Sentence Sermonettes

In a hospital gift shop in Mobile, AL, I saw a “coffee table” book that contained a photo collection dedicated to phrases posted on church signs. Ever since that day, I have regretted not buying the book and I can’t find it anywhere. Examples of some of those “sentence sermonettes” are:

The Light of the World gives a world of light.

America suffers from truth decay.

If God seems far away, who moved?

To belittle is to be little.

There are no fire escapes in Hell.

If you are a child of God, call home.

Statements like these are written to achieve various purposes. Some are to shock. Others are to inspire or to amuse.

A local church placed this question on their placard this week:

Has Jesus risen in you?

I’ve pondered that question a lot in the last few days. Jesus told that religious guy named Nicodemus that he had to be “born again.” He was referring to a spiritual transformation. Since God demonstrated His resurrection power in raising Jesus from the dead, he can raise us from our spiritual graves to new life.

John, one of the “Sons of Thunder” that Jesus changed, was inspired to write:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9, NKJV).

God is faithful. God is just. God is forgiving. God is a life changer.

Just as John, a man who must have had an explosive tempter, was changed into a disciple that God would use to write incredible passages encouraging believers to love one another, he can change anyone.

Has Jesus risen in You?