Church should be a “new wine” tasting. “O taste and see that the Lord is good!” The Holy Spirit releases inner “rivers of living water,” “new wine,” & “fire” — God intoxication! When you’re inspired you feel prompted to proclaim “Wow!” and tell people about it, yet church says, “Be quiet & listen.”

The purpose of preaching is to introduce people to the risen Jesus, not to make them dependent on a weekly sermon. Christ told His followers: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” Churches tell Christians: “Show up for Sunday service.” When dialogue died in Christian worship meetings, monologue took over. 

Here’s an alternative definition of “replacement theology” — let the preacher do it. When church replaced Christ-led spirituality with human mentality, it exchanged relationship for religion. The mentality of ignoring Christ-prompted spirituality has paralyzed the church. “Fast food” Christianity seems to have been substituted for deeply heart-felt faith and radical discipleship.

To make Christianity about hearing a weekly talk is like making Sunday dinner about watching a weekly cooking show. To make hearing a Sunday sermon the focus of Christianity is like making med school the focus of health care.

An architect who only listens to talks about architecture will never build anything. A Christian who only listens to talks will…