Sermon Seeds F20 For 7/22/02
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
WELCOME TO SERMON SEEDS FOR JULY 22, 2002
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UPDATE ON PASTOR DOUG WINN
- Doug's fluid level has improved. Praise the Lord! August 3rd is the planned day for his trip to Dallas. Please pray that he will be physically able to participate in his daughter's wedding on August 31st. Pray that he and Linda will find reasonable housing in the Dallas area.OUR INTERACTIVE MAILING LIST - PASTOR MAIL
Pastor Mail is a mailing list fellowship for male pastors. The purpose of the list is to share sermons, outlines, illustrations, and prayer requests. We also discuss pastoral issues. If you are a male pastor, retired pastor or pastoral student you may join the list by sending a blank email to pastormail-subscribe@welovegod.org********************************************************************
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Mount Union Echoes contains full text sermon notes from Pastor Jack Peters. Most often the message of the week will be an expansion of one of the Sermon Seeds outlines. To subscribe send a blank email to mountunionechoes-subscribe@welovegod.org News about Mount Union Bible Church will also be included at the end of the notes.********************************************************************
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Genesis 22:1-18
A LESSON IN TRUST
We know that Abraham was a man of faith. The day his faith might have been tested the most was when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his Son, Isaac.
ABRAHAM'S AVAILABILITY - Vss. 1-3
Abraham was available to do as God asked, even though he certainly didn't like it.
ABRAHAM'S ASSURANCE - Vss. 4-8
Abraham indeed believed that God would provide a lamb for the sacrifice.
ABRAHAM'S ACQUIESCENCE - Vss. 9-10
Abraham actually tried to do what God told him. He lifted up the knife to take his own son's life.
GOD'S ACTION - Vss. 11-12
God intervened to stop Abraham.
GOD'S ALTERNATIVE - Vss. 13-14
A ram was available for sacrifice.
GOD'S APPROVAL - Vss. 15-18
God promises blessing upon Abraham and his seed.
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Ezra 8:15-35
INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
Ezra was leading a group of people back to the Promised Land. The king had approved his mission. Now it was time to travel.
RECRUITMENT OF WORKERS - Vss. 15-20
Levites were still needed to do the Lord's Work.
A call for Levites was sent out and several responded.
REQUEST BEFORE GOD - Vss. 21-23
Ezra did not want to ask for a body guard from the King. Instead, he and his party entreated God for safety.
RESPONSIBILITY SHARED - Vss. 24-30
Several of the priests were given responsibility for the silver and gold being brought back. A record was kept of who had what.
ROUTE SUCCESSFUL - Vss. 31-32
The group arrived in Jerusalem safely.
REPORT MADE - Vss. 33-34, 36
The trip was successful and each person carrying treasure submitted it for weighing. Nothing was lost!
Also a report was made to the King's leadership.
REVERENCE SHOWN - Vs. 35
God was worshipped with sacrifices.
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Psalm 19
THE PRESENCE OF GOD
GOD IS HERE! - Vss. 1-6
His presence is seen in nature.
GOD IS HEARD! - Vss. 7-10
He talks to us through His Word.
GOD IS HONORED! - Vss. 11-14
We honor God's presence by:
- Heeding His Word - Vs. 11
- Examining our lives for sin - Vss. 12-13
- Making our words and thoughts pleasing to Him. - Vs. 14
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Matthew 7:13-14
FACING REALITY
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
There are times in our lives when we have to face reality.
A football team, losing 41-0 in the fourth quarter of the game must face the reality that they are going to lose.
A family sitting by the bedside of a dying relative has to face the reality that the person is not going to get better.
A young couple, newly married, has to face the reality that life is different now that they are married.
People need to face reality concerning eternal life.
THERE ARE TWO GATES
1. There is a wide gate. The wide gate implies room to get through. You can come anyway you want, bring in whatever you want, and bring whoever you want.
The "wide gate" which many think of as the gate to salvation includes earning one's way to Heaven, keeping the ten commandments, following a cult, being a member of a non-Christian religion, and a host of other ways of getting in to Heaven. As we'll see later, the wide gate leads to destruction, not heaven.
2. There is a (strait) narrow gate. The narrow gate is just that. There is only room for us to go through. We must leave behind all other ways of getting to Heaven but one! That one way, that narrow gate is a person. It is the Lord Jesus Christ. We must put our explicit trust in Him for eternal life. John 14:6, John 10:9, Acts 4:12
THERE ARE TWO WAYS
1. There is the broad way. The wide gate leads to a broad way, or a super highway of lifestyle. When taking the broad way people can live however they care to live.
2. There is the narrow way. The narrow gate leads to a narrow way of living. The person who is saved through faith in Christ is a changed person (2 Corinthians 5:17). Becoming a Christian cost him nothing, but living the Christian life will cost him everything (James 1:2-4, Romans 12:1, Luke 9:23, Galatians 2:20).
