Preaching to the Converted

As I have done myself of numerous occasions along with multitudes of preachers in a church context, I delivered sermons that were just telling people what they know already, telling them how it was. Yes this often involved clarifying points of scripture and encouraging people in their faith, but the messages whilst not falling on deaf ears was generally just going over somewhat familiar ground but in a new way. What we might call 'Preaching to the Converted'. However, in some cases a preacher will actually challenge the converted, assaulting the listeners ears and their faith, and getting them to ask themselves where they actually stand with God. Today I had the pleasure of one such sermon preached by a dear friend of mine at a local Baptist Church. Speaking on Ezekiel 37 - the Valley of the Dry Bones - the preacher challenged us to reflect on our own situation, our own faith, our own Christianity by asking if we were in fact Dry Bones; did we come to church faithfully every Sunday for years but never actually had the spirit of God breathed into us? Did we serve God faithfully without actually knowing Him intimately? He cited John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement and originally an Anglican Minister, who was challenged by a Moravian pastor if he had the Spirit of God within him and further, if he knew Jesus Christ. Wesley struggled to respond with 'vain words'. It wasn't until much later whilst he was reading Luther's preface to Romans that he felt the Spirit of God within him, finding his heart "strangely warmed." At which point he knew he was saved and his sins forgiven. The challenge that myself and the congregation received today was less direct and delivered with a greater frame of reference, but was no less exacting, I trust it made all of us pause for thought and introspection. Indeed my daughter continued to probe me about the message on the 20 minute drive back home. 

To me, aside from a sermon to the unconverted yet interested listener, this is the most powerful form, one that challenges even the most ardent follower of Christ and one that lingers long enough in ones memory that it is discussed long after if it is delivered, or causes a blogger like me to reflect and comment on it here!