When was the last time a sermon disturbed you? I mean, really disturbed you? Cartoonist Lee Johnson once depicted this scene after a worship service: “Powerful sermon, Preacher. Thoughtful, well researched. I can always see myself in them. And I want you to knock it off” (Leadership magazine, Vol.10, No.3). John Gipson in a church bulletin article recalled a well-known preacher who heard a sermon marked by eloquence and soothing charm. Later in his journal he wrote, “Lord, preserve me from eloquence…let my words have a jagged edge.” Brother Gipson went on to write, “Some sermons today are missing a ‘jagged edge.’ These preachers never have to cry out, as did the apostle Paul, ‘Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?’ “Sermons preached by inspired preachers in the book of ACTS often had a jagged edge. Not ragged; not aimless or vague; not mean, harsh, or hateful. But jagged in the sense they were direct and unafraid of exposing falsehood and calling for people to change their lives and come to Christ. Their sermons “pricked” (Acts 2:37) and penetrated the hearts of hearers, comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.”
So, again – when was the last time a sermon disturbed you? The apostle Paul preached disturbing sermons. As the old adage goes, what he preached left people either mad, sad, or glad, but it never left them alone or the same. If you don’t believe that, take time to read of Paul’s ministry in the ancient Asian city of Ephesus in Acts chapter 19. That huge, cosmopolitan city was a major center of trade, commerce, immorality, superstition, and false religion – an ancient version of New York City or Los Angeles or Nashville, etc., with all the good and bad that goes with them. Paul’s preaching and ministry there was so powerful and effective that “all Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus. . .fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified…. the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:10, 17, 20). But there is a fly in the ointment, for in verse 23 we read, “there arose a great commotion about the Way.” The King James Version says, “there arose no small stir about that way,” and the NIV renders it, “there arose a great disturbance about the Way.” The account relates how Paul’s preaching disturbed some who profited from superstition and false religion. Before the chapter ends Paul had to leave town or risk being killed by a confused, angry, unruly mob stirred up by those who were disturbed by what Paul was preaching. Acts 20:1 refers to the whole sad thing as an “uproar.” How about it? Has a sermon ever caused a “riot” or “uproar,” at least in your heart? Preaching what the Bible preaches will still disturb some people. The Bible addresses such controversial topics as money, sexual behavior (and misbehavior, including heterosexual adultery and homosexuality), divorce, drunkenness, greed, gossip, prejudice, etc., etc., etc. Preaching that emphasizes “one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God” (Ephesians 4:4-6) disturbs those who insist there are many (or none) of each of these. The offense of Christ’s cross has not ceased, and must not cease. Sermons that proclaim “the Way” that is God’s Way will always disturb a world that insists on having its own way. God give us more preachers and sermons that disturb us.
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By: Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN