GET REAL

I read this quote from Spiros Zodhiates in, "A Richer Life for You in Christ," his commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:

Said an archbishop to the manager of an acting group, "Tell me, how is it that you actors hold the attention of your audience so vividly that you cause them to think of things imaginary as if they were real, while we of the church speak of things that are real but our congregations take them as imaginary?"

"The reason is plain," answered the actor.  "We actors speak of things imaginary as if they were real; while too many in the pulpit speak of things real as if they were imaginary."  No wonder much preaching is both uninteresting and worthless. It was said of one famous old preacher, "He showed us the fires of hell, and then he swept our souls up to the gates of heaven."  When you talk about Christ, you have to believe in the transforming power of the Gospel if you expect to convince anyone else of its power to save. (p.17)   

Gentlemen, let us get real in our preaching or get out of the pulpit!