Upside-down, Inside-out sermons

I was leading the music at a youth weekend for several churches. The host youth leader was the main speaker for the weekend. His message Saturday evening was about Jesus being led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil . We were to have a joint worship service Sunday morning.

There was a visiting preacher there. He was an old friend of the former pastor who had already been invited before the former pastor had left. We had the youth sing several songs and lead the service up to the message. The preacher stood and introduced himself and his scripture, Matthew chapter 4.

He says that the devil did not actually tempt Jesus and that it was God Himself who blinded Jesus' eyes to make Himself look like the devil, so Jesus would think He was really being tempted.

The host youth pastor about had a cow. He actually turned around and began to shake His head no and openly whisper that the preacher was wrong. The church's new pastor stood up and stopped the preacher. The preacher said he was just trying to make a point. The new pastor said that, that was one point he was not going to make. He apologized and took over the service.

 

On TV or Radio there have been many. In person I would have to say that it would have to be...

Heb 3:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

The preacher proclaimed that since God did not know what it was like to be a human being that He needed to become a human being so that He could understand what it was like. Also, that if Jesus had not suffered and been tempted then He would not have been able to help those of us who have likewise suffered and been tempted. He also stated that Jesus was sitting at the right hand of the Father ONLY. In one small sermon this preacher managed to say that Jesus was neither omniscient, omnipotent, nor omnipresent.

 

In Mark 2, where the friends of the man let him down through the roof to see Jesus. Jesus forgave him his sins, and healed him and he got up and walked. Verse 12 "And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion." The preacher said that the people were all amazed because of what the FRIENDS did. All the WORK they did getting him through the roof. That the people had never seen people so DETERMINED and do so much WORK. He even used this as the highlight of his sermon on doing works.

 

Jesus would not have had the opportunity to heal this man were it not for his friends doing all that work. I wonder if WE have friends like that today?

 

Yes, Iamblessed, the friends did a lot of work for their friend. I would've been watching them and thinking how dedicated they were, and how much faith they had also, if I'd been there. But, when Jesus forgave the man his sins, and healed him, that is what I'd been amazed at.

 

There used to be a ministry here in our neck of the woods whose primary text for every message was Matthew 5:48. It was a charismatic ministry, and they preached that mankind could reach a state of sinless perfection here on earth. This ministry went bankrupt and lost their building, but moved to Charlotte and is now preaching there.

 

I have a number of them swirling around in my head, but here are just a couple:

One preacher explained that in the verse "as the hart panting after the water brooks, so my soul longeth for thee, O God," the "water brooks" were female deer. It was later revealed that the preacher was having an affair.

Another pastor based his whole sermon on the notion that Jesus was from the tribe of Levi. My Father, in his Southern drawl, said afterwards, most politely, "You know, brother Jimmy, I buhleeeve Jesus was from the tribe of Judah."

 

His point should have been well taken, the church could use some more Christians with that kind of zeal. It is definitely in context with James 2. I do believe your point was that he should have said the WORK of the Lord is the main point in the passage, rightfully so. I have heard a couple of messages on "works" from that passage as well. I have one on that phrase, "We have never seen it on this fashion before!" I take my text from Mark 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

My message centered on the Ministry of Christ. A sub point was about gossip and how it could bring others to Christ simply by the "fame" it gave Him, but usually the damage that it does instead. That would key in on the "works" of the tongue and the intended purpose of that instrument. James 3 is to be consulted concerning that.

It should be "noised" about that the Lord is meeting with us at the House of God, and not all the "problems" with the people of God!


The most "inside-outside-upside-down preaching" I've ever heard was by a man that "hyper-dispensationalized" the Apostle Paul as our example over Christ. Our pastor quickly put a stop to that. Now that should never be allowed,. the man tried to start his own church, but to certain failure I will say. It's really too bad he was "beguiled" into that, he had preached for 16 years prior. Just goes to show how messed up some one can get if they don't stick with the "stuff".

In Christ,

Brother Ricky

[ April 27, 2003, 08:39 PM: Message edited by: Istherenotacause ]