This week you will hear three of the best sermon’s I’ll
never preach. I have long since
reconciled myself to the fact that value of any sermon I preach on Sunday has
nothing to do with the words I say. The
truth of the matter is that 90% of what I say on Sunday is forgotten minutes
after the benediction. I’ll admit I have
regularly wrestled with the value of the whole preaching event and have taken
my consolation in the very fact that the only thing
that makes preaching matter is what the Holy Spirit works through it and how
the hearer responds to the Holy Spirit…everything else is merely a side note.
This being said, I have no trouble admitting that three of the best sermons you
will hear this week will have nothing to do with my preaching.
The best sermon I
will never preach # 1: “ Can Jesus Be Seen without Saying a Word about Him?”
Yesterday, CFNAZ hosted Belle Stone Elementary summer literacy day 1. Nine children plus and their Mother’s
attended along with the Belle Stone Community Worker and the new Principal and
Assistant Principal. Our CFNAZ family
did an incredible job not only leading the program but engaging each child and parent. At the end of our two hour sermon, the
Principal and Community Worker enthusiastically thanked and assured us that our
partnership would continue to grow. And then,
guess what? As I was driving some of our
guests home, I heard a 7th grade young man who had tagged along with
his parent and connected with Pastor Jordan say, “Mom, that guy said they have
a night for teens on Wednesday, can I go?”
I listened but did not say anything.
I waited to see what his Mom would say.
She leaned forward and asked, “What time is the teen night? He can go if
we could find a ride for him.” I assured
her we’d find a ride. Then Paula Crum
(who by the way is amazing with kids) said, “Chad, she also wants to come to
worship on Sunday?” I looked in the rearview
mirror and asked, “Do you want to join us on Sunday?” She said, “Yes, I want us all to come Sunday,
but I’ll need a ride.” Paula assured her
she would contact our bus ministry.
Now, what do you make of that? Neither I nor anyone in the Literacy Day
group stood up and shouted, “Repent! The
end is near…lest you know Jesus you shall burn in hell.” In fact, not a word about Jesus was
spoken. We did not even pray for the
meal. So, how did…why did this Mother
and her family ask to come worship Jesus with us? You see, we in the Wesleyan Holiness
tradition believe in prevenient grace (the grace that goes before). In other words, we know everything does not
hinge on us, but that the Holy Spirit is always working in every person’s life
to draw people to Jesus. Therefore, we
do not have to freak out when we work with a public school because we can’t
tell people about Jesus. Why? Because when you show people Jesus, the Holy
Spirit will tell people about Jesus and next thing you know a Mother and her
children are asking for a ride to come and hear about Jesus. The question is not how can we tell people
about Jesus where we are not allowed to do so, but how can we not trust the Holy
Spirit to speak more loudly through loving actions and relationships than any
sermon you could preach?
The Best Sermon I’ll
Never Preach # 2: “Jesus is C.O.O.L.” Last night I received my call from Nicole
Barrett letting me know our family is on their project team. This Saturday our 165 will join folks from
lots of other area churches from different theological traditions and perspectives. We will find unity not in our denominational
backgrounds, but in our common work for the Lord. With each stroke of the brush
and hammer of the nail we will proclaim Jesus without saying a word about
him. And, as we all come with the right
attitude, just may be this Saturday we will be a part of witnessing Jesus’
dying prayer answered: That we might be one for they will know Him by our love
for one another. In culture in which the
church has lost its voice of influence, may be the best way to be heard is to
stop talking and start doing.
The Best Sermon I’ll
Never Preach # 3: “The Water Says It All.” This Sunday 19 people are scheduled to be
baptized. Wow! Pardon me while I shout and jump in my office…OK…I’m
back. Praise God! This Sunday, I will not preach a message because
I do not dare try to add to or take away from the public witness of those who
will enter the water and share their testimony.
Invite friends and family to join you on this special day. It will be one of the best sermons they will
ever hear! The Holy Spirit is going to
break out and we will live the truth of God’s Word together that says, “We
shall overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony!”
And then all of us will be looking for people who did not
even attend the worship service, but receive our sign’s invitation to stop by
for the inflatables for the kids and a free lunch. They were cautiously wander over. They will come because their kids begged them
to let them play. They will welcome the
free fun. But they will also wonder,
what kind of sermon am I going to get by showing up? And then we will preach loud and strong
without saying a word. We will do what
CFNAZ does best and that is love on people.
We will shower them with a love that we know is His and through our love
they will experience his. And the Holy
Spirit will preach the message they most need to hear that we would never
know.
Yes, this week these will three best sermon’s I’ll never
preach. And it is exactly how Jesus
taught his Followers is one of the best ways to preach. Matthew
5:14-16, “You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light
to everyone in the house. In the same
way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and
praise your Father in heaven.”
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