Your Favorite Sermon
I don’t remember anything else that happened that day. And honestly, I can’t even recall the week, month, or year. I’m not for certain which Bible verses he used or what song we sang before or after but I’ll always remember my favorite sermon. The preacher (I won’t mention his name due to the fact that he would much rather have people remember the message and not who delivered it) wore a nice suit.
He stood at the front of the packed auditorium and spoke about hypocrisy. He mentioned how often we strive to look like we’re following Christ but sometimes our hearts are far from him. I was going through a difficult time in my life and knew that I needed to get right with God. The message hit home and I got back on the path I needed to be on.
When the speaker concluded his sermon, he took off that nice suit coat and underneath was a ripped, torn, and filthy dress shirt. It didn’t take long for those of us sitting in the pews to realize and soon everyone began to chuckle. But the point was made and will stick with me always.
If you’re like me, then you’ve probably heard thousands of sermons. Some at lectureships, workshops, Gospel meetings, or your weekly church gathering so I’m asking, what sermon has made an impact in your life and why?
What’s your favorite sermon?
barry, 
J. Randal Matheny 7:13 am on March 8, 2011 Permalink |
I expected to see that new book link on your gravatar …
paulaharington 7:16 am on March 8, 2011 Permalink |
I’m waiting for your review :)
J. Randal Matheny 8:43 am on March 8, 2011 Permalink |
Working on it.
Scott McCown 8:26 am on March 8, 2011 Permalink |
For me it was when a preacher, who I do not remember his name, simply began by saying the sermon was not original with him, he had only memorized it. He would allow the words of the sermon to speak for themselves. He proceeded be quoting Matthew 5-7 (the Sermon on the Mount), softly closing by inviting the hearers to follow the Master Teacher and sat down. I was a teenager and had never heard the Sermon on the Mount in one setting. That left an impression of Jesus not the speaker.
Royce 8:32 am on March 8, 2011 Permalink |
One of my all time favorites was “Who Is the Truth? Defending Jesus Christ as The Way, The Truth and The Life” preached by Ravi Zacharias to the Mormons in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. He pulled no punches and made the case forcefully that Jesus alone is the only way of salvation.
Chad Dollahite 10:07 am on March 8, 2011 Permalink |
You ask a hard question, Paula! There are a few that stick out in my mind, and I simply cannot narrow them down further…
In chapel at MSOP, a sermon by Eric Owens on “The Salvation of the Lord” (Exo. 14). I was so enthralled with the sermon itself that I didn’t take a single note (much to my dismay when I wanted to preach that sermon later!). Imagine my delight when I saw the exact outline reproduced a few months later in a church bulletin!
Somewhere around 5 years or so back, a sermon by Reid Perry in the Chattanooga, TN area. He laid a towel across the pulpit and proceeded to preach from John 13 about “The Servant’s Towel.” He often would pick up that towel and reference it as a metaphor for service. Those object lessons stick!
A CD audio sermon by Eddie Brinkley, of Wharton, TX. I saw this CD in the foyer of a Chattanooga congregation when I was there filling in for the local preacher. I’d never heard of the preacher before, so I decided to pick it up and check it out. Wow! The sermon, “Running from a Lion & Met by a Bear,” was one of the best I’ve ever heard on how so many run from the “lion” of worldliness, only to be met by the “bear” of denominationalism (and, thus, are no better off than before). The sermon was preached in a gospel meeting, and was more than an hour in length, but I found myself wishing at the end that it would continue on and on! Bro. Brinkley trained at the feet of the late Marshall Keeble, and it is obvious that bro. Keeble trained him well. I had the esteemed privilege of sitting down with bro. Brinkley for a lengthy interview, an experience that I will always treasure (excerpts can be seen here – http://tinyurl.com/5r5u2tz).
These are the big 3 that stick out in my mind, though I could certainly name more (Guy N. Woods’ sermon on Matthew 6:33 also comes to mind). Thanks for the trip down memory lane, sister Paula!
Joey Sparks 12:09 pm on March 8, 2011 Permalink |
As a teen, Bro. Winkler preached at our home congregation about worship. I vividly remember him emphasizing the nature of true worship. Yet he also made strong points of emphasis that changing (gasp!) things like the order of worship are beneficial. He was specific that songbooks may detract during the invitation song. He suggested just announcing “Just As I Am” and singing it without books. I was leading singing that morning, and had chosen/announced a different invitation song. I was extremely close to changing it and just start singing “Just As I Am” instead. :)
In college, we were assigned to listen to Bro. Highers’ “Five Minutes After Death” from Rich Man/Lazarus. I would clearly label it the “most memorable” of all the sermons I’ve heard.
barry 7:57 am on March 9, 2011 Permalink |
I was visiting an older minister & his wife one afternoon when they received a phone call. It was an automated community alert message about a runaway girl from the next county who might be in their neighborhood. I remember instantly thinking, “they should lock their doors! Oh no! I didn’t lock my car! What an inconvenience. If she comes knocking at their house we have to call that number & report it…” A variety of thoughts went thru my head about how the tranquility of our afternnon had been interrupted by a kid who’d made dumb choices in life. In the few seconds all these thoughts were passing thru my mind my host, the minister of 50+ years, had grabbed his car keys & on the way out the door was saying ” I’ll be back. Gonna drive around the neighborhood. I hope she is OK.” A while later he returned. He had driven several neighborhood streets, stopped everyone who was outside to tell them to watch for this poor little girl who likely needs help & protection, even knocked on a few doors to spread the alert to help this girl. As I listened to him humbly talk with compassion & concern, I felt worse and worse and worse about my sorry little selfish attitude. After my pity-party, I was thankful to my Lord & his minister-servant for walking that sermon in front of me.