Preaching

 Someone is shouting:

“Clear a path in the desert!
    Make a straight road
    for the Lord our God.

Isaiah 40.3 CEV)

These verses of course refer to the ministry of John the Baptist.  But they can also apply to us each week as we step into the pulpit.  Just as John the  Baptist was to point others to Jesus, so we should be pointing others to Jesus when we step into the pulpit.  It is not a matter of us showing how smart, spiritual or special we are.  it should be all about making a straight path to discover Jesus.

Here are a few questions I think we should spend some time thinking about.

When you preach who is your audience?

Who are you trying to lead others to discover?

Are you interested in your audience discovering what you know or whom you know?

Shatter the Snake!

 He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made, for the Israelites burned incense to it up to that time.

 2 Kings 18:4 (HCSB) 

As a pastor or leader ask yourself this question.  Is there a snake that has slithered into my church?  I know a lot of jokes come to mind as you read that question.  Now don't jump to any quick conclusions about what it may be.

In 2 Kings we find an interesting scenario.  We could read right past it and not blink if we are not paying attention.  Hezekiah begins to make some serious spiritual reforms for Judah.  He gets rid of the idolatry.  He destroys the High place and the False religions that have crept in and set up shop with God's people.  But there is one interesting thing he destroyed.  The bronze snake built by Moses and used by God to bring healing to a bitten people. (Numbers 21.4-9)

The bronze snake began with a godly purpose.  Instituted by God and used by his leader Moses.  But after a while it's purpose was no longer needed and it took on a new purpose, an ungodly purpose.  It became an idol, a stumbling block to the spiritual life of God's people.  We have some snakes in the church today.  They are traditions and programs, that in its day were useful and led many to grow and thrive spiritually.  Now they have become an idol that is dragging us down.  Most Churches have one of these serpents, that we see no fruit from and merely distract us from other methods that could be useful in fulfilling our mission.  They are difficult to get rid of but it just might be necessary for you to be a Hezekiah and tear it down.