Tuesday, November 27, 2007

The Best Place to Hear a Sermon

If we did it Jesus’ way there wouldn’t be a “best” place. There might not even be a sermon in the way that we have come to understand them today.

In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) Jesus is in a setting that is open and fun.

The religious elite were upset that He was eating with “sinners”. Thankfully their critical attack of his "methodology" allowed Him to contrast having fun with “sinners” with their religious hardness of heart.

Here are a few points to consider in one of the greatest “sermons” of all times.

1. Jesus was in a place of common ground with ordinary people. Likely a gathering with a meal associated with it. Jesus didn’t have to leave the setting to illustrate what he was saying.

2. He used no scripture to begin or end his sermon. What He said could easily be supported by scripture but He didn’t feel the need to quote it.

3. He contrasted God’s love for all with the exclusivity of the religious system of the day.

4. His “sermon” took less than 3 minutes.

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