Martin Luther King’s birthday, January 15 (today), seems a fine time to offer up a lesser-known sermon he gave at the Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church August 27 1967. Entitled “Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool,” it still has a shocking resonance today. Perhaps it isn’t as polished, as memorable in some ways, as “I Have a Dream” or other famous MLK speeches. But in its own way, it is as enduring. See what you think.
Questions:
* What does Dr. King mean by “If you don’t have a deep and patient faith, you’re not going to make it”?
* Which of the reasons Dr. King gives for Jesus calling the rich man a fool seemed most convicting to you? Why? Is there something you can do about it? What would that be, and how could you get started?
* Dr. King’s own conversion, or deeper encounter with God, is described near the end of his sermon. Have you had such an encounter?
