Uncommon questions for preachers

Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.

Why do you preach? Preacher. Do you preach because do you think you are the only one who can do it or do you preach because is a noble task that has been entrusted to you? Let me ask you some more questions

Did you pray? You must pray for your soul and the souls of those who hear you. For your soul primarily, so you can preach out of a humble and loving heart for the congregation. That your carnal will and your desires to say things don’t be the motivation of your preaching, but your love for God that leads you to love others. 

Did you consider your congregation? Think and meditate through your sermon preparation, how does your church is struggling, pray for discernment so the Lord uses you as a tool for crushing and healing. Consider the realities of your sheep, don’t make them run if they are limping; don’t expect them to get up if they are sick and paralyzed; but strive to know them. See yourself and see your members through the text, do not dismiss the rules of hermeneutics and exegesis but make a 3D reflexion of your interpretation by exposing the depth of our hearts.

Why do you preach? Remember that the reason you’ve been called is because of God’s mercy toward us but also His love for His people. You’ve been entrusted with people that God loves.

Why those words? Pick words and expressions that brings attention to the clarity of the message not your intellect. People needs to know God’s word not yours. Consider the elementary school kid that sits under your preaching, may he also be saved by your speaking. Do not tickle the ear of the lofty and the intellectual, neither entertain the goats with vain things but feed your sheep.

Who do you serve? We must make sure that our preaching is going to serve God as we portray the person of Jesus Christ. He does not need to be an adherent to the perfect life of your hearers but He needs to be the very life of them. Do not underestimate your motivation, for that is very crucial for what you say and what you don’t. May self-preservation or self-promotion not be the decisive factor of what you may sahy.

Do you believe what you are going to say? Do not forget that even demons can quote the Bible but you must submit to your own words first, so you taste the honey of the word of God. For we can say powerless true things that make no impact to our soul, but we must be conscious that we are given a word that must be trusted first. Do not forget that by His word things came to happen so also believe that by His word He will make some people new creatures.

Are you tired of preaching Christ? If you are tired you better pray, fight and pursue a re-kindle of your relationship with God. Let Him fill you in such way that your cup overflows with His presence, so you can’t stop talking about Him. Yes we all get tired and weary, but if we don’t have a Christ to preach about, its better for us to not preach at all. 

Loud Thinking: Tamed Religion

Everybody has a religion. Everybody has a god that they serve, whether it is shaped like a person or a thing. Our biggest ambitions are clothed with desires that are only expressions of worship to the gods we serve. 

Institutionalized religion is not the problem. The problem is that we are so structured in our beliefs in such way that our religion is hidden from our conscience because we preach to ourselves the same sermon of what is not good over and over again. So we rise up in our desires, seeking to satisfy a god that is consuming us by making us believe that we are free, but really we are enslaved to it. With or without banners, this religion makes itself the abstract identity to which we cling. There is nothing new that we bring to the table. There is nothing new under the sun. Our perception of our new way of life has been always the old way to chain our hearts and souls to that which is fragile.

Yes, religion is complex. And, most religions are submitted to the human desires to be accomplished, fulfilled, satisfied, and secure. However, there is a religion that is not tamed by human desires, but is conditioned and exclusive in itself. There is a religion where freedom is found by enslaving yourself to an Eternal Master. This Master is One that calls you co-heir, calls you son, invites you to His table to eat with Him. 

Christianity is a religion. It’s not a religions of do’s and don’ts. We don’t live in light of restrictions, but in light of our new hearts, where His law is written. Our God doesn’t let us walk in light of our flesh, for He seeks the best for us. He enables us to avoid the ways of destruction, for He always works all things together for our good. In his economy, there is no boast of our own, for everything has been accomplished by Him; therefore, He is our true security, sufficiency and satisfaction.

There is only two kinds of religions we can choose from: the religion of our own desires where we are enslaved to our supposed freedom, or surrounding ourselves with Christ in His work at the Cross. In this latter religion we can find true freedom by submitting to God’s will.

“Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, ......,”

Romans 1:1a NASB