Determine something…

• 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NKJV) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

  

Determine something.  Make up your mind, make your stand and keep beating that drum.

Most people at the church I pastor will tell you that my preaching has changed.  It all started with the decision to preach through the Gospel of John; especially focusing on the reason John wrote his Gospel:

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31)

There is something liberating about knowing why John wrote his Gospel.  Each day when I open up the Gospel of John to prepare for my next sermon I don’t have to worry about figuring out what John is up to-he’s made that clear; he determined something; he narrowed his focus; he simplified things-he’s clear.

As a result, the same thing has happened to me.  I don’t have to get up on Monday and worry or fret about what I am going to preach the next Sunday; I’ve determined something; I’ve made up my mind; I’ve narrowed my focus; I’ve simplified things.

Moreover, my people don’t have to wonder what I’m going to preach about next Sunday.  They may not know the specifics but they know the book (the Gospel of John) and they know the topic (Jesus Christ).

There’s nothing that beats clarity.  Everyone may not like it; there’s times I don’t like it.  I will read something or hear something and say to myself, “Now that would preach!”  But then, like Paul, I remind myself: I have determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.   That determination colors everything I do and it is making all the difference.

What about you?  What have you determined?

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