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Quiet Sermons


I was recently preaching at a sister church close to our home, where I have done so over the last two years. There is a young man who attends the church with a learning disability called David (not his real name). He is looked after in a nearby care home. 

Every Sunday morning someone brings David to the fellowship gathering. Many of the carers who bring him are not followers of Jesus. On Sunday he was brought in by John (not his real name). 

John was the most attentive to the word preached throughout the sermon. I had an opportunity to chat with John afterwards. He found the preached Word a great help to him. Sadly, as I am only a visitor I couldn't follow up.

Then it dawned on me. David with a serious learning disability, that includes is inability to speak, is bringing people who do not follow Jesus to hear the good news of a Saviour who died for sinners. He is doing more than able bodied people.

God is using his disability in an extraordinary way. I don't know how many care workers (I have seen at least five different people now) will be saved by hearing. I don't even know how many are already followers of Jesus. But they are hearing the good news of Jesus and that is more than enough! 

What is amazing is that David has no idea of his impact. But I bet you when God looks at David he just smiles. He says, "son, you are doing well with the disability I gave you". A crown of glory awaits David. It is just like God to take the brokeness aside and make it beautiful. 

I went to preach at this local church but I came back having been preached to by David through his learning disability. My wife and I talked about it on our way home. God is amazing! 

I certainly need to hear David's quiet sermon. The message delivered through him to me seems to be clear. Your current difficult situation is God's perfect opportunity to bless others through it. Just stop feeling sorry for yourself. Start asking God how you can even more of a tool for the advancement of the gospel through it! Dare to be a David!
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