"Preaching That Packs A Punch!" Series

"Preaching That Packs A Punch!"

Text: 1st Corinthians 1:17-18

Introduction-

Let me begin by saying that what I am advocating

in this sermon is not what I heard called by the

term "masochistic preaching", which my seminary

professor defined as "enjoying inflicting pain or

humiliation" on one’s congregation. Far from it!

What I am promoting in this message is preaching

under the power of the Holy Spirit that produces

conviction, and ultimately brings salvation to

those who respond in faith! In the book of Acts

Peter preached at Pentecost, and the people fell

under God’s convicting power. Now, he made them

feel bad and guilty, for they were, but he did it

with the intention of helping them find salvation.

They were "pricked in their heart"(Acts 2:37).

That is the kind of preaching that is absent from

many pulpits today. But, without conviction of

sin, there can be no true salvation experiences.

We might work on people’s emotions, and get them

to respond, and join the church, but until they

see themselves as sinners in need of the forgiveness

of God, and cry out to him in repentance, they are

no better off. They may leave church amused, or

uplifted by good entertainment, but they leave lost.

We must have preaching that "packs a punch" to win

people to Jesus.

To the Apostle Paul, the "punch" in preaching comes

from helping men see Christ crucified, their only

hope of redemption from sin. Paul even said that

preachers, and we might add S.S. teachers, deacons,

missionaries, and others who proclaim the Gospel

can "make the cross of none effect." That’s a

frightening thought, isn’t it! How could we be

guilty of such a terrible sin?

The preaching of the cross is the power of God.

We preach Christ crucified, resurrected, and coming

again! That is the message that changes lives.

The cross is the most powerful force in this world.

It was there that the greatest battle of all time

occurred. The forces of good and evil collided,

and guess what! God won! He dealt Satan a fatal

wound by allowing His Son to die for the sins of

the world. It is at the cross that God’s great

and amazing love is revealed. It is at the cross

that-

-men find God, themselves, and their fellow

man

-that mountains shook, and the sky turned

pitch black, and the thunder rolled

-that the perfect lamb of God became our

substitute, and died in our place

-lives are transformed, and hope is given

We don’t ever want to be guilty of diminishing the

effectivess of the cross. Let’s notice some ways

that people can take the "punch" out of preaching,

and make the cross of none effect.

I. BY FAILING TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR

PERSONAL SAVIOUR

Christ died to save sinners, so when a person

rejects Christ, the cross is meaningless, at

least as far as he or she is concerned.

II. BY TEACHING THAT THERE IS SOME OTHER WAY TO

GOD BESIDES JESUS

He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He

is the Only Way. No one can come to God, but

by Him.

illustration-use the words to "The Way of

the Cross Leads Home" -Hymn

III. BY FAILING TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY FOR CHRIST’S

GLORY

Jesus died to redeem us, and to claim us

as His holy, separated people. We are to

come out from the world, and be different

and separate from the evil things of this

age. If we do not live for Christ, we make

the cross of none effect in our life.

IV. BY SEEKING TO IMPRESS PEOPLE, GAIN A FOLLOWING

FOR OURSELVES, DRAWING ATTENTION TO OURSELVES,

AND CHANGING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE SO THAT IT DOES

NOT OFFEND ANYONE.

We are called to lead people to faith in Christ.

We are not called to magnify ourselves. Too

many preachers lust for the big churches, and

great notarity. It’s all about Jesus. Let’s

point people to Him, and then we won’t be guilty

of making the cross of none effect.

V. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THERE

IS POWER IN THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS. AMAZING

LIFE-CHANGING POWER!

If we are faithful to God, He will use us to

help many people respond to the Gospel, and

enter the Kingdom of God. That should be reward

enough, to know that we have been so privilaged

to be entrusted with the Gospel by our loving

Lord.