“Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. ~ Luke 24:26, 27 (KJV)
READING: Luke 24:13-35
I wonder what synagogue sermons are like. I bet they are filled with wisdom, truth, and principles. I bet lives are improved, relationships are healed, and money is managed better. And I bet synagogue sermons are even about God, filled with Scriptural verses and insightful theology.
We would do well to preach synagogue quality sermons.
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus interrupted two of his disciples and showed them how the whole of Scripture was about him. I bet they had never heard any sermon about Jesus in any synagogue.
Our call as Christian preachers is to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, to understand our Bible in such a way that every single verse is about Jesus, and not just about life. Life can and should be improved, but what humanity needs is more than help; we need salvation. And there is no salvation for us under heaven but in Jesus. Everything has been a prelude to Jesus and everything now is still about Jesus. He alone saves.
Truths, principles, rules, laws and wisdom are good things. And the primary role these play is to point us to Jesus who came not to destroy these but to fulfill them. And somehow, in him is life, life abundant.
In our consumer-driven, controlling world, it is tempting to preach things other than Jesus and to put power in human hands.
What are you planting: a church or a synagogue?
Jesus, Our alpha and omega, first and last, Take your seat, in my life, and in your church. Amen.
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