A Powerful Sermon

… my message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power…

1 Corinthians 2:4

Listening to a sermon is essential for the soul that longs for and needs God. Yet so often we hear a message that leaves us indifferent, one from which nothing remains with us. Certainly, there are times when our minds are elsewhere, and not even “the choirs of angels and fire from heaven” can capture our attention, so deeply are we buried under anxieties and worries. At other times, despite our desire and need for a word that nourishes our hope, we are left deeply disappointed. The apostle’s words are a clear guide for those called to proclaim the Gospel, so that human wisdom may never take precedence over the work of the Spirit—which is necessary to reveal the power of God (v. 5). Oratory skills and the latest communication techniques alone are not enough to share a message that leaves a lasting impression. I learned this early on, and over time I have come to recognize that what makes the difference is the work of the Spirit—whom we cannot simply invoke if we then fail to allow Him to act by listening to Him with reverence. I am aware that it will be difficult for others to admit this. Nevertheless, I have not shied away from pursuing an academic path, and I cultivate, among my other qualities, the habit of constantly questioning myself.

When we open the Bible and look for only what we want to see, it loses its power to transform; we silence it with our own thoughts and convictions. It happens that instead of drawing a good seed from it, we manufacture ammunition to fire or stones to hurl, which will have no positive impact on our spiritual health. Conversely, when the Spirit re-animates the Word and the speaker’s heart humbly listens to Him, the message encourages and edifies. Those responsible for proclaiming the Word must approach the Scriptures without haste or external influences, but rely on the Spirit to seek exclusively that “gentle and quiet voice.” One of the temptations of Christianity today is to chase after pleasing the crowd by offering a message that is agreeable, leaving a sense of joy and evoking empathy toward the speaker. Without the burning fire capable of penetrating to the very roots of our being, preaching is reduced to mere entertainment. The Word preached with the fire of the Spirit transcends all forms of confusion and/or sensationalism; it is concerned with the wretched condition of the sinner, is fueled by God’s compassion, and aims to heal wounds, restore, and bring people into the family of the saints without seeking to win them over personally.

At other times, we run the risk of falling into the temptation to provoke emotions or reactions that are not the fruit of the Spirit’s work. It is already all too sad to witness those who, time and again, call for changes and supposed “revivals” or boast of biblical revelations—which usually come from overseas and spread through some book or video.

We do not want to be reckless, but rather to follow the example of the Bereans’ attitude toward Paul’s preaching (Acts 17:11): they “tested” what was proclaimed against Scripture to see if it was true. Both speaker and listener share the responsibility of maintaining a constant relationship with God (Romans 8:1–17) and with Scripture (Psalm 1:1–3). We must work on ourselves, striving so that each day we may diminish and He may grow, for those who truly love are willing to give up without making any demands. It will be the fruits of our labor that give value to our service, even if those who benefit do not express it. However, I would like to remind listeners not to overlook the humanity of the person standing before them: support those who lovingly serve you with prayer, and if possible, express your encouragement to them from time to time. Personally, I still have much to learn, and I am here to share what little knowledge I have.

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Weekly Bible Reading Plan #28

July 6, Job 32–33; Acts 14

July 7, Job 34–35; Acts 15:1–21

July 8, Job 36–37; Acts 15:22–41

July 9, Job 38–40; Acts 16:1–21

July 10, Job 41–42; Acts 16:22–40

July 11, Psalms 1–3; Acts 17:1–15