The real reason why writing a sermon each week is hard.

Some of you may think that writing a sermon each week would be hard because you find writing to be a difficult process.  For some people it certainly is, but that isn't what trips me up.  For others, it could be the prospect of having something fresh and insightful to say each week, but God's Word has so much more to say than I can possibly fit into a weekly sermon that it isn't really hard to find enough to say each week.  The reason why writing and delivering a sermon each week is difficult is because you need to have your mind/heart/spirit in the right place in order to do the work.  I can mow the lawn when I'm distracted or even upset, but I can't write what God has for his people from Scripture if I'm either of those.  A lot of the things that I have to do each week can be done regardless of what else is going on, but writing a sermon isn't one of them.  There have been times when I simply have to walk away from the effort for the rest of a day in order to come back again when things are sorted out.  Today I wrote the first page of my message for this week, but when I got to the phrase, "set your hearts on things above" (Colossians 3:1), I had to admit to myself that there were too many other things intruding on my thoughts to continue.  I'll come back and write some more of it tomorrow; hopefully.  As always, the hardest thing about writing a sermon each week is being ready in your own mind/heart/spirit to hear it from God's Word.

Sermon Video, One Man Should Die - John 11:45-54

Following the resurrecition of Lazarus, many who witness the miracle of Jesus put their faith in him.  Some, however, run to warn the Pharisees about it.  The Pharisees, led by Caiaphas, determine that Jesus needs to die in order to save the nation.  In an ironic twist, Caiaphas speaks the truth without knowing it, Jesus will indeed die to save his people; not from the Romans, from their sins.

to view the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: The Raising of Lazarus Part 3, "Lazarus, come out!" - John 11:28-44

In the finale of the raising of Lazarus, Jesus demonstrates both his humanity and his divinity.  As a man, Jesus is overcome by grief and weeps at the grave of a friend.  Moments later, Jesus proves that he is indeed the Son of God by raising Lazarus from the dead.

To watch the video, click on the link below
Sermon Video

Lessons from Lazarus

Tomorrow I'll preach the 3rd message in a row from the raising of Lazarus from the dead in the Gospel of John.  Those of you who know what has been going on in my life (and that of my wife Nicole) know that we suffered a setback this week.  Plans that we thought were God's will for us fell through and took us back to square one.  I've been on a quest during the last 15 years to discover how God wants me to glorify him.  When I was first starting down the road to becoming a minister of the Gospel I prayed, "Lord, make your name great through me."  It was the best way I could think of to ask God to use me in a mighty way without letting pride get involved.  Of course, in my mind, that meant God using me to lead a church whose ministry was a clear city upon a hill, or perhaps even at some point writing a book that would inspire and teach others.  I do lead a church, and the people there are God's servants, but we're not on a hill, we struggle to be a light in our small town.  I have written a book, but few have read it.

So how is God planning on using me to glorify his name?  The life and death of Lazarus points the way.  You see, Lazarus was a man of God, a friend of Jesus, but his contributions in life will forever be overshadowed by his contribution in death.  I'm sure it wasn't the plan that Lazarus would have chosen, nor one that his sisters Mary and Martha could have understood as they mourned his loss.  God's will to them was hidden; they had followed the Lord faithfully, but God hadn't answered their prayers.

And yet God did answer the prayers of his people.  The Messiah, his only Son, Jesus was here on Earth to show the make the way to God available to us all.  Lazarus was used by God for the noble purpose of showing those who knew Jesus his divine nature so that they might put their faith in him.  Imagine how many people in the last two thousand years have put their faith in Jesus in part because of how God's glory was revealed in the resurrection of Lazarus.  Nobody wants to volunteer for that role, but when we put our hope and faith in Jesus, we also put our trust in the will of the Father.  When we do, God will use us to make his name great, because we will help lost sinners find their way home.

I may not understand God's will for my life, and I wouldn't have chosen to take it in this direction, but the wisdom of God is at work because I have chosen to be God's servant, and he will make his name great through my life as long as I continue to follow him; and I will.

Sermon Video: "I am the resurrection" The Raising of Lazarus Part 2 - John 11:17-27

In the second part of the story of the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus speaks with Lazarus' sister Martha whose continued faith in him defies the disappointment that she must have been feeling.  Jesus tells her that her brother will rise again because, "I am the resurrection and the life".  Jesus' bold claim to being the power over life after death is a fundamental belief of all Christians.

To watch the video, click on the link below
Sermon Video