Made Anybody Uncomfortable Lately?
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: God's word is not always popular and can make us feel uncomfortable. Are we sharing God's uncomfortable word with others?
God sent out all of the great prophets and religious leaders of our Bible with messages that irritated those in power, and at the least, made them uncomfortable. Amos, Moses, Jesus, Paul, and a host of others were disliked and unpopular. Jeremiah was a classic example (20:1-10). Pashhur, one of the Temple priests, had Jeremiah beaten and chained (vv. 1, 2) for saying things God asked him to say. It made those in authority upset with Jeremiah, and the entire population (v. 7) even down to his close friends (v. 10) ridiculed and whispered against him. Yet if he didn't speak up, withholding it was like having a fire inside him (v. 9). He didn't want to, but had to speak for God.
a. Some people make us feel uncomfortable. I mean for righteous reasons. What they say or what they stand for makes us feel ashamed by contrast. Remember how Paul said we could heap coals of fire of shame on their heads if we do God's will. The question is to determine if we are one of those making others uneasy, or are we one of the uncomfortable ones? Examples of what we need to be protesting when we speak for the right would include:
1. When someone confesses he steals little things at the workplace, we don't let it pass quietly.
2. We do not listen to gossip, but try to stop it.
3. We let others know we don't tolerate racial or ethnic jokes.
4. When someone mentions he drives too fast, we find a way to show how we feel.
5. If a clerk gives us too much change, we return it.
The list is endless and we have opportunities every day to make a witness.
b. We don't want to be one of them. It makes us uncomfortable to make others uncomfortable. Why?
1. We don't want to lose friends.
2. We also know that we too are sinners.
3. We are not always sure of the right way to speak up. It must be done with humility. Jesus could be condemning of actions and attitudes and yet he ate with sinners. It cannot be done in a condescending, self-righteous way. Should the pastor speak out to correct behavior?
We need to ask ourselves, "Have we made anyone uncomfortable lately?"
God sent out all of the great prophets and religious leaders of our Bible with messages that irritated those in power, and at the least, made them uncomfortable. Amos, Moses, Jesus, Paul, and a host of others were disliked and unpopular. Jeremiah was a classic example (20:1-10). Pashhur, one of the Temple priests, had Jeremiah beaten and chained (vv. 1, 2) for saying things God asked him to say. It made those in authority upset with Jeremiah, and the entire population (v. 7) even down to his close friends (v. 10) ridiculed and whispered against him. Yet if he didn't speak up, withholding it was like having a fire inside him (v. 9). He didn't want to, but had to speak for God.
a. Some people make us feel uncomfortable. I mean for righteous reasons. What they say or what they stand for makes us feel ashamed by contrast. Remember how Paul said we could heap coals of fire of shame on their heads if we do God's will. The question is to determine if we are one of those making others uneasy, or are we one of the uncomfortable ones? Examples of what we need to be protesting when we speak for the right would include:
1. When someone confesses he steals little things at the workplace, we don't let it pass quietly.
2. We do not listen to gossip, but try to stop it.
3. We let others know we don't tolerate racial or ethnic jokes.
4. When someone mentions he drives too fast, we find a way to show how we feel.
5. If a clerk gives us too much change, we return it.
The list is endless and we have opportunities every day to make a witness.
b. We don't want to be one of them. It makes us uncomfortable to make others uncomfortable. Why?
1. We don't want to lose friends.
2. We also know that we too are sinners.
3. We are not always sure of the right way to speak up. It must be done with humility. Jesus could be condemning of actions and attitudes and yet he ate with sinners. It cannot be done in a condescending, self-righteous way. Should the pastor speak out to correct behavior?
We need to ask ourselves, "Have we made anyone uncomfortable lately?"
