Imagine that you are a member of the Church at Northhampton where Jonathan Edwards is pastor. Read (or listen) to his sermon "The Excellencies of Christ," found at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/sermons.excellency.html and pretend that our class is the congregation of the church. You are all eating together after Sunday service and are discussing the sermon. What are your impressions, how has your faith been strengthened, and what application can you take into your life?
This is a mandatory blog (2 more to go). Please make two (or more if you would like) entries - the first answering the questions above and the second responding to another of your classmates. You have until Friday, October 5, at midnight to complete this interaction.
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31 comments:
I dont guess I can respond to what anyone else has said because I am the first to write on here... I just think that the way he presetns and shows the way Christ is and the way he speaks is amazing. Reading the sermon really moved me and enlightened me on some things in my personal life. His choice of words were definitely not Humanly inspired.
Brian Novak
The sermon was buetifully written and the way that he portrays Christ was fantastic.
James Coffman
Well there really isn't a whole to comment in response to. James is short and sweet..no complaint there, unlike the sermon which was EXTREMELY LONG!!!Yet I agree with Brian in that the way in which Christ is presented in the sermon is rather inspiring.
in continuation to my previous post in which i forgot to tag my name too...oops, This sermon was rather humbling in that how excellent Christ really is strips any preconceived ideas of pride that i might have. In light of who Christ is i am really not that great.
-Chanelle T.
Wow, I’m speechless this sermon by fare is the best one I have ever read. The power of Christ to be over all, also the power to be under All it impossible for man to even understand how one could be so great. I’m just dumbfounded what does a person have to go though or experience to have such insight about the word of God. To be able to write with such authority and power. Where is the Jonathan of this era? To think I want to preach the word of God. Ha Ha I’m a joke put next to Jonathan.Just one more thing he proble has hundreds of sermons.
Dustin
I agree with Chanelle this is very long to read. First I thought I could find a way to listen to it, but no I had to brake down and just read it. Its complety worth it.
Dustin
I agree with Dustin in that we need more people to stand up and speak because it seems that to many christian are sitting back and letting the world take over and were not doing anything to try and stop them.
James Coffman
First of all...the sermon was too great to put into words. You know that the Holy Spirt was in on that one! I would like to take a different approach in answering this blog. First, I see that Christ is so great that he has all the dominating attributes of the Lion, but also has all the meekness attributes of the Lamb. Wow! How can you measure the love of Christ? My faith has been strengthed just because I never put that kind of emphasis on the names "Lion" and "Lamb" that we call Christ. The application I can take and apply to my life is that Christ can and will be my Lion when He sees reason to be. He can be my protector and devourer of my enemies in the "Lion" sense; but when I need comfort, He can and will just as easily be the cuddly "Lamb" that I can hang tight to. The "Lamb" also signifies the need in my life, such as the wool for clothing, and the need for "cleansing". B/c Christ acts as my mediator. Wow! What a FRIEND we have in Jesus! What a Blessing this sermon was!
He really understands the greatness of our God! He must have spent hours and hours with Him everyday in order to gain the spritual knowledge he has, and for that, i envy Him. i mean, i know God,and i study His Word, but i know i could study more. He makes me want to study more and gain the knowlege of Christ that he has! this was an incredible sermon!
I completely agree with what Kristen said, and its kinda funny cause after reading the sermon, i was going to take that same approach that she did, and then saw as i was reading through some of the blogs that she had taken that route and didn't want to "steel the glory" so i decided i would just agree with her! the lion and the lamb reference is my absolute favorite one that the Bible uses! It completely tells all of God and how he truly is!
In response to another student, I would have to agree with Dustin. We ABSOLUTELY need more preachers to preach the way God would have them to preach. Not just because they want to preach "smooth sayings to those with itching ears". I also agree with James that we, as Christians, need to stand up and defend the Word of God and Jesus. Somewhere along the line we have become too comfortable with this world.
What an awesome God that we serve!!! We will never fully know, this side of eternity, just how truly excellent our God is. Jonathan Edwards does an wonderful job of describing "The Excellencies of Christ" in a way that only a person that is truly a studied student of the Word can. There is no question that Jonathan Edwards was a great man of God and we need more men like him in our current day and age. People today lack the life changing passion that is unmistakeable in Edward's message.
I believe Court is right on the money. Only a man that has spent hour after hour each and every day for year after year studying the Word of God could have written such a powerful message. My prayer for all of us is that we may too learn to spend each day living for Christ and not self in a way that will force us to have the type of relationship that Edwards had with God.
Although this sermon was long it was really good.there are not many times that you hear a sermon preached like this in our everyday church's. i think it is so amazing how Christ would put us before Himself and die for us.we are so unworthy of His love but we should be so greatful. ater reading this it just makes me want to know so much more about Him and His word. we can never know too much about what God has to say.my favorite part was when Jonathan Edwards talked about the excellencies of Christ.Just by reading this sermon i got so much out of it.
I agree with Matt when he says that we need more men like Jonathan Edwards in this generation. if we had more guys like him here at the school the school would grow so much and the people here will be so close to God that it would be amazing.
Wow. The only thing I've ever read by Edwards is 'Sinners in the hands of an angry God', but I wasn't as impressed with that as I am with this. I think that we constantly forget how amazing our God is. We serve a GREAT God! It is always wonderful for me to be reminded, because way more often than I should, I take Him for granted. If we can truly grab a hold of this concept, and truly have faith that God is the all-powerful "Lion of the tribe of Judah" and also a humble lamb, willing to sacrifice all for the atonement of our sins. Edwards really had a way with words! This sermon made me think a lot about the solo Caitlyn sang on Wednesday, describing the attributes of the Lion and the Lamb. I don't know if you remember any of the words, but they are really inspiring. To me, seeing the closeness Edwards obviously had to the Lord makes me really desire a closer relationship with Him for myself. Seeing the evident feelings and closeness of other people is uplifting, but it can only take you so far. Our God is really great but a lot of times I feel like I am selling Him short. Anyway, I've rambled a little bit, but that's what I got out of it.
