Talk about a fire and...
Illustration
Object:
Talk about a fire and brimstone sermon! Most will turn people off, but this one hit home. The folks Peter was addressing took it to heart. The sudden change is interesting. Thousands followed Jesus in his ministry. He healed many and fed 5,000 at one time, and yet when Jesus was on trial there were many who turned against him -- even right after that Palm Sunday march only a few days before. Were these the same ones who condemned him or was this a different group? Remember that the Pharisees had him captured in secret in the garden so the crowd would not overcome them. So were these the people who Jesus was addressing? Were some of them Pharisee recruits hired for the day? Were these ones who had been followers but who now joined the mob?
A reporter was following a rioting crowd one time and he was asking some of the rioters what they were upset about. He found several who looked surprised and answered, "I don't know what the problem is. I was just following the gang."
How many today are just following the gang, either for good or evil? We know that today journalists can create crowds to follow their challenging reports in newspapers or on TV. They can be tea party revelers, religious extremists, racists, Wall Street marchers, or some who were angry at the result of a trial like the Trayvon Martin death. They can also be marching for good, like a Martin Luther King rally. How many of those who came to his rallies were there because they just wanted to be part of a crowd that looked exciting rather than to see King? Maybe they were for or against something or maybe they were just bored or a friend dragged them along. Some are told that they just have no guts or principles if they don't follow the crowd.
Why are you in church today? Family tradition? Spouse pushed you to come? Feeling guilt if you aren't sure what you believe and you want to be a good example for your children? Of course, there are many here for the right reason: to be in a fellowship of believers and to learn more about our Lord and how we can please him. We don't want to be a part of the corrupt generation.
If we confess our failures and believe in our Lord, then we don't have to worry.
A reporter was following a rioting crowd one time and he was asking some of the rioters what they were upset about. He found several who looked surprised and answered, "I don't know what the problem is. I was just following the gang."
How many today are just following the gang, either for good or evil? We know that today journalists can create crowds to follow their challenging reports in newspapers or on TV. They can be tea party revelers, religious extremists, racists, Wall Street marchers, or some who were angry at the result of a trial like the Trayvon Martin death. They can also be marching for good, like a Martin Luther King rally. How many of those who came to his rallies were there because they just wanted to be part of a crowd that looked exciting rather than to see King? Maybe they were for or against something or maybe they were just bored or a friend dragged them along. Some are told that they just have no guts or principles if they don't follow the crowd.
Why are you in church today? Family tradition? Spouse pushed you to come? Feeling guilt if you aren't sure what you believe and you want to be a good example for your children? Of course, there are many here for the right reason: to be in a fellowship of believers and to learn more about our Lord and how we can please him. We don't want to be a part of the corrupt generation.
If we confess our failures and believe in our Lord, then we don't have to worry.
