Sermon Connoisseurs

I fear there are a lot of sermon connoisseurs running around today. You’ve probably heard them on occasion. They like to compare preachers: "Well, I like this preacher. He’s good in this area, but he’s weak in this other area. Now this other guy. . . ."

But this isn’t the Battle of the Bands; this is the Word of God. We need to take what God says and then apply it to our lives. If we do, we’ll be able to withstand the temptations and the tests of life. And if we don’t, then we’ll collapse like a house of cards.

Jesus said, "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock" (Matthew 7:24–25).

We can attend Bible studies all week long, but they won’t do us any good if we don’t apply what we’ve learned. The Bible tells us that we are not just to be hearers of the Word, but doers. And if we are hearers only, then we are like people who look at themselves in the mirror and then forget what they look like (see James 1:22–24).

What you choose to do with God’s Word is up to you. Either you are going to apply it, or you are not going to apply it. Either you will decide to fill your mind with junk, or you will decide to guard your mind and fill it with the Word of God and make right decisions for right living.

Pray that God will give you the power to live the life He has called you to live.