To focus on a man’s talk rather than on Christ’s presence is to settle for a 2nd-hand account instead of a 1st-hand experience. Instead of listening to lectures about Jesus, perhaps Christians could passionately demonstrate our love for and obedience to Him.
Preachers speak on Sunday morning but Jesus speaks 24\7\365. You listening? A sermon without an aha, a touch from God, an inner transformation, a new degree of freedom — is just a religious lecture.
Christians today need HEAVY-METTLE — the inner strength to follow and obey Jesus instead of obeying our own feelings and desires. Christ-followers have an implant–the risen Jesus embedded in them. “Christ in you–the hope of glory.” Follow Him. When Christians follow Jesus they love one another & even their enemies. When they don’t; they don’t.
All talk and no hands-on training can’t make a surgeon, a pilot, or a mature Christian. Christianity is a miraculous lifestyle generated by the risen Christ within, not a series of Sunday morning lectures.
Making pastors teachers made church a classroom. Making pastors facilitators can make church an interactive team of equals. Sermons are like audible CliffsNotes. It’s important to read the Bible for yourself and not just accept what a preacher says.
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Steve,
When we gather together, “each of us has a word, a tongue, a song” etc.
All of these things involve hearing second hand about someone’s relationship with Christ — yet the entire body sharing together is what manifests the presence of Christ in our midst to all of us.
Yes. As the entire body begins to share (as led by the risen Jesus) and His presence begins to manifest, we all move beyond second hand information to direct experience with Jesus in our midst.
Well said, Heather!