A Sermon In Shoes

The Bible tells us in Philippians 2:15, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” The world should not be able to point a finger at anything in the Christians life that would be dishonoring to God and hurtful to the cause of Christ.

In Birmingham, Alabama, many years ago, lived a Presbyterian pastor, James Bryan. Throughout the city he was known as "Brother Bryan." There were many preachers stronger in pulpit oratory, but none preached better sermons than he did with his life. Like Jesus, he went about doing good. It was a common thing for him to come home on a cold day without his overcoat. He had given it to some poor man who had none. One spring day he was driving a horse and buggy through the countryside. He saw a farmer standing dejectedly in the field. It was time for his spring plowing, but his only horse lay dead. Brother Bryan unhitched his horse and gave it to the man. Then he walked home. It was fitting that when his biography was written it was called A Sermon in Shoes.

The famous American evangelist Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) once said, “The preaching that this world needs most is the sermons in shoes that are walking with Jesus Christ.” Some say that what Moody meant was that most people won’t go near a church, so the only way they’ll hear the gospel is if someone takes it to them. Others say he meant that most people form their opinions about Christianity and what it has to offer them not by what is preached but rather through the examples they see how Christians live rather than what they say. Possibly he meant both, because both are true.

People need to hear the gospel and have it explained, but they also need to see an example of someone living it. The words are necessary, but to be most effective, witnessing must go beyond words. Only the Holy Spirit can work in people’s hearts to help them decide to receive Jesus and be saved, but to understand what God is offering them and to believe that it can happen to them, most people need to see how He has already worked in someone else’s life. You could talk for hours about all that God could give or do for the people you’re witnessing to, but unless they see an example of those things in you, your words would probably fall on deaf ears. They need to see that He has changed your life for the better and given you something that they don’t have and can’t get on their own.

The lyrics of the children's song, "A Sermon In Shoes" says:

Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes?

Do you know, Oh Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes?

Jesus calls upon you, to spread the gospel news,

So walk it, and talk it. 

Live it, and give it.

Teach it, and preach it. 

Know it, and show it.

A Sermon in Shoes.

If you ask any group of people what they want out of life, most of them will say things like love, happiness, security, and peace of mind. Sure, they may first say a million dollars, their dream house, or the perfect husband or wife, but when it comes right down to it, all of those are only means (or supposed means) to get the things of true value, like love, happiness, security, and peace of mind. And the wonderful thing is, when we receive Jesus and are filled with the Holy Spirit, those truly important things are available to us and can be manifested in our lives. “The fruit of the Sprit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” When those you are witnessing to see you being loving and understanding, compassionate, gentle, kind, patient, and considerate—especially if they know you weren’t always that way before you found the Lord—they will want what you have.

Remember, your walk talks and your talk talks but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.