(Okay, for the exact sermon click below…I’m sure you’ll find I missed or added something in my text)….
Though we’ve really enjoyed the church we attend, we decided to visit friends which put us in another church for Resurrection Sunday. I spent most of the time in the nursing room since I have a new baby, and that did hinder my experience (as did my younger children when I did sit in the service). We do enjoy our children, but I cannot listen with a toddler and 4 year old who have yet to learn to sit without pointing things out to me…and with a newborn it’s more difficult.
The church was a nice Presbyterian church that claims it’s “Reformation roots.” The pastor spoke about (and I’m paraphrasing so I may miss exactly how he titled it) the most important words God spoke that were recorded in the Bible. He went from Genesis through the whole Bible pointing out many major statements with events such as the creation, sending Moses and the people to the promised land, promises to Abraham, David, and many others. He quoted the prophets as they spoke about the promised Messiah. He quoted the gospels as Mary and Joseph were told about Jesus, a baby soon to be born, and as Jesus was annouced to the shepherds. Many moments in Jesus’ life were highlighted. He even quoted “it is finished” stating that it was still NOT the most important statement. No, the most important statement was “greetings” according to this pastor. This is because it was the first thing Christ said after he was raised (he mentioned it’s also interpreted as “joy” or “be joyful”). The reason this is most important is that without Christ raising from the dead, we have no hope and all that came before is in vain for sinners.
I rather enjoyed what I did hear of the sermon and most especially that I was challenged to think. No new information was presented, but highlights from across time were brougth forth in an interesting sermon on Resurrection Sunday without special tricks. No one was offered a show, there was no fancy song and dance, no skits, no entertainment. Just a sermon preached from the Bible.
I am sure it was a stark contrast to the seeker friendly message that was presented in many churches, after all, Easter Sunday pulls in the generally unchurched. Of course we want to make the message interesting to these people, but as a friend of mine pointed out, the messages at church on a Sunday morning are for believers. They can be accessible to non-believers, but they are for building up the body.
I am a C...I am a CH...I am a CHRISTIAN 