The Bible never says that Christians should listen to a weekly sermon. Religious tradition does. I’m nostalgic for the following things that the Bible says that Christians should do:
- Be Spirit-led. (Romans 8:14.)
- Gather together. (Hebrews 10:25.)
- Pray together. (Acts 1:14.)
- Hear Jesus’ voice. (John 10:27.)
- Testify about what Jesus has done and is doing. (Revelation 12:11 and Acts 1:8.)
- Minister to one another. (1 Peter 4:1`0.)
- Take turns speaking when they gather. (I Corinthians 14:26.)
- Let each other prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14.31.)
- Teach one another. (Colossians 3:16.)
- Encourage one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11.)
- Exhort one another. (Hebrews 3:13.)
- Confess their sins to one another. (James 5:16.)
- Make disciples. (Matthew 28:19.)
- Continually read, ponder, and obey God’s written word. (Joshua 1:8.)
- Read the Bible together. (Colossians 4:16.)
- Worship in Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24.)
- Humble themselves. (1 Peter 5:6.)
- Love one another. (John 13:34.)
These things flow from supernatural revelation, not from human abilities. Spiritual revelation will be cultivated in a humble heart that is ever hungry for more of Christ and His real presence. Christians need to be free to trust and follow God’s Spirit and the Bible instead of being compelled to follow a single (almost universal) form of having church. O that Christians would move beyond superficial ceremony and humbly open our hearts to the risen Jesus and to one another!
A human heart can never be satisfied while it’s full of inner emptiness. Freely seek the Lord and frequently open up and connect heart-to-heart with others who are doing so. Let God’s Spirit fill you up and overflow from within you. The living Jesus is speaking to everyone, and some people actually listen to and obey Him.
Some people don’t like for me to say that Jesus is the answer, but who or what else can permanently heal a hurting human heart? Politics can’t. Money can’t. Drugs can’t. Sex can’t. Sports can’t. Music can’t. Therapy can’t. Will power can’t. Government can’t. Pride can’t. War can’t. Jesus can!
After writing this post, I went to Seedbed and read these words from Josh LeRoy: “Maybe prophets are prophets, not because God exclusively speaks to them, but because they choose to listen to what God is, in fact, saying to everyone.”
We need to worship Jesus
With our whole heart
So that the rocks
Won’t need to cry out
For Christians to get out
Of the religious box. (Luke 19:40.)
Free Gas for Your Think Tank -- Fill Your Mind and Your Heart With Hope 