Is It I
The sermon, based on Matthew 26, focuses on the importance of taking God’s Word personally rather than assuming it is meant for someone else. The pastor begins by recounting the story of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave. Despite Jesus’ direct words about betrayal, Judas failed to take them seriously, symbolizing how people can hear God’s message but fail to apply it to themselves.
The pastor challenges the congregation to reflect on how often they hear sermons or read scripture, thinking the message is for others rather than for themselves. He emphasizes that this mindset leads to spiritual stagnation and missed opportunities to grow. Using examples from the Bible, such as Adam and Eve, King David, Jonah, and the Pharisees, he illustrates how individuals often ignore or deflect God’s instructions, making excuses for why the message doesn’t apply to them.
The sermon stresses the importance of personal accountability in faith. Christians should not just hear God’s Word but act on it, applying it to their own lives. The pastor uses the analogy of parenting to convey this point, explaining how parents want their children to take responsibility, just as God desires His followers to respond promptly and obediently to His commands.
The message concludes with a reminder that everyone will one day stand before God and give an account of how they lived their lives. The pastor encourages the congregation to examine themselves and take responsibility for their spiritual growth, urging them to act on God’s Word rather than making excuses or passing the responsibility to others. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deeper personal commitment to living out God’s teachings, not merely hearing them.