The first of these two videos is probably the second worst sermon ever preached. It is all law and no gospel. The greatest sermon ever preached (IMO) is the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7.
(Comment on 5/25/21 Yes! I looked today and the first video that had been taken down is back up on Youtube. CR)
Instead of watching one of the new movies that include violence, twisted sexual situations, and crude language, make yourself some popcorn and sit down to a clean movie that includes an all-star cast. “Pollyanna” came out in 1960. You will find it at the local library and the second video here is part of the entire movie found on YouTube.
Many of you who read this blog probably feel that I am anything but Pollyannaish. Well, this movie is one of my favorites. That should “say” something. I have always leaned on the side of grace.
There is the law and then there is the gospel. Any pastor worth his salt will discuss both. It doesn’t have to be perfectly balanced in each sermon, but over time there should be a balance between the two. Jesus is the only one who has ever done it perfectly.
There is no question the preacher depicted in the first clip speaks nothing but the law and ignores the gospel.
In the second clip he is practicing to do the same again.
However, the quote from President Lincoln may be seen in two ways. The Bible says that “all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
In Mark 10:18, “Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”
Ecclesiastes 7:20 states: “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.”
Viewing the quote from our great 16th President after reading these verses, one might conclude that he was mistaken. Yet, one must correctly divide the Word.
Matthew 12:35 says: “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.” These are also the words of Jesus.
So which is it? Does the Bible contradict itself? I don’t think it does because I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
No man is continually good, but men may be good at times. As Mr. Spurgeon has said in his commentary on Numbers 20:11 – “The best of men are men at best.”
I think we should look for the good in people, realizing that they are sinners just like we are. Sins should never be excused and only God can forgive them.
There are mysteries in the Bible as there are two sides of a coin. Anyone familiar with the issue of free will and determinism knows there are things we’ll never understand this side of heaven.
A preacher should rightly divide the Word and let the Holy Spirit do its work.
Anyone in a pulpit who claims to know all the answers is a person I wouldn’t trust.
I think I lean of the side of the gospel is because I have read the last three chapters of the Bible. If heaven isn’t Pollyannaish, I don’t know what is.
If you haven’t seen it, I hope you enjoy the movie.
Chris Reimers
Wings of the Wind 
A great movie from a time past. i agree on heaven being pollyannaish.
They just don’t make ’em like they used to, my friend.
Carrol Papiernik
The first of these two videos is probably the second worst sermon ever preached.
That’s what Maxwell Smart would have said had he been a Christian.