Sermon Notes - 09/23/12 - Part 2

Here are just some notes from the remaining portion of Bro Mike's sermon last week...



1. God wants to reach people's hearts - break through their intellect and pride - and capture their hearts. Maybe they are not intellectual - maybe they dropped out of school after 6th grade. He still wants to reach them - break through their illiteracy and capture their hearts.

2. So the church is in an age when the world thinks we are irrelevant and holds us in contempt.

3. And the church is in an age when even part of the church itself has doubts....

We can't be the church today. The world is not paying attention!

Bro Mike referred to a book he is currently reading about pastoral ministry. The author gives John the Baptist as a example of a pastor's ministry in the world.  He walked into whatever was going on and had a simple,  single-minded message.

Prophetic preaching is telling the truth and helping make sense of people's lives.

To speak God's word with authority and with the intention of  persuasion.

John brought up God - an awareness of Him and His work - in a particular moment in time.
 

 

     I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ    who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

 

     Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching.

 

     For the time will come when they will not endure  sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears...they will turn away from the truth...but you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry... 2 Tim 4:1-5

 

 

And just about everyone believes we are at that time -- when they will not endure sound doctrine....


4. Probably 90% of what goes on in church during the pastor's message is the work of the Holy Spirit. The text...the topic..and then the Holy Spirit takes it and runs with it. You are paying attention to the preacher, but also to the Holy Spirit.

5. What about a child - a seven-year old - church is divided. Should there be children's church for all young people? Or should they be in the sanctuary with their families.

Something about that moment in time. Bro Mike tells about his experience in church at 7 years old and how his mother pinched him to keep him still and quiet. "Even the 7 year old needs to be there," he said, "to experience that moment."

6. Re-orientation. Our compasses...our GPS...  have to be redirected, re-oriented each week. That goes for pastors, too.

7. The church should not take a survey of the world to find out what they need or want....we should look to God to show us His agenda.

A preacher knows many will walk by and walk off...We are doing things on God's agenda.

8. Closing prayer:


Thank you for the activity you are doing in people's lives. Help us as we try to reach certain people to realize that You love them even more than we do, whether they are smart or challenged. Help us to cooperate with You in reaching them... help us to be the church in a manner You can use...

I pray for mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and sons and daughters...who right now consider Your message irrelevant....
that You will do a work in their lives...to draw them closer to Yourself...and help us to be faithful. In Jesus' Name, Amen.