Sermon Central
Someone asked me the question one time about preaching in church as a pastor—whether it was a good idea to use church services to "promote a cause," as they put it. I think it’s a question worth exploring.
My first thought is that preaching is not just about signing people up to wear a wristband in support of a good cause. The Gospel is much wider than that. Jesus died and rose again, and in doing so He created a way for us to be forgiven of our sins, live an abundant life, and spend eternity with Him. Supporting a cause that helps people can be a part of that, but certainly isn’t the whole picture.
My next thought is, What greater cause is there than the cause Jesus gave us to serve others, give them hope and let them know the love and grace He has for them? That IS why we are here, isn’t it? I believe we should be preaching messages that give people the motivation to devote their lives to the cause of Christ.
It is so important to keep this in focus! Our preaching is about reaching the lost with the message of hope that Jesus offers. It is for the lost to hear and believe, and it is for believers to hear and be challenged to do all they can to help others who are lost find hope in Jesus. Luke 15 tells us in the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son that what matters most is that which is lost. The cause of Christ is to seek and to save that which is lost.
Looking back over the last couple years at Healing Place Church, it’s pretty accurate to say that in every message we preach, there is a part of it that reminds us to serve others. I guess that’s how I see the Gospel itself. Jesus modeled serving (Phil. 2:5-7). When He left Heaven to come here, He did it to serve us. He started a cause - the cause to rescue people from their sins and redeem us to the Father. And throughout His life, we see Him serving people in order to advance that cause.
John 13 tells us that Jesus showed his disciples "the full extent of His love" when He washed their feet. Foot-washing was reserved for the lowest of servants - the job nobody wanted to do. But Jesus took the towel and basin and showed His love for his disciples by serving them. Serving others is simply the Gospel in action.
So, back to the question of whether or not it is right to promote a cause from the pulpit—to use it as a soapbox: YES! If the cause is the cause of the Gospel, it is exactly what we should be preaching.
Another question I hear sometimes is how much preachers should speak about politics in their messages (if at all). I believe we as the Church should be very involved in our local communities. We must not just engage the culture, but we need to work hard at thinking forward, to go where our communities go. What concerns the people in our cities must concern us, so that we can work to resolve the ills of those we love. Sometimes this means engaging policy—to be a voice for the voiceless, whether they are abused children, those without healthcare, orphans, unwed mothers or those caught in human trafficking. We cannot be silent when it comes to responding to these needs.
Should we stand before our churches and promote specific causes like Mission of Mercy or Children’s Cup working with AIDS orphans in hard places in Africa? Or to encourage people to participate in a 5K run with Tigers against Trafficking to help raise awareness about human trafficking, or to join in a outreach to clean up an inner-city middle school? Absolutely. We should be deeply involved in the world we serve.
Sometimes I’m asked how we get people to serve at Healing Place Church. Do we make them feel so guilty that they finally give in and do something begrudgingly? Do we push them down if they hesitate, making them feel weak if they aren’t sure yet? Goodness, no. We simply celebrate the joys of serving. We let them see that when they serve others it is a win for everyone.
And here’s a key truth for you: When people begin to serve others, their faith is made stronger. When I invest my time, money, gifts, and effort to help someone else in need, my needs begin to look smaller. And Matthew 25 makes it very clear that when we serve others—the "least of these"—we are actually serving Jesus.
I love Thomas Davis’ book, Red Letters, because he does a great job of bringing out this truth. If you want a good reason to get involved in serving others, just try it. Visit a kid in the cancer ward at the children’s hospital and make him smile; sit down to a bowl of beans and rice with a hungry kid in Africa; hug a snotty-faced little street kid. When you do these things, you are making Jesus smile. You’re eating with Jesus and hugging Jesus himself. You’re never closer to Jesus than when you’re serving, loving and engaging the poor and hurting.
And here’s something I’ve seen that really amazes me about how God works. Many times when I have preached a message in church that has been focused particularly on encouraging people to reach out and get involved in serving others, there has been an overwhelming response to the altar call—not just to respond to the message, but also to invite Jesus into their lives. People cross the line of faith after a message encouraging people to serve. Isn't it interesting how the Holy Spirit speaks to people!
So if my purpose in preaching is to help people find life in Jesus, then if I can encourage them to get involved in something that is going to give them the opportunity to encounter Jesus in an up-close and personal way, that’s what I’m going to do.
