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November 12
In this month of November, I am sharing a different kind of sermon. The last several months I have been sharing sermons that are different in delivery. Last month was a first person sermon, "The Street Sweeper" and it was suggested the pastor dress in costume. The month before was, September, was a sermon on the Psalm 23 where I shared the exegesis from the pulpit. This month the sermon at the beginning is seen through the eyes of Peter as Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane. I would not dress up, but have the congregation imagine that you are Peter. Then you will proceed into the sermon and preach it as you would normally. The sermon continues: Let me illustrate: The tragedy left the man homeless, widowed and fatherless. Fire had swept through the trailer, and all was lost. It took some time for the full weigh of the loss to descent, and when it did, he was nearly crushed. Like Job in the O.T. he would not be comforted...When the gift of shock was lifted, anger, resentment filled every waking thought. God had not been fair to him. God had not protected his family. He had not come to him with a special visitation to explain the "why" and the "what next". He was in a wilderness as rugged as the Sinai.....The greatest temptation was to add to his losses by forfeiting his faith. He felt justified. No one would fault him. Some might even support him. He prayed angrily now, daring God to hurt him further, and challenging him to give any reason to hold on to the thin thread of his faith that was left. He prayed angrily, but he prayed, and God could handle it....The anguish continued to mount until one afternoon he uttered a cry so forcefully, it could only be described as a scream. No word was spoken, just a loud angry scream against the forces of heave and hell, as if to say,"I've hurt all I can, and I've paid my dues for love.... Help me.".... The silence that followed was quieter than silence. A peace was evident for the first time in months. Scripture might have said, "Angels came and ministered unto him. "Satan had been overthrown, and health was coming back, for he believed, at last, that God was caring for those he lost. That God was caring for Him. that God could handle his honest anger, his honest emotions, that God can handle all our pent up emotions, feelings, denials running away from the hurts and pain of life. God can handle it. We must let Him, for when we do, then, we will Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Peter in the Garden--A different first person sermon in Homiletics/Preaching is owned by Tim Zingale. Permission to republish Peter in the Garden--A different first person sermon in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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