Sermon - 2018-07-22
Can anyone here name a false prophet or preacher in today’s world? Today within Jeremiah, we hear about a shepherd who would destroy and scatter a flock. God is warning the people, to be cautious and to discern when they hear the Word of God and in a relationship with God. But more importantly, asking the most important question of Where is this leader taking us?
While in Seminary, we talked about what it means to be a prophet of God and preacher within the church. We listed out qualities that we should strive to have but we also named the qualities that are terrible.
Now, this is not an exhaustive list. It merely scratches the surface to get you thinking. I mean the only time we really stop to think of what qualities we want in a pastor is when a pastor is being called to a church. This is the time that the church stops and reflects on what kind of leader and person they are searching for in the next chapter of God’s Calling for them.
Please understand, I am not going anywhere. What I do what you to realize is that when you are visiting other churches, when you are watching a sermon on YouTube, or listening to one on a podcast. That you would also realize the way in which that preacher is leading you. Not only that, it is my hope that you would help me make sure that I am leading you all to God. For it is my understanding that I am not your Shepherd. You are a people who need a Shepherd but I would prefer to point you to the Good Shepherd who has loved, saved and is with you now and forever.
Jesus clearly notes that it is not the leader who can take you places. You, as an individual, must realize what you are doing to help yourself and even hurting yourself. When Jesus calls the disciples, he asks them to “follow him”. Jesus teaches the disciples over and over again the lessons that they should know but then when they went to act, they would get it wrong. This is not bad but it clearly shows us as disciples and followers of Christ that we can easily be led astray. That we can so easily go back into the old ways of sin and especially as a community, find comfort in knowing that we are together. Yet all it takes is one person is speak and lead us astray.
Now going to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we hear of a group who wanted to separate people. Those who were Jewish and those who were not. Make a clear distinction so that people know who is the better group and which one is certainly part of God’s Chosen People and who is not. Paul draws the people back to the final days of Christ. That we hear and know the divided walls between us and God and how Jesus tore them down. The ways that Jesus took on the hostility that we have, even to the point of killing someone, and reminding them that Christ died for both you and them. The calling of Christ was then to go and share the good news to all. Not just one group but to all groups.
That God himself has reconciled and redeemed both groups. That we as a group must realize what is truly the concern when we are making distinctions and planning how and who we are working with for God’s Kingdom. To be aware is it what God calls us to stay away from and what is our fear and desire to stay away. That we are reminded of the walls that God has broken down but that we do not build other walls that would separate us. That we should not create new laws and reasons to separate but search for means of uniting people for the love, grace, hope, and sake of Jesus Christ. This does not mean that we will not have differences of opinions or how things should get done but we need to keep our focus on what Christ has done and how that unites us together.
Now both of these Scriptures are doing the exact same thing: Calling us to look at the way we are living our lives. Now, who or what are we striving for? Is God at the top of the list? Is God at the center of your life? Is God even crossing your mind besides Sunday morning?
While in Seminary, we talked about what it means to be a prophet of God and preacher within the church. We listed out qualities that we should strive to have but we also named the qualities that are terrible.
| Bad Qualities | Good Qualities |
| Easy to understand Agree because it is what I think It is what is written in black and white It makes me feel good Everyone else seems to flock to them Focuses on calling people to give money Focuses on the individual making a better life for themselves Does not mention sin Lives in a mansion Flies a jet | Clear and direct Teachers to understand Challenges and comforts Focuses on a relationship with God and growing closer to Him Focuses on calling from God Simple life (stuff distracts you from God) |
Now, this is not an exhaustive list. It merely scratches the surface to get you thinking. I mean the only time we really stop to think of what qualities we want in a pastor is when a pastor is being called to a church. This is the time that the church stops and reflects on what kind of leader and person they are searching for in the next chapter of God’s Calling for them.
Please understand, I am not going anywhere. What I do what you to realize is that when you are visiting other churches, when you are watching a sermon on YouTube, or listening to one on a podcast. That you would also realize the way in which that preacher is leading you. Not only that, it is my hope that you would help me make sure that I am leading you all to God. For it is my understanding that I am not your Shepherd. You are a people who need a Shepherd but I would prefer to point you to the Good Shepherd who has loved, saved and is with you now and forever.
Jesus clearly notes that it is not the leader who can take you places. You, as an individual, must realize what you are doing to help yourself and even hurting yourself. When Jesus calls the disciples, he asks them to “follow him”. Jesus teaches the disciples over and over again the lessons that they should know but then when they went to act, they would get it wrong. This is not bad but it clearly shows us as disciples and followers of Christ that we can easily be led astray. That we can so easily go back into the old ways of sin and especially as a community, find comfort in knowing that we are together. Yet all it takes is one person is speak and lead us astray.
Now going to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we hear of a group who wanted to separate people. Those who were Jewish and those who were not. Make a clear distinction so that people know who is the better group and which one is certainly part of God’s Chosen People and who is not. Paul draws the people back to the final days of Christ. That we hear and know the divided walls between us and God and how Jesus tore them down. The ways that Jesus took on the hostility that we have, even to the point of killing someone, and reminding them that Christ died for both you and them. The calling of Christ was then to go and share the good news to all. Not just one group but to all groups.
That God himself has reconciled and redeemed both groups. That we as a group must realize what is truly the concern when we are making distinctions and planning how and who we are working with for God’s Kingdom. To be aware is it what God calls us to stay away from and what is our fear and desire to stay away. That we are reminded of the walls that God has broken down but that we do not build other walls that would separate us. That we should not create new laws and reasons to separate but search for means of uniting people for the love, grace, hope, and sake of Jesus Christ. This does not mean that we will not have differences of opinions or how things should get done but we need to keep our focus on what Christ has done and how that unites us together.
Now both of these Scriptures are doing the exact same thing: Calling us to look at the way we are living our lives. Now, who or what are we striving for? Is God at the top of the list? Is God at the center of your life? Is God even crossing your mind besides Sunday morning?
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