SERIAL
While really all he is doing is retelling
the story, at the same time he’s
bringing my attention to some things
I haven’t noticed or thought about
before. For example, the fact that the
Jewish elders really needed Jesus to
come through for them to keep the
peace with their Roman rulers, and the
fact that their petition is based on their
assessment that the centurian deserves
to be helped. The preacher says this
how many people approach Jesus, even
today – as though deserving his help.
He now talks a bit about how the
centurian had built a synagogue for
the Jews, and goes off on a slight rant
about taking money from secular
sources and how that ties you down
and constrains the telling of the gospel.
It is a bit left field. I wonder who or
what he is thinking about, because I
can’t think of a situation locally where
this would apply.
LWPT8462 - Preach Magazine - Issue 2 v2.indd 35
He says he was surprised that Jesus
went with the elders, but that he’d
concluded it was because Jesus saw
an opportunity to teach the crowds
who were watching to see what he’d
do. And then a delegation from the
centurian’s house comes to stop him.
The centurian expresses the condition
of every person who comes to faith in
Christ: ‘I don’t deserve anything. I am
nothing.’ It strikes me that the preacher
is being brave in what he’s saying. It
isn’t a popular message. He goes on
to emphasise that faith is not about
good works, nationality, education or
heritage, but it is giving total authority
to the sovereign God.
This seems like a good place to stop,
but he’s not showing any signs
of approaching a conclusion. We
are around 20 minutes in and my
concentration starts to drift. I know
sermons used to be a lot longer, and
35
I LOVE IT WHEN THE PASTOR
PREACHES. I KNOW THAT I AM
GOING TO BE GIVEN REALLY
SOLID, BIBLICAL TEACHING
AND THAT IT WILL CHALLENGE
ME. HE’S NOT PARTICULARLY
ENERGETIC OR ENTERTAINING
IN HIS STYLE, BUT HE BRINGS
THE BIBLE TO LIFE AND HE
ISN’T BORING.
in some places still are, but for me
shorter ones work because I stay
tuned in and I’m more likely to
remember the key points. The sermon
lasts a further ten minutes, but if I’m
honest, most of it passes me by.
09/01/2015 14:36:12