https://peltononpreaching.com Helping Pastors Preach with Precision and Passion Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:59:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 63491461 https://peltononpreaching.com/2013/03/05/the-pull-to-moralize-even-gospel-narratives/ https://peltononpreaching.com/2013/03/05/the-pull-to-moralize-even-gospel-narratives/#respond Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:52:44 +0000 Randal Pelton, Ph.D., D.Min., Th.M. http://peltononpreaching.wordpress.com/?p=246 In Luke 2:39-52 we read the story of the time the pre-teen Jesus got in trouble with His parents. Luke 2:46 says, “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” Where will you focus application, on Jesus’ perfection or our need to copy Him (i.e., display the same love for God and His Word)? The Gospels present a huge temptation for us to moralize the life of Jesus. This narrative is also bracketed by Luke 2:40 and Luke 2:52 which record Jesus’ overall growth pattern. Again, it’s so tempting to simply say, “Go and do likewise.” I follow Tim Keller’s approach and suggest that it’s not either/or, but both/and. Bolster faith first by highlighting the perfections of Christ. Then urge obedience by calling everyone to follow His example. If you’re interested in reading more on this topic, see my article, Cross-Eyed Application in the May 2007 issue of Preaching journal.

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