I Can't Get Through Life On Good Sermons

This past Sunday, I heard a good sermon. I even remember all three of the main points (that's about my retention capacity). I connected with the preachers passion and message. I felt inspired.

​And now, it's the weekday. Time for reports, meetings, ancy customers, and everything in between.

Sermons have a low shelf life; here today, gone tomorrow (or the next day...or the next).
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If I want to thrive as a disciple of Jesus Christ and be equipped for all the the 'trouble' a day can bring (Matt. 6:34), I need to walk with Him daily and maintain a balanced spiritual diet.

ON POINT
The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not 'What a lovely sermon', but, 'I will do something!'
- (Francis de Sales)

OBSERVATION:
A lot of the Bible verses having to do with 'preaching' have some connection or reference to salvation.

Historically speaking, if we go as far back as the patriarch's and prophets, and all the way to the apostles and early Christians, those who were called to 'preach' the Word dedicated their lives to it. Before Christ, their main focus was to deliver to the people the message they received from God. After Christ, their mandate was to share the good news of salvation and make disciples (see Matthew 28:16-20)! This was the purpose for sermons. It's critical that we keep this in mind. (- See The History of Expository Preaching for more insight)

​Sermons cannot, and were never intended to, replace the personal discipline of speaking to and listening to God.

What sermons are good (/best) for:

• Proclaiming the message of salvation through Jesus Christ
• Short-term guidance for a particular situation
• Inspiration/motivation for the next step in life
• Clarity & Biblical perspective regarding a particular subject
• Encouragement, correction & teaching for the body (church) of Christ

What sermons shouldn't be used for:

• ​Replacing your personal Bible study time
• Arsenal for retaliation against an individual or group
• ​Sunday Stuffing - Making up for your lack of devotional time during the week
• Filling an open time slot during church service just for the sake of sticking to 'protocol' 
• Propagating personal opinions or a self-centered agenda

​TAKE-AWAY:

Devote yourself to God beyond just a good sermon that you heard in-person or on Youtube.

This is my simple suggestion as your brother in Christ:
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• Maintain a balanced diet from the Word of God; read your Bible and/or listen to the audio Bible, do an in-depth topical study at least once a month, read Bible-based articles and lessons
• Combine it with regular heartfelt prayer, singing and worship
• Connect with a group of like-minded believers during the week for fellowship
• Share/journal your experience and the things you learn with someone

​​They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. - (Acts 2:42)

Keep the Fire Burning,
​Danny

Jesus Said So

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily (emphasis mine) and follow me." - (Luke 9:23)