I really have to agree with what many people (starting with James, I think) have said regarding the need for some great preachers to step up. We know that the harvest is plentiful, and laborers few, but if people with a true passion would step up and say 'I'm not afraid to live out loud for my God! I want to make a difference!' there would be a complete revival in the Christian community. It all starts with one person stepping up to do that. God will provide if we will only be willing.
Wow! Not only was that completely eye-opening, but it also reproved how amazing and wonderful our God is! There were so many things that really stood out to me, particularly when Edwards speaks of "choosing Christ for your friend and portion." When we have done this, Christ gives himself to us, care for us, and loves us. I think so many times we forget that when we accepted God's gift, how great of a gift it was. It was so much more than Jesus' life sacrifice. The gift extends to Christ giving himself over to our benefit once we have done so for him. I know I have focused so much on Jesus's death and resurrection (not trying to take away from the glory in it), but I fail to think about all the more things God gave to benefit us. Earlier in the sermon, he talked of God being so great and good. I think this point just emphasizes it even more. Another thing that really hit me was when Edwards talked about the design of Christ being that he, God the Father, and his people would all be "united as one." I think it's amazing that God would love us so much that he wants us to be so great a part of him.
It's funny, because as I was reading through the sermon, I was (like Beth) thinking of Caitlyn's song and the "Lion and the Lamb" attributes of God. It is so amazing to me that God can be the almighty, powerful, amazing, awesome Lion, but also the humble, willing, sacrificial Lamb. Also, in response to Dustin, I just wish and pray that God can use me like he used Edwards. The power, conviction, and obvious use by God is so inspiring. I think it would be amazing if I could produce just one thing for God so beautiful, uplifting, and challenging as Edward's was able to consistenly do.
"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was such a stern message compared to this one. He really does a great job explaining the attributes of Christ. Christ is a strong powerful lion and, at the same time, be gentle as a lamb. Jesus is the only worthy one yet he gave his life that we may be worthy. It encourages me to be stronger in my faith nd actions because Christ provided the way for us to do so. Excellent sermon!
Jacob W. Teekel
I agree with Matt. Edwards was bold for Christ and we should take it further. We need more people to not be afraid to brag on our King and opening show their beliefs. As a generation, we lack a strong passion and revival is needed.
Jacob W. Teekel
it is great to know that God can be so mighty, yet so humble all in one. He is a God that gives judgment, the lion, and a God that gives forgiveness, The lamb.
Kendall Johnson
i agree with jacob, this sermon is great in showing the two attributes of christ. It also makes me want to give more to christ because i know he does so much for me.
Kendall Johnson
Seeing the change from a God in the background about to reign down holy fire from heaven in "Sinners in the hand of an angry God" to this was pretty drastic. I like how Edwards still keeps the focus of how powerful God is, yet he presents it in a much softer manner in this sermon.
-Keegan S.
Got to agree with Matt in that you can really see the fruits Edwards studying and searching for God in his sermons. He was absolutely no different than anyone walking the earth then or now, it just came down to his personal search for God; you can really see the Lord work through Edwards' work.
-Keegan S.
The sermon is pretty interesting. I can be made stronger by knowing the fact that God was still divine in His nature as being Christ the Son of God, yet He was still a humble servant that walked this earth. I can apply this to my life by living a Christ-like life. Christ was here on this earth to give us an example of how we should be and I will strive to live more like Him every day.
I agree with Jeremy M. on how Christ is considered the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God. He is so strong and mighty in His ways like when the seven seals will be opened, yet so humble and sacrificial at the same time. I am so glad that Christ came to this earth to provide a way to Heaven for the people that He loves. I can rest assure in the fact that I know Heaven will be my home.
Jonathan Edwards gave me great insight into the vast difference between sinful men and a holy God. To think and realize that God, who is perfectly just, yet so rich in mercy and love would condescend to such a level as to become the least of one of us, who are mere worms, is mind boggling. We cannot comprehend it. That God, Who is so much above the angels that they are as the dust of His feet, and yet, He did not become as one of them. He did not become the ruler of the earth. He did not become a king. He did not become one of the wealthy of society. He did not become one of the middle class, even. He became as the least among us, and then He died, not by natural means, but by the most tormenting death known to man. Not to mention, the fact that His Father turned His back on Him and still has His arms open to us is unimaginable. This sermon has really opened my eyes to how big God is, and how very much He has done for me in condescending to my level. To think that One as diverse, holy, and yet so merciful would love me, a mere worm, is a life changing proposition. Realizing once again that when I am distressed, the God of the universe wants to be there to help me and uphold me, as well as be my Friend will continue to change my life. Thank you for requiring this of us.
I agre with Kriste, notng the meekness of Christ. To imagine that He was perfectly content to have no place to lay His head, and no food, except for what God provided Him is amazing. It makes me stop and think of all the times that I am discontented with life, and what God has for me now. The Lord has shown my a lot through Jesus' meekness.
I also concur with Kristen in that, Jesus, being the Lion of the tribe of Judah is our protector. He is perfect beyond measure, and yet He sacrificed all for us. He protects what He has bought!
Kind Regards Nick
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