How To Set Your Church On Fire
Rex Yancey
Mark 2:1-12
I have never been one to appreciate the art of body building. All the participants do is to walk out on stage and look strong. They don't pick up anything, jump high or run fast. They stand in front of the judges and flex their muscles. The appearance of strength, not the use of strength, is the point.
I believe there is a parallel between body building and building churches. God is not interested in our churches looking strong. We can't turn the world upside down by becoming miniature pagans. God releases His supernatural power to those who are involved in accomplishing His divine purposes.
Paul said, "The gospel is the power of God unto salvation." That means that God has placed His own power in the gospel message. That means that God's power follows those who share this gospel message. We do not dispense salvation; we proclaim salvation.
God has chosen the preaching of the gospel to save the lost. Astounding, isn't it. Both the message of the gospel and the messenger of the gospel seem to be rather weak. All you have is a mortal man standing before other mortal men to declare some basic facts about the life and work of Jesus. But Paul said, "It works."
Jesus left Galilee and has come back home to Capernaum. News of his arrival preceded him. The house is packed. What can we learn from this experience?
1. WE SEE ONE MAN WITH A HURT.
He had the palsy. He was immobile for whatever reason. He may have had an accident, a disease, or he may have been born with it. But he could not walk, run, and work. He lived life at ground level.
-Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near to the broken hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. This man will keep this service from being boring and routine. He needed help and knew it. There were plenty there who needed help and didn't know it.
-Matthew 9:36 "He felt compassion for them because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd ...
Rex Yancey
Mark 2:1-12
I have never been one to appreciate the art of body building. All the participants do is to walk out on stage and look strong. They don't pick up anything, jump high or run fast. They stand in front of the judges and flex their muscles. The appearance of strength, not the use of strength, is the point.
I believe there is a parallel between body building and building churches. God is not interested in our churches looking strong. We can't turn the world upside down by becoming miniature pagans. God releases His supernatural power to those who are involved in accomplishing His divine purposes.
Paul said, "The gospel is the power of God unto salvation." That means that God has placed His own power in the gospel message. That means that God's power follows those who share this gospel message. We do not dispense salvation; we proclaim salvation.
God has chosen the preaching of the gospel to save the lost. Astounding, isn't it. Both the message of the gospel and the messenger of the gospel seem to be rather weak. All you have is a mortal man standing before other mortal men to declare some basic facts about the life and work of Jesus. But Paul said, "It works."
Jesus left Galilee and has come back home to Capernaum. News of his arrival preceded him. The house is packed. What can we learn from this experience?
1. WE SEE ONE MAN WITH A HURT.
He had the palsy. He was immobile for whatever reason. He may have had an accident, a disease, or he may have been born with it. But he could not walk, run, and work. He lived life at ground level.
-Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near to the broken hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. This man will keep this service from being boring and routine. He needed help and knew it. There were plenty there who needed help and didn't know it.
-Matthew 9:36 "He felt compassion for them because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd ...
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