For many
years I served as a pastor in a local church. Though I tried to have variety in
my sermon texts, I often found myself preaching from familiar passages either
because they seemed to speak to critical needs in the lives of those I served
or because it was a special day like Easter or Christmas. Though no one ever
complained, it was sometimes challenging to bring fresh insight to passages
everyone knew so well. From time to time I would wonder if the congregation got
tired of hearing from those particular scriptures each year.
This morning in my devotions I read Philippians 3:1 where the Apostle Paul said, "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you." Paul said it was not a problem for him to remind those he served of the same truths again and again. In fact, he said it was safer for the hearers if he did that.
It is safer for us to hear beloved passages again and again because at any given time our hearts may not be ready to receive all that is in a passage of scripture. But when we read, hear or discuss it at a later time, our hearts might be more ready to heed and obey its truth. Therefore, it is a blessing to hear those passages explained multiple times in our lives.
So this Sunday, if our pastor is preaching on a passage we already know, instead of tuning him out, listen with ears ready to gain nuggets of truth that we might have missed the last time through.
This morning in my devotions I read Philippians 3:1 where the Apostle Paul said, "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you." Paul said it was not a problem for him to remind those he served of the same truths again and again. In fact, he said it was safer for the hearers if he did that.
It is safer for us to hear beloved passages again and again because at any given time our hearts may not be ready to receive all that is in a passage of scripture. But when we read, hear or discuss it at a later time, our hearts might be more ready to heed and obey its truth. Therefore, it is a blessing to hear those passages explained multiple times in our lives.
So this Sunday, if our pastor is preaching on a passage we already know, instead of tuning him out, listen with ears ready to gain nuggets of truth that we might have missed the last time through.
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Dr. Terry W. Dorsett has served as a pastor, church planter, author and denominational leader in New England since 1993. He is the proud father of three adult children, a cancer survivor and the author of 8 books. You can find all of his books at http://www.amazon.com/Dr.-Terry-W.-Dorsett/e/B00405U4NY
Very good scripture and thoughts.
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