“Okay Braden, do you want to pray so we can eat?” (Shakes head) “God is great. God is good. And we let Him thank us for this food. Amen.” (Or something like that) 😛 Who hasn’t learned that as one of the first prayers we learn “by heart?” I was thinking about Braden’s (my four-year old grandson) prayer when I read the following story:
Pastor John Piper in his book The Supremacy of Preaching tells about the time when he decided to test whether the lofty subject of God’s greatness would in and of itself meet the needs of the people. On one particular Sunday he unfolded the vision of God’s holiness from Isaiah 6:1-4 without giving one word of application! To us guys who stand before people and preach, that appears to be a no-no. He tells about how he didn’t know a young family in the church had just recently found out their child was being sexually abused by a close relative. As you can imagine it was quite traumatic. Everything we pastors are taught was violated that morning by Pastor John. Preach a sermon with no overt application? You have got to be kidding me! Some weeks later that young father took him aside and told him the story. He said, “John, these have been the hardest months of our lives. Do you know what has gotten us through? The vision of the greatness of God’s holiness that you gave me the first week in January. It has been the rock we could stand on.” (Story condensed and put in my own words. Words in italics are my editorial comments) 😛
That story makes me tremble at two things. The first is obvious: preaching without making an application goes against every fiber of my preaching-being. The second should be more obvious: I tremble at the greatness and holiness of God. Even as I write that I am aware of those who like to put things so lofty into some formula. For example, I get nauseous when I hear/read someone saying, “Repeat after me. God is good (God is good) all the time (all the time). All the time (all the time) God is good (God is good).” Then he/she wants you to keep repeating it in a yoga-like mantra, as though that is going to change one blasted thing! I truly feel sick even writing that…that someone can put a mind-blowing concept of God (He is good) into a mere formula so syrupy and sappy. Sort of like the “God is great” prayer. Braden is learning how to pray and I am pleased that he wants to. But I am going to get a little concerned if he turns 10 or 12 or 20 and is still praying that same prayer (only now with the correct order of words).
Simply put: God’s greatness cannot should not cannot (take your pick) be put into a mere formula. What do you think? How has God’s greatness impacted your life? I would love to hear your story.
You are exactly right. His greatness cannot be summed up in a kid’s prayer. And that prayer does spill over into the lives of adults. It gives people some mundane impression of Him. Very good post Bill.
Thanks Michael. Maybe we ought to say “down with the mundane.” 😛
Yes, down with the mundane.
There is something freeing to me as a Pastor in the thought that regardless if I have a great application or not – God will be real to people and He will apply Himself to their lives.
To the question on hand: I have had those in my life who were still praying that prayer when they were 20 and missing out on the true Greatness of God. I have missed out on the greatness of God and I still do at times. Sad but true.
Good Post!
Jim: My feelings exactly about the application. He knows far more than i do. On the latter: sad. thanks for coming by.
How has God’s greatness impacted your life? That is such a powerful question, so powerful in fact, that I’m not sure of where to begin to answer. In the three most difficult moments of my married life (the two children my wife and I lost due to miscarriage and my wife’s heart attack over a year ago) I have seen His sovereign hand at work. I haven’t understood those difficult times but I have felt His presence fill those moments with His power and greatness.I really lack the words to describe when that happens but we serve an wonderfully powerful and mighty God.
Jay: I reckon the question can be somewhat unfair if I expect a short one or two word answer. 🙂 Thanks so much for your testimony. Words do fail.
HE sure has impacted my life! Mainly as He helped me get through my childrens addictions, then when he allowed me to see their recoveries!!!!!!!!!!!! I am grateful every day. But I also thank Him for a beautiful day, the sunshine warming me, the love of my husband, the home we live in etc., etc……………
Pinky: Good to hear from you again! It is great to see the bad side but then the good side of struggles. Really appreciate your testimony of gratitude in the little things.
Yup, it’s one thing I learned from my Seminary class on preaching.
Exposition
Illustration
Application
still with me now.
and the application being the “so what” of the message.
I got your “so what” today 🙂
Yep learned the same thing Craig (the E-I-A). Glad the “so what” was “so clear.” Thanks for the great comment.
Hi Bill,
I think in some ways making an application of God’s word in a message may put boundaries on what God is saying or teaching someone by his Spirit.
A message can make application to people in many different ways, perhaps not even related ways.
I’m not sure if the application has to occur right at the same time as the message.
I think that we underestimate the power of the Spirit to teach and to bring back memory into the mind of the believer.
Many years ago believers wanted an example of an application. People were somewhat confused about how to do the word of God. We needed to know, what does this mean?
If we are discipling one on one so to speak, I think that more application and explanation can be given then, when answering questions.
We don’t know what is ahead, God does. The church seems to be in a mode right now of trying to redeem and save itself.
More than anything else I think what is at stake for church
organizations is past traditions and control of the people.
The idea of church being something different and looking different than what it has been, or is now, is unthinkable for many church leaders and church structure.
What we do know is that there is unrest, ordinary people trying to start their own ‘church’ (the 20-30 somethings), a lot of discussion and books on what the problems of the church are and how we might fix them, a world who has lost trust in the church, believers who have lost trust in church leadership, and an army of wounded believers and leaders it seems.
It’s not all bad of course but in a general way things have not been going well in the church.
I think about the temple in Jerusalem in Jesus’ time. Eventually there was not ‘one stone left upon another’ of this magnificent church building. This happened shortly after the time when God showed his Son, Jesus, to the world publicly and he was rejected by the church organization. Something to think about and ponder.
Linda: not at all sure I totally agree with your first thought. I try to apply the Word when I preach but always with the idea that God’s Spirit can do whatever He wants and can bring new things to mind. The limitation sometimes comes down to the person in the pew and their willingness to listen and hear. but I am also not dismissing the man in the pulpit either. Point of the blog though was not leaving out the application but the greatness of God. I failed in my application if that is not seen.