Become the Sermon

Then there’s my father in the ministry. After 16 years, I have learned so much from Bro. Gordon that I couldn’t even begin to write it all down. I have watched him show love to people who were mistreating him. I’ve seen him handle difficult situations with amazing wisdom. I don’t think, however, that I have ever been more influenced by him than I was just a few months ago.

Many of you missed the message, perhaps, because you were in WSO or MAPS. Brother Gordon preached and even though his voice may not be as strong as it used to be, or he may not be able so speak as quickly as he once could, the message was powerful. He spoke of how the Holy Spirit had been sustaining him since Ms. Hilda’s death. He said, and I’ll never forget this, “People ask me if I’m depressed. He said I haven’t been depressed one time. God has sustained me.” Some might have looked at that and said, “Well, I remember when Bro. Gordon could preach a whole lot stronger than that.” Well, I’ll just tell you that when he was finished two people came forward and one of them received Christ. And I’ll also tell you that the power of God was all over him.

I was talking to Tim Lamm after that message and I told him this: Gordon has always been able to preach a sermon; Gordon, by God’s grace, has lived the sermon. But now, at this point of his life, God has allowed him to become the sermon. When he stands up to preach, he doesn’t even have to say anything. He has so much influence in this congregation that whether he ever preaches another sermon, his life has become the sermon.

Fathers, that’s how you lead your families. You don’t force them to do things your way. You don’t avoid confronting them so that they will like you. You lead them. You clarify their choices and you set the example. You preach the sermon, you live the sermon and you become the sermon.