What's Really in the Way
Jerry Watts
1 Corinthians 1:18, Matthew 16:24
(This message was preached with a 10 foot cross place in the center of the platform area. The worship leader and band had to work around it and the choir was behind it)
Several years ago a pastor friend told me a true story about an event that had happened in his past. It seems that he, my pastor-friend, led a prominent business man to faith in Christ. This man's faith was so genuine that it began impacting every part of his life, even how he did business. In point of fact, his new faith not only affected every part of his life, but also how he viewed all of life and the world around him. The day he bowed his knee at the cross of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and the salvation of his soul, the ''Old Rugged Cross'' became his place of change, redemption, freedom, hope, help, and LIFE. This was so true for him that he began looking at the church building where he worshipped and noticed that there was no CROSS to be seen in the place. He was indeed a successful business man and possessed the financial resources needed to fund that project, so he offered his pastor, now friend, and the money which would be needed to put a cross in their worship center. With an excitement, the pastor started the process of taking this through the 'channels' of the church, only to run up against a brick wall. There would be no cross in that worship center. Why? Because the cross could be offensive. (A HUGE CROSS ON THE PLATFORM)
Have you noticed this cross this morning? Actually, how can you not notice? It's simply up here on the platform and is considered 'in the way!' It's in the way of the band, the worship leader, the choir, you can see the baptistery, and you have to look around it to see the screens! Every time you turn your eye up here, all you can see is the CROSS! What is that about?
In fact, I suggest and submit some in here have already wanted to get this cross ''OUT OF THE WAY.'' And you ...
Jerry Watts
1 Corinthians 1:18, Matthew 16:24
(This message was preached with a 10 foot cross place in the center of the platform area. The worship leader and band had to work around it and the choir was behind it)
Several years ago a pastor friend told me a true story about an event that had happened in his past. It seems that he, my pastor-friend, led a prominent business man to faith in Christ. This man's faith was so genuine that it began impacting every part of his life, even how he did business. In point of fact, his new faith not only affected every part of his life, but also how he viewed all of life and the world around him. The day he bowed his knee at the cross of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and the salvation of his soul, the ''Old Rugged Cross'' became his place of change, redemption, freedom, hope, help, and LIFE. This was so true for him that he began looking at the church building where he worshipped and noticed that there was no CROSS to be seen in the place. He was indeed a successful business man and possessed the financial resources needed to fund that project, so he offered his pastor, now friend, and the money which would be needed to put a cross in their worship center. With an excitement, the pastor started the process of taking this through the 'channels' of the church, only to run up against a brick wall. There would be no cross in that worship center. Why? Because the cross could be offensive. (A HUGE CROSS ON THE PLATFORM)
Have you noticed this cross this morning? Actually, how can you not notice? It's simply up here on the platform and is considered 'in the way!' It's in the way of the band, the worship leader, the choir, you can see the baptistery, and you have to look around it to see the screens! Every time you turn your eye up here, all you can see is the CROSS! What is that about?
In fact, I suggest and submit some in here have already wanted to get this cross ''OUT OF THE WAY.'' And you ...
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