3.23.26
Hey, Calvary Fremont –
The shaking of an object can loosen the screws that hold it together. Constant movement can weaken the nail’s hold. The passing of time and the presence of heat can erode the adhesive power of the glue. Even those whose faith in Christ is screwed tight, nailed shut, and glued down can experience shakings and quakings and blows that threaten to dislodge their faith. Life’s tragedies, moral erosion, and intellectual doubt all serve to loosen the screws, weaken the nails, and erode the glue.
Through the preaching of the Word week in and week out, the screws are tightened, the nails are pounded in, and the glue is reapplied. Through the preaching of the Word, people navigate through life’s tragedies, regain moral backbone, and stand against the intellectual siege of the Church. Through the preaching of the Word week in and week out, emotions are moved, reason is reinforced, vision is rekindled, motives are purified, purposes are clarified, and love for God and people is reignited. The preaching of the Word confronts sin, apathy, indifference, compromise, lukewarmness, unbelief, mediocrity, rationalizations, and self-love.
And so, since your sin repeats itself, please forgive the preacher if he repeats himself! In 19th century rural America, it was the new pastor’s first sermon at the new church. He chose as his text, “Thou shalt not steal.” It was a fine sermon – everyone said so. The second Sunday found him preaching the same sermon. The people were somewhat confused, but forgave the new pastor, knowing that it must be difficult settling into a new pastoral assignment. On the third Sunday, the pastor announced as his sermon subject, “Thou shalt not steal.” Everybody was agitated the entire service – especially Deacon Jones. After service, Deacon Jones went up to the new pastor and asked, “You’ve preached the same sermon three times. When are you going to move on to something else?” The new pastor responded, “I’ll move on to something else when you stop stealing eggs out of widow Cooper’s henhouse.”
This pastor knew that his job wasn’t to fill the people’s minds with new and interesting Bible information. His task wasn’t fulfilled with a three-point theological data dump. The new pastor knew that he was there to screw down what had become unscrewed, nail shut what had worked itself loose, and glue down what was slipping. His vision wasn’t a Bible-informed church, but a Christ-obeying church. A Bible-informed church would not necessarily result in Christlike people – but a Christ-obeying church would.
In 2 Peter 1:12, Peter writes: “I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.”
The things Peter was reminding them about was a life conformed to the image of Christ. Peter wrote of faith, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and love. I’ve never lost grip on the Deity of Christ or the doctrine of the Trinity. Where I come loose is when it comes to self-control, love for others – and all the other virtues. I don’t find myself drifting from theological information, but from spiritual formation. I don’t always need to hear sermons about Bible doctrines, but I constantly need to be challenged with a vision of the virtues of Jesus Christ and the intention of God to transform my life by the Holy Spirit. I need to be Bible-informed and Spirit-formed.
I don’t always need a clever word study or a quote from some obscure 15th century theologian. I need red-hot rebuke and vision generating exhortation and ministry making motivation. I need to be confronted in my sin, apathy, indifference, compromise, lukewarmness, unbelief, mediocrity, rationalizations, and self-love. I need a pastor who gets this – and then gives it to me! If the pastor repeats himself – don’t tune out. Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Be blessed and stay healthy and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
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