Updated: 11/8/2024
Sermon Prep
I don’t know how it happens, but I have repeatedly taught sermons on Mother’s Day throughout the years and this was one of those times. It’s sort of an odd coincidence, but I think its God’s timing in that my messages on those days feel sharper and standout more than the others. To commemorate my wife Glory’s first Mother’s Day, the Friday before this sermon her and I went to the mountains to have a day in God’s creation.
Anyways, this was a powerful message to prep. In our church, multiple marriages were on the rocks and for a church of roughly 60 people that’s a lot to deal with as a community. Glory and i had our miscarriage scare. Around this time, a couple in our church lost both of their moms within the same week. It was a rocky road we walked together as a team.
In light of the sensitivity of the season, I prepped this message. Knowing some but not all of the struggles of the church. Balancing wisdom and wit to deliver a message faithful to God’s word about human heartbreak and heartache.
I think the Holy Spirit gently guided me as I wrote this sermon as I cried throughout most of the prep. It was a hard message to deliver given all of the somber circumstances. I could go on about the heaviness going on, but words wouldn’t be enough. Here’s the notes for this message and the recording too:
Sermon Notes
- Opening Line
- Have you ever been in an argument and said something you didn’t expect?
- It’s surprising to blurt out how we truly feel and think about someone.
- Have you ever been in an argument and said something you didn’t expect?
Intro
- Have you ever heard someone pray something you didn’t expect to hear?
- Mom’s friend lamenting stillborn children.
Transition To Main Point
- As Andrew put it, “lament is a prayer of pain that leads to trust.”
Main Point
- Maturity in our relationship with Jesus is defined by authentic prayer during tough times.
- Habakkuk 1:1-4 | Habakkuk’s Complaint
- Complaining to God about Judah the southern kingdom and its evils.
- Questioning God’s character.
- Is God good or loving?
- Does God know better?
- Is God strong enough?
- Where is God?
- Habakkuk feels forced to see grossly evil and immoral behavior.
- The law is unable to act or move because justice is corrupt.
- Authentic prayer is the act of openly sharing everything in our hearts with Jesus.
- Trusting him with the highs and lows.
Why This Matters
- We can’t let our pain define our perspective. That’s bitterness.
- We also can’t hide from or suppress our pain. That’s blindness.
Power Text
- Read 1 Peter 5:6-7 (Individual Lament).
- Authentically pray knowing God cares for you.
- Read Romans 12:15 (Collective Lament).
- Obey God and share in the suffering of others.
- Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 (Universal Lament).
- In whatever season, have authentic prayer.
Final Thoughts
There’s 2 types of sermons: one that preaches and one that teaches. A message that preaches appeals to the heart and is passionate, while a message that teaches appeals to the mind and is profound. This is one of my greatest preaching messages. I couldn’t help but preach from the heart and the Holy Spirit empowered me on the day to do so.
In fact, this was one of my shortest messages as far as notes go. I truly didn’t write down all that much but the message was all the better for it. Less is more and that truth is quite evident with this sermon. Honored and proud to have had the opportunity to share this message. With that, Godspeed and Jesus bless.
chris cribari blog 