• Get On With It, You Old Goat

  Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009 (message contributor)

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  Scripture:  James 1:22-24

  Tags:  Action

"GET ON WITH IT, YOU OLD GOAT."

I heard the story about a college choir which was all set to present a concert in a large church which was to be carried live by a local radio station. When everything appeared to be ready, the announcer made his final introduction and waited for the choir director to begin. A tenor was not yet ready, however, so the director refused to raise his baton. All this time, nothing but silence was being broadcast. Growing very nervous, the announcer, forgetting that his microphone was still on and that he could be heard in the church and on the air, said in exasperation, "Get on with it, you old goat!"

Later in the week, the radio station got a letter from one of its listeners -- a man who had tuned in to listen to the music from the comfort of his easy chair. When he heard "Get on with it, you old goat!" he took the message personally. He had been doing nothing to further God’s work, and this startling message was enough to convict him and get him going again.

Sometimes we need a wake-up call, don’t we? Maybe you’ve received that call this morning and God is saying to you, "Get on with it, you old goat...or young goat." It is time to act.

(From a sermon by Stephen Sheane, "Love Your Neighbor" 2/10/2009)