THERE ARE TWO DESTINATIONS
1. The wide gate and the broad way lead to destruction. Revelation 20:11-15
2. The narrow gate and the narrow way lead to eternal life. John 3:16
THERE ARE TWO GROUPS
1. There is the group that does not find the narrow way. There will be many.
2. There is the group that does find the narrow way. They will be few in number.
Matthew 7:21 - "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
Sermon Seeds C25
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Luke 3:1-18
COUNTRY PREACHER
Country preachers in the United States have historically been known for being simple, forthright, powerful, Godly men. They are a lot like a preacher in the wilderness (country) in Jesus' day. His name was John the Baptist. John brought the Word of God concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Vss. 1-2).
JOHN'S CHALLENGE - Vss. 3-9
1. Purposeful - Vs. 3 - He preached a baptism of repentance, preparing people for the coming Messiah.
2. Prophetic - Vss. 4-6 - His coming had been predicted in the Old Testament (Isaiah 40:3-5).
3. Practical - Vss. 7-9 - John was looking for "fruit" that repentance had taken place. He also warned of coming judgment.
JOHN'S CLARIFICATION - Vss. 10-14
John explained what repentance meant for each group that inquired.
1. People in general were to share - Vss. 10-11
2. Publicans (tax collectors) were to be honest - Vss. 12-13
3. Soldiers were not to be violent, not to accuse falsely, and to be content with their wages. - Vs 14.
JOHN'S CHAMPION - Vss. 15-18
John stated clearly that he was not the Christ and pointed to one who would come of whom even John was not worthy. This champion would baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire instead of water.
Sermon Seeds C19
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Galatians 2:20
GRATEFUL LIVING
Do you appreciate what Christ has done for you? You can show your appreciation by the way you live.
Paul was grateful for what Christ had done in his life and it was his motivation for godly living.
In Galatians 2:20 Paul's appreciation shows as he tells us how he lived in gratitude towards Christ, "who loved me, and gave himself for me."
MY POSITION - " I am crucified with Christ:"
Christ died for me, therefore, when He died, I died. Romans 6:1-4, 10-14
I should see myself as dead to the power of sin in my life.
MY POWER - "...nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:"
Christ is powerful. Colossians 1:15-18
His power is available in my life. Philippians 4:13, Ephesians 1:19-23, 3:16-17a
MY PRACTICE - "...and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God..."
Sermon Seeds D35
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1 Thessalonians 3:1-10
FAITH FACTOR
There is a show currently on television called "Fear Factor". I only watched part of it once. Evidently the idea of the show is to measure how much bravery a person has and at one point fear takes over. In our text, Paul is not measuring bravery, but he is measuring the faith of the Thessalonians.
The Apostle Paul once spent about 3 weeks establishing a church in a city called Thessalonica. After three weeks he was run out of town by persecution. Acts 17:1-10
Because he loved the new Thessalonian Christians, and knowing of the persecution that they would receive about their faith, Paul dispatched young Pastor Timothy to Thessalonica to check on the new church. We have the story of Timothy's visit in
1 Thessalonians 3. And in talking about Timothy's visit, we find that Paul's greatest concern was over the faith of the Thessalonians. The word faith is mentioned five times, and we learn that:
FAITH IS TO BE ENCOURAGED - Vss. 1-4
Timothy was dispatched to encourage the believers in their newfound faith.
FAITH IS TO BE EVALUATED - Vs. 5
Paul realized that because of the tough times that the Thessalonians were facing, it would be easier for Satan to come in and rob them of their faith.
So, Paul wanted to make sure that the faith of the Thessalonians was still strong.
God has appointed church leaders, particularly pastors and elders, with the duty of watching you faith. They aren't to judge your ministry, only the Lord can do that, but they should check to make sure your faith is strong, and then help strengthen that faith.
Proverbs 27:23, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:2-3
FAITH IS TO BE EXPRESSED - Vs. 6
Timothy brought good news back to Paul. In spite of the persecution and hardship being dished out by Satan, the Thessalonians were strong in their faith. And not only were they strong in faith but in love as well. And they also had a fond appreciation for their mentor, the Apostle Paul. Faith should show.
We should certainly express our faith verbally. Romans 12:9-10, Psalm 107:2
But our faith must go deeper than talk. People need to see that what we are saying is real in our lives.
People need to see us leaning on God alone, when we face the trials and troubles of life.
People need to see us trusting God for the strength to obey Him.
Think about this. We will only be obedient to God if we believe Him!
We will only be obedient to God when we have faith that He will give us the strength to do as He says.
FAITH IS TO BE ENCOURAGING - Vs. 7
Have you ever tried to comfort somebody and ended up being comforted yourself? Some people have so much faith during their tough times, that they encourage others.
The Apostle Paul was having his own problems with affliction and persecution. And when He heard about the faith of the Thessalonians, he was encouraged.
There are certainly examples in Scripture of people who encouraged others. When David was running from King Saul, Saul's son, Jonathan went out of his way to encourage David.
1 Samuel 23:16
- And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.When the Apostle Paul was a prisoner headed for Rome he was on a ship in the middle of a terrible storm. He encouraged those with him that God had promised that all lives would be saved.
He encouraged them with these words found in Acts 27:25
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
FAITH IS TO BE ENLARGED - Vs. 10
Paul prayed that he might have another opportunity to visit the Thessalonians and help to increase their faith. Faith is something that should grow in our lives as we mature in the things of Christ.
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