So, last Sunday we restarted our series from the Gospel of Matthew and picked up in Matthew chapter 8.
First I thought about doing one sermon on all three miracles found in verses 1-17.
Then I decided I would at least split it up into two and do one sermon on verses 1-4 and then one sermon on the rest.
So I started working on the sermon and as I went I knew that I had too much material, but I had no idea how to break it up and never really thought much about it because I was a bit under the gun for time.
So I ended up with ten pages of handwritten notes when I went up into the pulpit.
I looked down at the notes at the beginning and then after about 30 minutes I looked down again only to find that I was only about 2/3rds of the way through the FIRST page. I think I actually laughed out loud.
I informed the congregation that we were going to have to split this up because I was still on page 1 of 10 and we’d be here until the evening prayer meeting if I kept up at this pace.
I didn’t know how I was going to end, but I figured God would give me the words if I started talking, so I did, and so did he.
It wrapped up nicely with a good application, and then we sang a couple of songs at the end, and dismissed right on time.
In hindsight, somehow as I was talking the Lord helped me to split the sermon into two distinct ideas without overlapping them too much at all. The division I couldn’t see before hand forced itself upon me as I was preaching.
Now I have most of next week’s sermon done already.
But here’s the real kicker. And I didn’t think of this until I had to start wrapping up the sermon during the service last Sunday…
I’ve been asked to speak at another church’s youth retreat this next Sunday and I was trying to figure out how I would find the time to prepare two sermons this week.
Jesus, you’re so sneaky. I love you. Thanks a lot.
What a loving Savior we serve.
If you haven’t been blown away by a passage of Scripture lately, take a look at Matthew 8:1-4. And then go back and read Matthew 1-7, and read it really close. And then look at the next number of miracles that Jesus does in 8-9. Then figure out how they’re all connected. And then give Romans a Galatians a read as it talks about the Law.
Jesus is amazing. God is brilliant. We’re so lucky that he is our God.
Lord, we come to you for the cleansing and the healing that we so desperately need. Rebuke the influence of sin and Satan over our lives. Show us how unclean we are and how willing you are to receive us and cleanse us. Help us to submit to your will in regard to the details of how you choose to overcome the power of sin in our lives; whether that’s immediately, gradually, or at your return and the resurrection of the dead.
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
