You Can't Make Me!
Growing up, I remember saying to others "You can't make me!"(not my parents especially my mom. She would have killed me). It's kind of a childish thing to say that, yet we contend with it all of the time.
Constantly we try and "make" others do what we want. What could be said or done to "make" one change their mind about a specific direction? I know this question sounds abstract, but I think it to be a good one.
I struggle with this as a pulpit preacher. How do I get the message in my heart to translate into the lives of others and cause real, lasting, change in their walk with God?
First, I think that "results" are not measured always in visible response. I mean, walking an aisle after a sermon takes guts in one sense, but not in another. It's much easier in a church building to make a decision than it is in the world when confronted with a real live situation. So many times people have said to me, "I had a situation today that one of your sermons blessed me in." That's so encouraging. Thank God that He works through us to help others.
Second, I think more and more that it's not me who decides how a person responds. I simply bring a message from God to the hearts of the people and they are the ones who have to make the choices. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit's work included convincing men of sin. So it's the Spirit who does the work not us.
Maybe there's more you can contribute to this conversation about how to help others make the right decision for their life.
Constantly we try and "make" others do what we want. What could be said or done to "make" one change their mind about a specific direction? I know this question sounds abstract, but I think it to be a good one.
I struggle with this as a pulpit preacher. How do I get the message in my heart to translate into the lives of others and cause real, lasting, change in their walk with God?
First, I think that "results" are not measured always in visible response. I mean, walking an aisle after a sermon takes guts in one sense, but not in another. It's much easier in a church building to make a decision than it is in the world when confronted with a real live situation. So many times people have said to me, "I had a situation today that one of your sermons blessed me in." That's so encouraging. Thank God that He works through us to help others.
Second, I think more and more that it's not me who decides how a person responds. I simply bring a message from God to the hearts of the people and they are the ones who have to make the choices. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit's work included convincing men of sin. So it's the Spirit who does the work not us.
Maybe there's more you can contribute to this conversation about how to help others make the right decision for their life.
posted by Keith Davis at
1:08 AM
2 Comments:
Fortunately, the Word we preach (when we do it right) has within it the power to cut to the heart of the listener. I learned a long time ago that trying to come up with a sermon that would change people is a waste of time. But give them the Word of God and it will transform people.
I've had people tell me years later, "You preached a sermon once ..." and then tell me how it helped them. I am amazed they would even remember a sermon years later! Usually I would not remember it. But it was never my sermon that helped as it was the power of God's word. But that's exciting.
By
Stoogelover, at 6:39 PM
I think Greg hit the nail on the head. As a preacher, teacher, or police officer, you can’t change people who are not open to real change. All we can do is teach, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to intervene in our lives as well as the lives of our members.
By
cwinwc, at 12:06 PM
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