Okay-- this particular message has gone relatively viral; that is, compared to anything else that I've preached. Since preaching from Genesis chapters 16 and 17 on May 1, 2011, this sermon has had at least 30 times more downloads than a typical sermon of mine posted for the same time period approximately.
We began posting sermons on SermonAudio while we were on mission to Scammon Bay, Alaska among the Yup'ik people, figuring that the recorded sermons would provide our supporting churches and friends some free and immediate, downloadable feedback as to what we were preaching and teaching. Interestingly and ironically, our regular support dropped to just one church in California. Nevertheless, the Lord provided whenever there was lack, often through people we never knew, and have not heard from since-- also through anonymous gifts, or from some friend to whom the Lord had ministered through a time of prayer, placing us in their remembrance.
Again, interestingly, the listener base for our SermonAudio site was pretty large while we were in Alaska. Perhaps it was because it was a novelty to hear some ignorant and unlearned man like me preaching Christ crucified and teaching the doctrines of grace in such a remote location: a village 70 miles south of the Yukon River delta-- a village of which most people have never heard except for the nearly 500 souls inhabiting it. By God's grace, His Word was heard among those people and we have seen the fruit of lives changed by the truth of Christ's redeeming sacrifice as proclaimed in His written scriptures.
Now, in Alabama since January 2009, we continue to use SermonAudio to make our sermons available to the congregation I pastor; that is, in the event that someone is ill and cannot come to a service. Therefore, there are not as many listeners. In fact, the joke around here is, that we would have a lot more sermon downloads but our listener's computer broke down and he hasn't replaced it yet.
Although I am astonished that this message is being downloaded so often, I am grateful to you who have downloaded it because it has encouraged me that so many of you may have been blessed by this message. I pray that, by God's grace, He strengthens me in spirit, by the Spirit, to be faithful to His Word and the Gospel of Jesus Christ till He come.
And... for anyone who happens to know us and know of the difficulties God's good providence has placed us in, thank you for your love and prayers.
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