THEY DON'T LISTEN
The crowds don't listen to us like they did Jesus. Why? Why don't we have the following that Jesus had? Remember, Jesus did say that we would do even greater things because He was going to the Father and the Holy Spirit would come to be with us.
So.......why doesn't the crowd respond to us?
Because:
1. We lack the love that embodies Jesus Christ.
- A love That's stronger than denominational walls.
- A love that loves those who don't believe like us.
- Genuine. Love. It's a supernatural love that God gives when we ask Him for it.
2. We lack compassion.
- People (especially teenagers) know - THEY KNOW - when you care. And they know when you could care less.
3. We're boring.
People that have the Spirit of The Living Christ living in them should never be a perpetual contributor to boredom. We should be the most creative and intuitive people alive! It doesn't matter if that's not your gift - The Gift is living in you!
- We could learn a lot from Jesus - the Master Communicator.
- "Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables."(Matthew 13:34 NLT)
- It's a crime when we take the most exciting Book in the world and bore people to tears with our liturgical dronings. Jesus told stories to help illustrate a point that He was trying to make - He painted visual images that the people recognized and understood.
- Images make an impression - vocabulary does not - its forgotten - it's like cotton candy, it's surprisingly sweet to the listener at first but in the end - there's no substance.
PREACHERS/TEACHERS - You're task is a sacred one - Generations are being affected or infected by you. Jesus chose you and your style. Don't be like anyone else - just preach/teach like Jesus and Jesus told stories.
Scripture is anointed but you and I can throw that anointing right out of the way when we only quote scripture and fail to illustrate it.
God's Word will never return void but it sure can fall off into that sermonized hole we dug with our old rusty, boring shovels, and never make it to the crowds level of understanding.
Do a Google search on 'sermon illustrations.'
It's simple. Many of them are organized according to your specific sermon topic. Don't be a sluggard - go to the ant :).
Go the extra mile
You're congregation/class will thank you for it - I promise you.
The crowds will listen when we show them that we genuinely love them and when we speak in such a manner that is evidence that we actually believe what we preach and teach.
Created 10 months ago
