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Zac Poonen

Zac Poonen (1939 - ). Christian preacher, Bible teacher, and author based in Bangalore, India. A former Indian Naval officer, he resigned in 1966 after converting to Christianity, later founding the Christian Fellowship Centre (CFC) in 1975, which grew into a network of churches. He has written over 30 books, including "The Pursuit of Godliness," and shares thousands of free sermons, emphasizing holiness and New Testament teachings. Married to Annie since 1968, they have four sons in ministry. Poonen supports himself through "tent-making," accepting no salary or royalties. After stepping down as CFC elder in 1999, he focused on global preaching and mentoring. His teachings prioritize spiritual maturity, humility, and living free from materialism. He remains active, with his work widely accessible online in multiple languages. Poonen’s ministry avoids institutional structures, advocating for simple, Spirit-led fellowships. His influence spans decades, inspiring Christians to pursue a deeper relationship with God.
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Sermon Summary
Zac Poonen emphasizes that modern-day Pharisees exhibit a lack of genuine concern for lost sinners, often expressing condemnation rather than compassion. He critiques the attitude of Christians who distribute tracts without a heartfelt desire for the salvation of others, suggesting that such actions stem from a selfish motive to ease their own conscience. Poonen reminds believers that true witnessing should focus on love and the desire to lead others to Christ, rather than merely fulfilling a duty. He highlights that a lack of concern for the lost reveals a Pharisaical spirit, contrasting this with Jesus' mission to save rather than condemn.
Pharisees Have No Concern for Lost Sinners
"The Pharisees said, 'This crowd which does not know the Law is accursed'" (John 7:49). Today's Pharisees can have the same attitude towards those going to hell and say, "O these people who don't accept Christ as their Saviour are going to hell." That is true. But such a comment also exposes the speaker as a Pharisee who has no concern for the lost. If you have no concern for those who are going to hell, that would clearly prove that you are a Pharisee. When we witness to others, our concern should be their salvation and not that their blood should no longer be on our hands. I have seen Christians distributing tracts indiscriminately to people and sticking tracts in people's letter boxes and cars, and then being satisfied that they have done their part. "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved" (John 3:17). But a lot of the tract-distribution being done today by many believers only results in condemning those unbelievers. It is done with the selfish motive of easing the believers' conscience and not with love and a burden to bring those lost people to the Saviour's feet. Many of these tract-distributors imagine that they have a concern for the lost. But they don't. They are Pharisees.
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Zac Poonen (1939 - ). Christian preacher, Bible teacher, and author based in Bangalore, India. A former Indian Naval officer, he resigned in 1966 after converting to Christianity, later founding the Christian Fellowship Centre (CFC) in 1975, which grew into a network of churches. He has written over 30 books, including "The Pursuit of Godliness," and shares thousands of free sermons, emphasizing holiness and New Testament teachings. Married to Annie since 1968, they have four sons in ministry. Poonen supports himself through "tent-making," accepting no salary or royalties. After stepping down as CFC elder in 1999, he focused on global preaching and mentoring. His teachings prioritize spiritual maturity, humility, and living free from materialism. He remains active, with his work widely accessible online in multiple languages. Poonen’s ministry avoids institutional structures, advocating for simple, Spirit-led fellowships. His influence spans decades, inspiring Christians to pursue a deeper relationship with God.