Excerpt from article:

Appealing to the Flesh
by Michael Wells

Flesh-stirring sermons are the easiest in the world to preach ...

"How can you be a Christian with these problems? You must change."


However, there is another approach. Focus on and talk about Jesus, highlight the revelation that we can't but He can, and remind the people that the commands of Christ are exactly His description of how He lived. Then move to a passage concerning the Christ who lives in us. End with a plea to rest, knowing that He understands our struggles, that there is nothing we have done to make Him reject us, and that He lived in a body and won the battle in blood. Explain the Way and what is not the Way. See if the hearts cannot be stirred toward Jesus, rather than guilt being stirred that makes people run from Jesus and the only possibility of such living.


Entire article:

http://www.abidinglife.com/site/library/articles/appealing-to-the-flesh.shtml

Remember that according to the parable of the sower and seed, three-fourths of your work is a complete waste of time... for they will not be acting like Jesus, but allowing exactly Jesus to emanate from them


I liked that section of the article. Our sermon today was about how we must not sit back and DO nothing but we also must not strive in our flesh to do it ALONE. It is a joint venture of God's power working IN us. On the outside to some it might appear as if we are doing all the work but the Christian walking closely with His God knows that the power comes not from himself. It is that close communion...

Thanks Madre. It added to my musing after our sermon today. Good stuff! :-D