A man got up in the middle of a sermon. The preacher asked him, “Where are you going?”
The man said, “To get a haircut.”
Preacher said, “Why didn’t you do that before the sermon started?”
The man said, “I didn’t need one.”
There are so many preacher jokes. Seems like people don’t always take the preacher or the preaching seriously.
It doesn’t have to be like that. Let me tell you 4 things about a dynamic sermon, the kind that you wouldn’t ever want to interrupt….even for a haircut.
1. More than a Book Report
If it weren’t for that book report, I’d probably be lost. That book report changed my life.
Truth is, you probably won’t ever hear anyone say that.
How about this?
Knowing that man, the things he did, how he did them, and the things he said…he really changed my life.
The authentic messenger has a life changing message to deliver. It’s not a good speech about a famous book. It’s a life changing message about the Word.
2. More than an Opinion Piece
It’s more than just sharing his opinion. Somebody said opinions are like…well you know, we all have one. Here are some things opinions can’t do:
- Create the Universe (Hebrews 11:3)
- Raise the Dead (John 11:43-44)
- Calm the Seas (Matthew 8:23-27)
- Save you (Acts 11:14)
But, guess what? God’s Word can.
3. More than Crowd Pleasing
Medicine sometimes tastes like…well…medicine. But, when you’re sick you don’t need chocolate cake and a Coke.
Paul says this a lot better than I would, so check this out:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths (II Timothy 4:1-4).
4. More than an Argument
I have won some arguments in my time. But, you know what, when I did so, I didn’t typically win a friend. However, when I have served and showed the person the love of Christ, they were much more likely to be open to the message. One preacher said that before he goes out to preach he prays to God, “Help me show your people how you love them. Let me show them that I love them.” Sure, we should be making arguments, but they should be shaped like the cross.
Maybe you’re thinking, I’ve sat through many sermons that were nothing more than the things you’ve mentioned:
- boring book reports
- nothing more than opinion pieces
- just about pleasing the crowd
- just about winning an argument.
What is the solution for this?
He is the only perfect preacher. He’s the model and the material. He’s the Alpha and the Omega. He is anything but boring, and he’s a lot more than talk.
His name is Jesus.
And, when a messenger is shaped by him, something happens. As Landon Saunders put it,
The nails of reality have been driven through the hands and feet of God’s man. The sword of the Spirit has pierced his side, and out of him flows the very life of God.
