Another reason why sermons are unnecessary

Have you ever heard or read an explanation of the following passage?

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

This recorded prophecy in Jeremiah 31:33-34 outlines several important distinctions of the “New Covenant” that God intended to bring to fulfillment. Our Father in heaven declared through the pen of Jeremiah that:

• He would put His law within His people. Simply put, He would “write it on their hearts,” not ensure that it would be preached from man-made pulpits. Have you seen the iPods being sold where electronic books are pre-loaded on their internal hard drives? God promises, through the enduring word of His eternal covenant, to give us His law in such a way that it does not require any form of media (like paper and ink or digital storage devices) or any sort of delivery system (like highly-trained clergy).
• He would establish a relationship with His people. He’s not just one god of many gods. He is our God and we are His people. As God, He guides, provides, and protects us. The Bible is filled with many promises of how He does this. And we are His people: chosen, called, justified, sanctified, and (eventually) glorified.
• He would make Himself known to His people. What once required tedious, comprehensive teaching by priests and scribes and rabbis would no longer be necessary. God would reveal Himself in amazing ways to people of every walk of life: “from the least of them to the greatest.” No more classes, lectures, and catechisms! When God makes Himself known, He does not require the curriculum writers of denominational publishing agencies, nor does He need alliterated sermon-crafters to make sure we “get it.”
• He would forgive and forget our sin. For some strange reason, the human orators who fill the pulpits of the institutional church prefer using guilt and shame to keep God’s people in line. They continually write religious speeches that condemn us, as if we were still under bondage and still unforgiven, making us beg for God’s mercy week after week and keeping us running down the aisles to repent for last week’s failings. Father says, “You’re forgiven! I remember your sin no more!”

Those who no longer attend traditional church services each week need not feel guilty because they are no longer “sitting under the ministry of the Word.” If you are in Christ, then every provision of the New Covenant has been granted to you! And you have the Holy Spirit resident within you to lead you into all truth (John 16:13).