Another from a ‘preaching class’ I participated in back in 2015…

‘Includes Jesus’ words from Matthew 19: 17 and John 14: 15

       I would imagine that most people who visit Branson, MO. these days have at least heard of ‘The Shepherd of the Hills’, and many have probably seen the big productions that were put on each summer evening for many years. These featured a live steam engine, galloping horses, sliding wagons, gun shots, and real fires! But I have to wonder how many realize that it was Harold Bell Wright’s book by that name, published in 1907, that led to the stream of visitors coming to Branson, and it’s eventually becoming the major Tourist destination that it is today!

       And I often wonder, further, how many people realize that Wright had actually been a minister, or that ‘The Shepherd of the Hills’ was not his only, nor even his First book… The first one was actually written to be a Bible study, using one chapter each week. However, after his parishioners encouraged him, ‘That Printer of Udell’s’ was released as a book in 1902, and established Wright as a best-selling author.

A typical ‘scene’ from his books would be a down-on-his-luck fellow coming into town… He goes door-to-door asking for work so that he might feed and take care of himself, but is turned away at every one. Finally, cold, wet, and starving, he sees the stained-glass windows of a church… THERE will be people to help him! He sleeps overnight on the steps, waiting for the morning service to begin… People file in through the doors, but ignore him altogether… Finally, he decides to actually go In and explain his situation… Basically, he is asked to Leave!!! Meanwhile, all of the pastors, preachers, priests, and ministers of the town assemble each Wednesday to discuss how many they had at the service that Sunday, how well their sermons were received, and how much money they took in!

       Reading from a paragraph from Wikipedia, “In most of [Wright’s] novels, beginning with That Printer of Udell’s, he attacked the hypocrisy and impractical nature of popular churches. To Wright, hard work, integrity and concrete efforts to aid people in need were far more important than church doctrines or sermons.”

       These books were all written 100 years-ago-or-more… Yet as I read them today I am often drawn to how they Might have been written Just Last Week! Which Then leads me to ponder on ‘How did we get to this point?!?’

       Let me see if I can answer that question by asking another question… what would you say is arguably the least quoted word from the Bible today… and indeed, for well over the last 100 years? Let me give you a clue by quoting just two instances of it being spoken by Jesus during His time here on earth…

Matt 19:17

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

John 14:15

15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.

In the NIV, the word ‘Obey’ appears 165 times! Yet, when was the last time you heard it, or used it, in a Sermon or article? For Hundreds of years, pastors & preachers have tried to improve their ‘numbers’ by trying to be ‘all-things-to-all-people’… But by ignoring the Truths contained in the ‘Breathed Word of God’, all we have done is weaken and, ultimately, denied it!

There have been a number of popular sayings in our culture through the years that say things like, “The Truth is out there!” and, “The Truth will set you Free!” Both are true! However, I would like to note an even More powerful one… The Truth… and Only the Truth… Will lead you to God!