Too many sermons tell people what they want to hear, instead of telling them what they need to hear. As churches go further into entertainment and error, it’s vital for Christ-followers to surrender to the Spirit and stay in the Bible.

People learn better by effort than by words, by application than by lecture. Too often, church requires neither effort or application. Most churches seem to think that only one person in the congregation is smart or spiritual enough to speak on Sunday morning.

Religious hierarchy tends to restrict direct access to the risen Jesus by requiring people to follow a chain of command. Churches are religious organizations run by people. The body of Christ (ekklesia) is a spiritual organism, led directly by the living Jesus.

The body of Christ is a theocracy, with Jesus as the Head, living in and directing each of His followers. It’s not a hierarchy. Religious hierarchy breaks down when people learn to follow the direct leading of the Holy Spirit and the words of Scripture. God wants the supernatural gifts of the Spirit to flow thorough all Christ-followers so that we can minister to one another.

The brighter the Light of Christ is allowed to shine in a body of believers, the less they feel a need for hierarchy. If we can avoid the hierarchal aspects of church and its top down agenda, the Holy Spirit will have much more freedom.

Jesus warned of many false prophets. Stay close to the Holy Spirit and Scripture to avoid being influenced by them. The Bible talks about those who “have tasted the heavenly gift.” Have you?