Friday, March 25, 2011
This weekend I will begin preaching a series of sermons on the cross of Jesus Christ. The preaching of the cross is central to the Christian faith. The core of our belief is that Christ died on the cross as a payment for our sin. Christ died so I could live. Paul wrote that the message of the cross was the power of God for those of us being saved (1 Cor. 1:18). Paul also wrote, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" ( 1 Corinthians 2:1-2).
Paul wasn't interested in fancy speech or intellectual brilliance (although he had both). Paul was interested in Christ and Him crucified. This was the center piece of Paul's message and mission. It should be ours as well.
Over one hundred years ago, D. L. Moody died in Northfield, Massachusetts. He was the most famous evangelist of his day, and through his ministry hundreds and thousands of people confessed Christ as Savior. Moody wasn't a well-educated man. He was unlettered, his grammar was suspect, and his speech was simple. But wherever he preached in the world, great crowds would gather.
In London, there was a journalist who attended Moody's meetings out of a sense of curiosity. He was amazed that such an unlearned American would draw such crowds in Great Britain. In his newspaper the next day this is what he wrote: "One cannot but ask the question, 'What is the magic power which draws together these mighty multitudes and holds them spellbound?' Is it the worldly rank or wealth of learning or oratory of the preacher? No, for he is possessed of little of these. It is the simple lifting up of the cross of Christ--the holding forth the Lord Jesus before the eyes of the people…."
Billy Graham, who in many ways was Moody's successor, once confessed this story: "I remember preaching in Dallas, Texas, early in our ministry. It was 1953. About 40,000 people attended each night, but one evening only a few people responded to the appeal to receive Jesus Christ. Discouraged, I left the platform. A German businessman was there, a devout man of God. He put his arm around me and said, 'Billy, do you know what was wrong tonight? You didn't preach the cross.' The next night I preached on the blood of Christ, and a great host of people responded to receive Christ as Savior. When we proclaim the Gospel of Christ, when we preach Christ crucified and risen, there is a built-in power to it."
You can develop whatever philosophical system you desire. You can rationalize and intellectualize and philosophize all you want. You can search in the libraries, in the universities, in the alleys, and throughout the whole cosmos--there is no other message that provides forgiveness of sin, strength for living, and hope for eternity--only the simple message of the cross of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Tim
Paul wasn't interested in fancy speech or intellectual brilliance (although he had both). Paul was interested in Christ and Him crucified. This was the center piece of Paul's message and mission. It should be ours as well.
Over one hundred years ago, D. L. Moody died in Northfield, Massachusetts. He was the most famous evangelist of his day, and through his ministry hundreds and thousands of people confessed Christ as Savior. Moody wasn't a well-educated man. He was unlettered, his grammar was suspect, and his speech was simple. But wherever he preached in the world, great crowds would gather.
In London, there was a journalist who attended Moody's meetings out of a sense of curiosity. He was amazed that such an unlearned American would draw such crowds in Great Britain. In his newspaper the next day this is what he wrote: "One cannot but ask the question, 'What is the magic power which draws together these mighty multitudes and holds them spellbound?' Is it the worldly rank or wealth of learning or oratory of the preacher? No, for he is possessed of little of these. It is the simple lifting up of the cross of Christ--the holding forth the Lord Jesus before the eyes of the people…."
Billy Graham, who in many ways was Moody's successor, once confessed this story: "I remember preaching in Dallas, Texas, early in our ministry. It was 1953. About 40,000 people attended each night, but one evening only a few people responded to the appeal to receive Jesus Christ. Discouraged, I left the platform. A German businessman was there, a devout man of God. He put his arm around me and said, 'Billy, do you know what was wrong tonight? You didn't preach the cross.' The next night I preached on the blood of Christ, and a great host of people responded to receive Christ as Savior. When we proclaim the Gospel of Christ, when we preach Christ crucified and risen, there is a built-in power to it."
You can develop whatever philosophical system you desire. You can rationalize and intellectualize and philosophize all you want. You can search in the libraries, in the universities, in the alleys, and throughout the whole cosmos--there is no other message that provides forgiveness of sin, strength for living, and hope for eternity--only the simple message of the cross of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Tim
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