHING AT ALL.

IT DIDN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE.

IT WAS VERY UNORGANIZED.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED." 

LATER THAT DAY,

THE CONCERNED MINISTER MET HIS

ASSISTANT AND ASKED HIM,

"HOW'D THE SUNDAY SERVICE

AND SERMON GO?

DID ALL GO WELL?

HOW DID YOU MANAGE?" 

"ALL WENT VERY WELL, SIR,

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL,"

HE SAID.

"I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PREPARE A

NEW SERMON OF MY OWN ON

SUCH SHORT NOTICE,

SO I GOT ON YOUR COMPUTER AND

PULLED UP ONE OF YOUR OLD

SERMONS FROM LAST YEAR."