Audio Sermon: No Perfect People Allowed
May 18th, 2009 | By Skye Jethani | Category: Church, Faith, Features, PreachingChristians will often say, “We’re all sinners.” But the way we operate often communicates something else. Within church communities there is a tendency to see those with obvious addictions or vices as among the “seriously sinful.” Others may see themselves as “merely theologically sinful.” For them sin is a doctrinal concept rather than a daily battle for survival.
In Luke 7 a “seriously sinful” prostitute encounters Jesus at the home of Simon, a “merely thologically sinful” Pharisee. The scene forces us to acknowledge the way we categorize people to elevate ourselves, and the dangers of remaining blind to our own evil. Do you really believe “we are all sinners”? Let’s find out.
Listen now. No Perfect People Allowed
A terrific book for churches that want to learn how to authentically tear down the wall between the theological sinners and the serious sinners is John Burke’s book No Perfect People Allowed.
Yep. Same title.
Life-changing stuff.
You got me, Michael. This is the first time I’ve used a book title for a sermon. Sometimes they just fit so well.
Skye- was just looking over my notes again this morning from your sunday message. Your thoughts on “no perfect people allowed” is one of the most thought provoking sermons I’ve heard in quite some time.
Could you give me the source of the Matt Russell- study? I’d love to use it as an Illustration in a class on “behavioral change” that I teach.
Peter
Peter,
Matt Russel wrote an article in the latest issue (Spring 09) of Leadership Journal called “Can Your Church Handle the Truth?” There he tells the stories that I recounted in my sermon.