Hindsight

I really enjoy listening to other speakers deliver the message on Sunday morning.  Here are four specific reasons why I enjoyed Dr. John Jackson’s message this past Sunday!

#1.  He started with real life!  I think the most impactful communicators begin with a need that is universal.  We all have a sense of disconnection from God.  He’s out there and everywhere and we’re right here, right now.  Loneliness is an issue that is wound around disconnection from God and people.  I need to get connected.  I understand and experience that every day.

#2.  He discussed life transformation not baby step improvement.  I don’t need to be a slightly better person, I need to be a completely different person.  I don’t need $2.00 worth of God, I need an invasion of my whole soul by God.  Sometimes preaching sounds like moralistic nagging rather than transformational challenge.  Dr. Jackson specifically asked me to let the peace of Christ RULE, and the word of Christ to DWELL in my heart.

#3.  He stayed faithful to Scripture.  I don’t really care what Oprah and Dr. Phil have to say about how to fix my problems.  I want to know what God’s eternal word says.  I want eternal truth explained in a contemporary context so I can be faithful to God now.  I don’t need to know how the Bible applies to 1952, I need to know how to use it in 2012.  But I also want to know how that 32A.D. scriptural principle Jesus was driving at applies to me as it did to Matthew, Andrew and Peter because people are people.

#4.  He mentioned that God specifically called him to ministry when he was 15 years old.  I think effective communicators have a high sense of speaking for God.  That’s a very intimidating thing but very needed if we’re going to take His scriptures and communicate them before His people and talk about how He wants us to change attitudes and actions.

Watch Dr. John Jackson on the GateWay video sermon web site if you weren’t able to be here this past Sunday.