Today's Devotional

 

March 19, 2008

                                                                                         

Subject:  How Do You Preach Christ?

1 Corinthians 1:22-23 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock and unto the Greeks foolishness;"

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Without regard to the latest news concerning some controversial words from a Chicago pulpit, we really do have people saying all kinds of things in their ministries today.  When I was stationed in Japan, I went to see a man who was having a "revival" and he was supposedly able to raise people from the dead.  Of course I didn't see that take place and then there was the man I saw one time in Georgia who could tell you all about your past without even knowing you.  These were the central messages that these preachers preached. 

Over the years I've come to respect simple preaching.  I noticed at some point that people like Billy Graham had such a simple message and it is the same one that Paul talked about preaching; Christ crucified.  

As we approach Easter Sunday, many people will begin talking about the significance of the cross, but many preachers spend their days trying to give a sign or showing their great wisdom.  They preach a Christ who can make your life more comfortable and convenient.  They are preaching a different Christ than the one in the passage above.

The Christ we preach was crucified; not crucified by people like me, crucified by me.  Every time I acknowledge my sinfulness, I then know why He had to die the way that He did.  That is the message to the world that must be preached.  Every one of us crucified Christ.  To preach His crucifixion on that old rugged cross is to preach the reason for His crucifixion on that cross and that was because of our sin and His great love.  

Today, as you live your life as a believer, you are indeed preaching a message of Christ.  Which Christ do you preach?   

Carlen