You Got A Sermon?

“No”, you say, “I’m no preacher. I don’t preach!” And yet the Scriptures talk about the early converts going out to tell everyone what they knew about Jesus.

But what did they know? They never went to Seminary. They didn’t take courses in theology. They weren’t orators. They couldn’t take the Old Testament, and open it up to their listeners with all the legal intricacies of the law. Certainly they knew nothing about sanctification, or justification, or any of the big words preachers toss around on Sundays. By what logic could they possibly go out and bring the message of faith?

And yet, isn’t this the very heart of the Gospel? They had been with Jesus. They knew something about his spirit, his love, his concern for forgiveness, and truth. This is what they could talk about. They had found someone, a very special Someone. And as a result, they could not rest until they had spread the word.

Why are we so concerned with doctrine today? Why do we split into a thousand camps because of our technicality with Biblical hair-splitting? We know Jesus. Shouldn’t this be enough to qualify us as ambassadors of the Lord Christ?

Of course there are doctrinal ramifications. Of course there are rights and wrongs about the faith that make us either faithful or untrue. But, shouldn’t the life of the Church be a simple sharing of what we believe about Jesus, and how that knowledge changes life, rather than all the other things that have separated us into a thousand bickering camps?

The Lord must hate, indeed despise our splintering. But are we not all guilty of making Bible proof-texting and doctrinal absolutes of more importance than the simple act of obedience to the One who calls us to follow?

When it comes right down to it, it’s just possible that you might share a better sermon through your daily life and conversations, than a thousand fancy words given from a pulpit. You’re sounding good, Sister…Keep it going, Brother.