Dr. Warren returns to 1st Community Church to preach after 40 years of teaching.
He shares a message about God's provision and Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac.
Dr. Warren receives feedback from a young pastor, Jay, who encourages him to focus on preaching the good news rather than teaching theology.
Dr. Warren is challenged to re-examine his approach to preaching and to let God lead him.
You ready for church? Oh yeah, sure. I'm ready if you are. Well, Jazz, you have to stay here. You can't go into sanctuary. It's bad they don't let dogs in. There's been a question on my mind. Okay. And it's this. Why did you ask him to come and preach for you? I mean, you said that he was kind of mean and, you know, the two of you just didn't see him too much. Look, I've learned to have a lot more respect for Dr. Warren this time around since this last time we talked. But basically the reason was this. Dr. Warren's leaving the college after 40 years. Right. And he wants to be an evangelist now. And he asked me as a favor. He said, hey, will you let me come and preach to your people and see how I do? And I said, I mean, what was I going to say? Don't come. I mean, you know. So it will be interesting. Let's just put it that way. Right. It was just something that was on my mind, and I just thought I'd ask, you know, Why did you do this? Did you enjoy his messages while he was preaching for you while I was gone? Um, he wasn't bad. He was pretty good. I mean, you know, but I know that there was that between the two of you, and I just, you know, didn't know why you had asked him to come back, you know. Hey, I understand. It's not a problem for me. Okay. Well, we'll be all right. Jasmine, you'll be okay. We'll see you in about an hour, okay? you be good girl alright let's go let's go have church we gotta get moving Thank you. First off, I want to thank Pastor Jay for allowing me to come and speak with you today. Now, this morning, I want to talk to you about God's provision. God's provision for His people. Now, we've got to understand where we are at this situation in the Word. because you have to understand that Abraham had been waiting a long time for his promised son. And God had finally come through with that promise And he had given His son He had given him His son Isaac Now, Abraham has been told by God that it was time that he must sacrifice Isaac to himself. He wanted Abraham to sacrifice the son of Ramesh to himself as a burnt offering. Now we have to understand the gravity of this situation. See, Abraham was promised Isaac. Yet here in this situation we see that Abraham is told by God that it is time for him to deliver Isaac back to God as a burnt sacrifice. He would have to literally kill his son and burn him on an altar of sacrifice to God. now this was a very very tough situation for Abraham as you can guess Abraham was not ready to give up his son yet in this situation we see the very interesting thing play out seeing Abraham told by God to give his son as a sacrifice is then he could tell his wife, but when we read the scripture, he doesn't do that. We understand the situation. He doesn't do that. He doesn't tell Sarah. He doesn't tell anyone. He and Isaac go up to the mountainside, and they get to a point. They tell the servants to stay there. They're going to go up onto the mountain and they will sacrifice. And then Abraham says something very interesting. Abraham says, me and the boy will go and sacrifice and we will return. Now, why did Abraham say we will return? It is because Abraham believed in God. And now that's what we need to do as Christian people. we must learn to believe in God and trust in God no matter what. Otherwise, we will not see the blessing. We will not see the provision. What has happened here in this situation is very simple. If you read the scripture, you will find this out, that here Abraham is told by God to sacrifice. He does so, or is willing to do so. And what happens? God provides a ram in the thicket for Abraham's sacrifice Now what is the reasoning here? It is the whole reasoning of God saying this to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac was to see if Abraham was willing Are you willing to sacrifice all you have to God to see a blessing This is the point, and we must realize the gravity of this situation. The situation is grave, and yet here Abraham steps forward, and he goes forward, and he does what he has to do. now and then God does his part because when we do our part God will do his part as we know let's have a word of prayer as you know I'm heading out this week so I want to know son what was your opinion of my message today Um, well sir, it was fine. It was fine. It was fine. Son, you spoke up on me before. I want you to speak up again. I want the truth. I want your honest opinion of my message today. Give it to me. I can take it. It was bad, sir. Well, I asked for the honest opinion. I guess you get what you asked for. Bad's probably the wrong word. Sir, what you did this morning was You were teaching a Bible study class in seminary That's what you were doing I've been doing this for 40 years, son I don't know much else And I realize that, sir But for an evangelist and a preacher and all, you're talking to people that are like farmers and grocery store workers and cashiers and different things. You're talking about everyday people. You're preaching to them. You're not preaching to people that have been going to college for four and six and ten years. you're talking to everyday people and what they want is they want the word on their level so that they can understand it and trying to do theology and philosophy and all these things about the Bible it's you lose them basically is what I'm saying sir I think basically what I'm saying is, sir, you need to just let go and let God lead you. Stop trying to teach a Bible study course and just preach the good news. That's what people want to hear, is the good news that Jesus saves and that he loves them. So basically what you saying son is you I trying to talk too highfalutin That what you trying to say Yes sir Yes sir You know what, son? I think you're right. I've been doing this for over 40 years, teaching you young ones about the Bible. And you know what? I think you're right. I've gotten away from what preaching really is preaching is not about fancy words and about telling about a Bible story and trying to bring theology it's about trying to bring people to Jesus I think you're right huh you know what son I'm going to pray about that I'm going to pray that God will put the fire of God down in my soul when I get behind God's holy, sacred desk that I will preach the fire of God once again and not try to teach because, as you said, the people don't need to hear a teacher. They need to hear a preacher, somebody expound on the Word in the way they can understand it. Who would ever thought after all these years of me teaching you and pushing you, son, that there would come a point where you would actually teach me something. Well, it's my pleasure, sir. But I think if you do that, I think with God you'll be a mighty success, sir. Thank you, Pastor Jay. I really appreciate it. And maybe you will allow me to come back sometime and and preach for your people again will do sir we'll have you back definitely and I promise next time I'll do a little better sometimes life is a little heavy sometimes life is a little hard to bear feel like I'm all alone oh but I know one who really cares. So one day at a time, no matter what's in my way, I'm not giving up for it no matter what others say. With the Lord at my side, I'm never alone. I'm destined to win. So step by step, I'll take it. One day at a time. one day at a time one day at a time one day at a time one day at a time
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