Have you ever heard a sermon so good deacons should have passed out Nexium to people on the way out of church? Just in case you don’t watch the network evening news let me explain that Nexium is a remedy for heartburn. Cleopas and his companion spent late Sunday afternoon with the resurrected Jesus. He gave them a Bible study that was so intense and so meaningful they rushed back to the disciples and described it as, “And they said one to another, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”
Sometimes the power of the Holy Spirit sweeps over a congregation and the word is so wonderful we can barely contain ourselves. It’s all so joyful to have a Cleopas experience. I wish everyone could taste the presence of God as they listen to the story of Jesus. I have heard some marvelous presentations on the typology of the sanctuary. I can add to that psychological sermons dressed up with spirituality. But, as good as they are they never make my heart burn as much as hearing about Jesus’ love and sacrifice.
If I could talk to all my preacher friends I would encourage them to hide their doctorates and just present the simplicity of that wonderful song we learned in Kindergarten. “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me.” Now that makes my heart burn. When I see Him reaching out and touching lepers, I am astonished and definitely in need of Nexium.
Written by Roger Bothwell on February 27, 2017
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