Sermon Illustrations

SUBURBAN OUTREACH

Calvin Miller teaches in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Beeson Divinity School. He recently wrote a provocative article entitled, "Rethinking Suburban Evangelism," on the challenge taking the gospel to people who sense no need: "Suburbia: the push-button Zion of those who have made it and therefore have it made. There, amid the water sprinkling systems and lava rock landscapes, rises the new Eden with little need for God: Paradise Found, where churches ulcerate themselves trying to sell self-denial to the pampered."

Reading Calvin Miller reminded me of what Jesus says in Revelation 3.17-18: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see."

Do we know that we are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked, until God, born as a baby in Bethlehem, comes and saves our lives?

(From a sermon by Glenn Durham, Jesus Saves, 6/4/2010)

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