I want to offer a word of caution to my fellow pastors about seeking popularity.

As I confessed to my congregation in my sermon last Sunday, I have sought attention and popularity for much of my life. I lie to myself, thinking that if I were more popular, I could have a better impact on the world for Christ.

If I'm honest, though, that is a false virtue I try to wrap around my self-centered quest for personal glory.

Before most of my sermons I pray, "May Christ increase, so I may decrease." I must pray this. It is not a reality of my heart, it is a plea for God to change my heart.

God says: I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another (Isaiah 42:8a HCSB).

A few months ago, I read Michael York's odd, yet satisfying memoir of filming the movie Megiddo: The Omega Code 2. In it, he recounted a quote from John Updike: Celebrity is a mask that eats into the face.

I intended to post John Updike’s quote for a few weeks, and then I came to Luke 11:42-12:3 in my sermon series through the Gospel of Luke. In his famous woes, Jesus condemns the Pharisees' obsession with popularity and attention: Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces (Luke 11:43).

I used Updike’s quote here.

So this post is a caution, but mostly for me: Celebrity is a mask that eats into the face.

I have been slowly working my way through Preaching in Hitler's Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich edited by Dean G. Stroud.

Until this book, I had never heard of Pastor Julius Von Jan. He is not a major figurehead in the resistance against the Nazis. But his voice mattered.

When the Nazis began to their attack against Jews in November 1938, Von Jan spoke out against the Nazis. I have included below, some quotations from his sermon, O Land, Land, Land: Hear the Word of the Lord! Shortly after this sermon was delivered, he was dragged from his home by approximately 500 Nazis, beaten publicly by the Nazi mob, and imprisoned.

He survived the war. He is not household name. As far as I know, the only available English translation of his sermon must be purchased. And yet, his voice mattered. His courage mattered. And I think he still speaks to us today.

Just before the 2017 Academy Awards, Oscar winner John Irving encouraged artists who received an award to use their speeches to talk about their political platform. While I find intermingling entertainment with overt political messages to be frustrating, it isn't morally problematic.

But then he made the following two statements:
1. "the creative community has an obligation: to be intolerant of intolerance."
2. "In our community, tolerance of intolerance is unacceptable."

I understand the sentiment. And if I'm being honest, it is how I want to operate. I want to love the lovely, accept those who accept me, and befriend those who think along the same lines as me.

John Irving doesn't expound on what intolerance of intolerance looks like. Is it merely speaking out against anyone's ideas who don't match with his own values? Maybe. Or is it more along the lines of "hating the hater"? I don't know.

I have no doubt, Mr. Irving's intentions are honorable: defend the defenseless. Don't let those with power bully the weak. Don't allow hatred to win the day!
And again, while Mr. Irving's values likely differ from mine on a number of issues, the sentiment is very appealing to me.

But then the Apostle Paul comes along:
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

Paul, under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, tells me I can't do shady business to beat an even shadier businessman. I can't spread malicious gossip to hurt a person who hurt me by spreading malicious gossip. In the same way, I can't beat intolerance with intolerance.

Worse still, Jesus comes along:
You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:43-44 )

This is a higher form of love than romantic love. A higher form of love than friendship. A higher form of love than a family's love for each other. This is divine love! Unconditional! And sadly, utterly impossible for me or anyone else to actually achieve.

So, I ask for the help of Christ to do within me what I am not able to do myself. No one can love their enemies. No one can seek the good and betterment of people who who have hurt and abused us. It is divine love that accomplishes this. It is the sort of self-sacrificial love we saw in Christ.

I cannot settle for a lower form of love that only loves those who love me. I am trying to follow Jesus. And to follow Jesus, is to do what he did: sacrificially love our enemies.

Pray with me:
Father God,
Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
There are many people I do not like,
If I am being honest, I want their lives to be ruined.
I confess to you this is hatred.
Please forgive me.

Lord, Jesus Christ,
by whom all things were made:
Thank you for loving me when I was your enemy.
Teach me to walk in your ways.
Teach me to love in truth,
and seek the good for those who hate me.

God the Holy Spirit,
Lord and Giver of life,
change me heart.
May I not love merely with words or speech,
but with truth and action.
I ask all this in Jesus' Name.
Amen.

#higherlove

Preaching Idea: "What you do with God determines what he does with you." 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1

Meme: "Fast and Party"
© 2013 Juli Woodgerd


Feel free to pin them, post them and share them as much as you want. Just don’t change, sell or adapt them.

Preaching Idea: "Fast when you need to seek God . . . party when you're in his presence." Mark 2:18-22
(From the sermon Seeking the Presence of God)
© 2013 Nathan James Norman

Meme: "Fast and Party"
© 2013 Juli Woodgerd


Feel free to pin them, post them and share them as much as you want. Just don’t change, sell or adapt them.

From the graphic designer:That little photo is my 'Ginger' kitty who I had to put down a couple years ago as a kitten! She was only six months old but looked like 3 months as the vet told us she had a terminal disease that kept her from growing. We could have 'kept her alive' with drugs for unknown amount of time, which would have been easier on our hearts... but we instead did what was right and put her down so she wouldn't suffer.    ~Juli

Preaching Idea: "You can do what's easy or do what's right. Do what's right." Mark 15:1-20
(From the sermon Please People or Follow God)
© 2013 Nathan James Norman

Meme: "You Can Do What's Easy or Do What's Right"
© 2013 Juli Woodgerd


Feel free to pin them, post them and share them as much as you want. Just don’t change, sell or adapt them.

Preaching Idea: "Embrace the Adventure!" Philippians 2:19-30
(From the sermon The Sort of Leader God Uses)
© 2013 Nathan James Norman

Meme: "Embrace"
© 2013 Juli Woodgerd


Feel free to pin them, post them and share them as much as you want. Just don’t change, sell or adapt them.

I plan on releasing internet memes (graphical billboards) on a somewhat regular basis.

I want to use my "preaching ideas" which are basically the last thing I say at the end of my sermons, and post the memes and files on my blog and make them available for people to download and share.

I try to making these "preaching ideas" artful. And they each represent the culmination of 10-20 hours of work. I think they have the potential on the internet to:
1. Inspire
2. Cause believers and non-believers to reconsider their theology
3. Challenge believers and non-believers
4. Get people to read the text in the Bible for themselves to see what is being talked about.

This may work. It may not. It might be successful, or it could just flop. I think it is worth trying, though, because it could have a meaningful impact on the online community.

If you’re an artist and would like to work on one of these “memes” send me an e-mail and I’ll send you a list of available preaching ideas you can select from.

A dear sister in the Lord, Juli Woodgerd, has illustrated the first of our memes:

Preaching Idea: "Believe it, receive it, worship Jesus and tell others." Mark 15:42-16:8
(From the sermon How Will You Respond to the Resurrection?)

© 2013 Nathan James Norman

Meme: "Recycling for Our Lord"
© 2013 Juli Woodgerd


Feel free to pin them, post them and share them as much as you want. Just don’t change, sell or adapt them.