It is a week before the celebration of Christmas and all the attention is on the God-Man Jesus—the promised Messiah born to the virgin Mary. Christmas is the story of Jesus taking on humanity so that He could conquer death and sin through His death in our place! The Christmas story puts the spotlight on the birth of the hero of human history: Jesus!
Recently I came across an interview with a well-known preacher of our day, and in this interview he shared several questions he asks himself before preaching. The last question he would ask of his sermon is this: “How is Jesus the hero? The Bible is one story in which Jesus is the hero Therefore, to properly teach/preach the Bible we have to continually lift Him up as the hero.”
That question resonates with me, and it has helped me as I structure my sermons to make sure the hero of the sermon is Jesus! When we present salvation, Jesus is the hero. When we preach on spiritual maturity, Jesus is the hero. When we look at the Old Testament sacrificial system, Jesus is the hero. When we study the book of Revelation, Jesus is the hero. JESUS IS THE HERO!
I will be the first to admit that many times at the conclusion of my study of a passage, I don’t always ask myself, “How is Jesus the hero of this text?” I have found, however, when I do ask that question I tend to preach with greater freshness and passion on the person and work of my Lord and Savior Jesus. Let me leave you with a few verses from Scripture that might help you and me keep the spotlight on the hero of the Story, Jesus!
“For it was fitting for Him, for who are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering” (Hebrews 2:10).
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1).
“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself” (Hebrews 12:2).
“Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him . . .” (Philippians 2:9).
“And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:17, 18).
“. . . Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13).
“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
Is Jesus the hero of your message?
I think it’s good to ask this question.
Many times, I’ve heard preachers use their own personal stories to drive home a point. They were able to change their life because blah, blah, blah.
All to often they did not recognize it was the grace of God or Christ that changed them.
Good post, Dave. This has been our theme for the month of December! It’s always about Him in everything (Col. 1:13-23). Kinda creepy, though, that we used the same term…http://www.honoringhim.com/messages/12-06-09am.mp3…
Great thought . . . Great challenge . . . Great theme!
Is Jesus the Hero of our preaching? Of our living? Of our ministry? Of all we do?
Thanks for the encouragement (from an older guy)!
Jamie, that is interesting that we used the same terminology, I trust your series went well!