Welcome to Pastor Jack Buckley's weekly blog and podcast.
You have three ways to hear his weekly message:
- Read Pastor Jack's GODblog.
- Listen now to an audio of the scripture reading and Pastor Jack's sermon.
- Listen anytime. You choose the time and place. Download Pastor Jack's GODcast to your MP3 player.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Practicing What We Preach
Matthew 23:1-12
Mr. and Mrs. Smith were also known as Dr. Smith and Dr. Smith. One of them was an M.D. serving on the staff of a university hospital; the other, who had earned a D. Min., was pastor of a local church. One evening, one of them answered the phone to hear, "Hello, may I speak with Dr. Smith?" To which she replied, "Do you want the one who preaches, or the one who practices?" [Cue the rim shot]
God help us, every one of us had better be practicing what we preach!
But that isn't always the case, is it? The Gospel lesson I based this sermon on contains a classic example of the problem.
Jesus is challenged (Again? Yes, again!) by religious leaders who have absolutely no time for his version of messianic ministry. They don't just disagree with his teachings and lifestyle; they're also distraught that their own disciples are turning away to follow him.
Now Jesus returns the favor, challenging their style of spiritual leadership.
They're all too willing, he says, to pile on their disciples a heavy load of rules and regulations guaranteed to grind the human spirit to a fine powder. It's one thing to bow before God in humble adoration, quite another to be bowed down by unbearable spiritual burdens.
These teachers knew full well that their requirements couldn't possibly be fulfilled. Proof? They never even began to put in practice all the things they preached.
Instead, they majored in appearances. They paraded their piety for public applause. They made grand entrances at public events. In short, they ever so modestly accepted special treatment at every turn.
Not so with Jesus. He never asked of his disciples anything he wouldn't do himself, and be first in line to do it.
Preparing to preach on this profound indictment of spiritual fakery, I had to ask myself, "How often, in how many ways, are we ministers in today's church tempted to do the same thing?"
Ouch.
Listen to the GODcast!
posted by Jack Buckley at
6:15 PM
<< Home
|
|
 |
|
|
