The Plan
Saturday nights before I preach on a Sunday AM, I look over my sermon, do some last minute edits and will preach it out loud to see how it sounds.
(Words sound very differently when they are spoke versus lying dormant on the page).
Then I pray.
I pray for me and the congregation.
In any congregation there will be specific men and women for whom the sermon will penetrate deep.
I pray for those people especially.
Tomorrow I preach on Esther - the beautiful woman chosen by a king to be a wife, and then chosen by another King to save the Jewish nation.
The sermon reminds me of the providential care of God for His creation and his absolute sovereign rule over all.
It is a sermon of comfort - because no matter what a train wreck our lives look like, there is Someone in control, guiding and directing towards His ultimate purpose.
Nothing is wasted in His economy.
Esther's story doesn't start out so great.
For some reason, she thinks its ok to enter a competition to win the affections of a pagan king.
She spends the night with a man with whom she is not married.
She marries a man who cares nothing for Yahweh.
Her life does not start out well.
Yet, despite her bad choices, God turns it all around and saves the Jewish nation through her courage.
No matter what your circumstances:
God is in control.
God is in control.
God is in control.
Amen.
(Words sound very differently when they are spoke versus lying dormant on the page).
Then I pray.
I pray for me and the congregation.
In any congregation there will be specific men and women for whom the sermon will penetrate deep.
I pray for those people especially.
Tomorrow I preach on Esther - the beautiful woman chosen by a king to be a wife, and then chosen by another King to save the Jewish nation.
The sermon reminds me of the providential care of God for His creation and his absolute sovereign rule over all.
It is a sermon of comfort - because no matter what a train wreck our lives look like, there is Someone in control, guiding and directing towards His ultimate purpose.
Nothing is wasted in His economy.
Esther's story doesn't start out so great.
For some reason, she thinks its ok to enter a competition to win the affections of a pagan king.
She spends the night with a man with whom she is not married.
She marries a man who cares nothing for Yahweh.
Her life does not start out well.
Yet, despite her bad choices, God turns it all around and saves the Jewish nation through her courage.
No matter what your circumstances:
God is in control.
God is in control.
God is in control.
Amen.
Comments