To those on my Sermon Summary list.

    Many of you know Pastor Bill McDowell. He is a special friend of mine who pastors in Norman. After receiving my sermon summary this week titled A Sermon or a "Word," Pastor McDowell sent me the following story. I know you will enjoy it. -Darryl

 

Note: The following message is copyrighted to Bill McDowell

Darryl,

 

I love the message you sent out yesterday. I have a little story I would like to add that you might think is interesting.  The week before Thanksgiving, we had a special dinner at church and really pushed for people to bring unsaved family and friends.  We especially emphasized this to our youth to bring their unsaved parents.  Our real purpose was to have a special "salvation" day planned and we had many people praying that we would see people saved in the service. 

 

All week long, I had been praying for the message God wanted me to bring, but it was exactly one of those weeks where of course the Lord speaks to me, but not about what I am to preach on.  Finally, out of desperation like you were talking about, I hit the office on Saturday night to "drum up" a message.  I got some good things together, but I told Misti when we went to bed that I really didn't feel like that was what God wanted.  But, because I had nothing else, I was going to go with it. 

 

Now, I have been in this situation before, several times.  In fact, I have stepped up to the pulpit with literally nothing.  But, every time I feel I have nothing, God moves in a very powerful way and we have some wonderful, exciting times with God.  But, because I knew we were going to have many visitors, I was less than thrilled to have nothing for this particular Sunday Morning. 

 

Sunday morning comes and we arrive at the church around 8 which is our usual time to be there.  I get out and realize that I have nothing in my hands to take in.  I couldn't believe it, but I had actually gone off and left my "drummed up" message at home.  God couldn't have made it much clearer than this.  Misti asked if she should drive home to get my message, but I just told her that apparently God had something else in mind. 

 

God began to speak to me as the morning went on, and the service turned out to be absolutely wonderful.  We had 5 people receive the Lord, 2 of them parents of youth,  One woman who is from Damon Burrows church in Wichita was in service who is beginning her journey to become a missionary, said that she had been so discouraged, but the message was exactly to her. 

 

Needless to say, God was there in a powerful way.  Had I preached my "drummed up" message, people probably would have said, "that was a nice Thanksgiving message," but nothing would have happened.  I needed God's "Word."

 

Bill