5 Reasons Why this was the Best Sermon Series I've Heard this Year

1. The abundance of Scripture

There was Scripture read, referenced, even recited. The cool part: unapologetically.

(Explanation: My church is sensitive to those who might be new to church or uncomfortable with church. Sometimes, this has taken the form of almost apologizing when a lot of Scripture is used in a sermon. Our pastor will prepare us in advance, like a teacher might if they're giving an involved lecture, and they're worried they might lose some of the students to boredom. It's funny, because when he says that, it's usually a signal for me that I'm going to really like the sermon. For this sermon, there was never that pre-emptive apology, and I was glad! Besides the fact that this pastor is a really gifted and engaging communicator who casts a wide net when he preaches anyway, it's compelling simply because it's the Word of God, given fully and in context.))

2. The back-story given

The first week, the text was Isaiah 6 (which starts, "in the year that King Uzziah died"). We were given Uzziah's history, so we interpreted the passage in light of that life. (Uzziah started well, finished poorly)

The second week, we were given theories on when Paul may have had that vision/revelation he refers to in 2 Corinthians 12. It was in Acts, when he got stoned by the crowd in Lystra.

Sometimes the thing that really hits you is something hidden in these back stories, so I love when sermons include them. Plus, I learn something new.


3. The overall definition of Worship

We were encouraged to 'Focus on the magnificence of God' -- I needed to hear this. I need to hear it again and again. Magnify God. Focus off of self, on Him.

He added to this, too -- he ended with the part in Romans that talks about offering our whole self as a spiritual act of worship. But the initial definition was good for me, because I've been so far off.


4. Communion.

We don't take communion often, because of the size of our church (I think.) But today, the church was as full as ever, and maybe it was a logistical challenge, but it really didn't seem that way. They added a worship song, and you made communion an extension of worship. They let you take it at your own pace, so you could prepare privately, and take when you were ready.

5. The preeminence of Jesus, the exclusivity of Jesus was proclaimed with clarity and strength.

It was a really powerful moment. He spoke verses from Romans, and ended with the verse in Hebrews that talks about Jesus being the radiance of God's glory, and the exact representation of His being.
It was one of those times when I feel like cheering as if I'm at a game, and we just scored.

You can listen here