I was checking out the Roland Martin blog and ran across notes from this sermon that made me sit back and think! The sermon touches on a lot of good points that I think can help everybody make improvements in those area's we need work on. Last time I checked Jesus was the only perfect person, so I'm sure this will help those that need it!
Rev. James Meeks, founder and senior pastor
Acts 2:37-41
Sermon title: “Help Us, Preacher”
- of all the things people shout at the pastor when he’s preaching, Meeks says he likes “Help us, preacher.”
- In this first sermon preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost, he helped people.1. Preaching that helps you makes you ask questions.
- Preaching ought to reach your heart.
- You should not be afraid to ask questions as the Word is being preached.
- You can ask questions without questioning God.
- He says he often asks, why do the wicked prosper?
- Some of the stuff we are going through is a result of some sinful things we have done.
- Yet Jobe teaches us that all suffering is not a result of sin.
- Have you ever asked, what is favor?
- Another question: Why do bad things happen to good people? And whoever told you that you were good people?
- Another question: Will there be a seating chart in heaven?
- Another question: Will we recognize each other in heaven?
- When a preacher is preaching, he asks: Am I doing enough in my church?2. Preaching that helps you will change your behavior.
- You don’t hear preachers today focus on repentance.
- Preaching cannot help if you are mean when you come to church and when you leave.
- You cannot come into church in adultery and leave still in adultery. That means you’ve heard no preaching that didn’t help you.
- If you’re single, you can’t come in a fornicator and leave a fornicator!
- For some reason we don’t want to hear preaching that pricks our heart.
- Liars should not be comfortable in church and leave lying.
- You shouldn’t come in worrying and go out worrying.
Read Luke 19:8.
- When you come into conrtact with Jesus and His Word, it is supposed to change you.
- The worst thing is to come week after week and never change.
- if you come to church and your behavior never changes, find you another church. You should see some changes in your walk.
- Preaching that helps you informs you or something that you have.3. God provides us all the tools needed to change.
- Anything that heaven requires of us to change, heaven supplies us with all that need.
- We have the power inside of us to live a holy life and to do right. Jesus has already given us the power to live a sanctified life.
