We no more than complete the delivery of a sermon and the next one is clamoring for our attention. Due to this occupational perpetuity, we must stop and ask ourselves WHAT ARE WE THINKING?
The reason I bring this up is because if we are not careful we will be driven to fill up the time. Three points and an invitation will become our goal. Thus our thinking is misdirected and the church is stuck to the point they are the ones taking up the time....just counting the minutes 'til we GET DONE!
What we should be thinking is not outline but people. Did God send Jesus because He was responsible to be a sender or because He loved people? Did Jesus commission the disciples to go into all of the world because he, himself, enjoyed travel? Or, was it because he had people in mind?
Preaching shifts from neutral into forward gear when we apply our thinking toward the people; what they need. Every week I think, What would God give me to give these faithful as well the these visitors hope? My goal is people. My message is healing hope.....every time I speak.
Shouldn't our goal be to think about God? Yes. We are to think about God's will for our work which is to reach people. People are the target; not three-point outlines.
If not careful we will be like students who never learn anything because they are busy trying to pass the test. A student's goal is to grow in knowledge of the subject being taught. The pressure of passing fits our pressure of filling up the time.
Yet we have a greater calling. We are called to think about the hurting, the hopeless, and the lost. We are called to think like God would think...about the stability and need of people. The Jewish leadership wanted Jesus to be devoted to law. Jesus was obsessed with assisting....people.
Preacher: what are you thinking? One will give life while another will dispense meaningless boredom.
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