March 2022

Stay on target.

Focus.

Keep your eyes on the prize.

These are good principles for success. They remind us not to succumb to distractions. (Alas, I got distracted while typing this!)

They’re also helpful when we try to communicate. The easiest way to lose someone’s attention is to go off-track. Rambling hinders clarity.

For many churches, the Sunday sermon is their central communicative event. And in their training, ministers learn how to simplify their preaching so people can follow their train of thought.

Some specialists, like Haddon Robinson, espouse “the big idea” over a series of minor points. People should be able to summarize a sermon in a phrase or a sentence. To do that, they need the preacher to beat them to it. If a speaker won’t commit to a main idea, it’s not going to be easy for an audience to find one.

Other scholars outline a three step process:

1. Tell them what you’re going to tell them
2. Tell them
3. Tell them what you told them

It keeps everyone focused, but not all communicators recommend this procedure. Writing for Forbes, Nick Morgan thinks it’s better to start with a story that illustrates the reason for your talk. Still, he recognizes that “A great presentation is composed of two things: one interesting idea and the speaker’s emotional attitude toward that idea. It’s that simple. Don’t lard up your speech with caveats, asides, extras, nuances, added thoughts, one more thing, or anything else.”

Digressions, while interesting, shouldn’t divert from the main point. But in the New Testament, they can be more important than the train of thought itself.

This literary technique has spiritual significance. In the midst of what Jesus is teaching us and developing in us, He will sometimes seem to go off course. Let’s not ignore these occasions. He’s showing us something special!

God’s digressions may turn out to be crucial issues He’s working out in our lives.

Here are two examples.

The Upper Room Discourse

“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. ³⁴A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” ³⁶Simon Peter asked Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” – John 13:33-36

Throughout what we call the Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17), Jesus prepared His disciples for His absence. Through His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, Christ would leave His followers.

But He wanted His ministry to continue through them. So He taught them and prayed for them. 

In verses 33 and 36, we read of His discussion with Peter about His departure. These verses deal with the same topic.

But verses 34 and 35 lie between them. Why would Jesus stray from His main concern? When we ponder this, we realize that He didn’t. Christ didn’t drift; He dug down.

As John 13:1 tells us, Jesus loved His disciples. And He wanted them to know that love even after He left this world. So He instructed them to love each other like He loved them. This would identify them as Christ’s followers. It would also help them endure the difficulties they would face in a world hostile to the gospel.

So the digression in the Lord’s discussion about His absence wasn’t a case of absent-mindedness. It was the heart of Christ’s desire for His people. As Christians, we are to love one another with the love Jesus has toward us. It’s how we survive in a world that rejects Him. And it’s how we show people the joy of knowing Him.

Spiritual and Social Problems

“Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” – 1 Corinthians 12:31

“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” – 1 Corinthians 14:1

Chapters 12 and 14 of 1 Corinthians deal with the operation of spiritual gifts in the church. God gave these to His people so they strengthen each other in Christian life and ministry. Toward the end of chapter 12, Paul sets out a list of gifts (see verses 28-30). His point is that no individual possesses every gift of the Spirit. If these are to benefit the church, every Christian must contribute and serve.

But in verse 31, Paul introduces a prioritization. Some gifts are superior to others? In what way? What does he mean? Somehow, the answer connects to “the most excellent way.”

The whole 13th chapter tells us the answer is love. Paul describes how valuable it is and what characterizes true Christian love. Then in the beginning of chapter 14, he makes a final comment about love before returning to the topic of spiritual gifts. But he hints at something when he uses the word “especially.” Why esteem prophecy over other gifts?

The chapter on love provides the reason. The Corinthians were misusing their spiritual gifts. God gave us these blessings so our loving service would have power. But the Corinthians treated gifts as indicators of maturity. The more some used certain gifts, the more impressive they were in a spiritual sense.

But that gets the gifts wrong. God gave these so believers might serve other believers in supernatural ways. Jesus ministered in the power of the Spirit. And we have received the same Spirit to build up our brothers and sisters in Christ. That’s God’s love in action.

Application

God won’t always deal with us in a direct fashion. Sometimes He will teach about one subject in His Word and then transition to a deeper issue. The key for us as Christ’s followers is to stay attentive to His Spirit. God’s not confused. We may not understand why He’s doing what He’s doing in us, but the Lord is wise. As we trust Him, we will grow in wisdom.

And in love.