SERMON SEEDS F23 FOR 8/26/02
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
WELCOME TO SERMON SEEDS FOR AUGUST 26, 2002
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Thanks to those who prayed for my parents, John and Ethel Peters. They are both much improved. Because we are still on vacation, this edition of Sermon Seeds includes previously shared outlines.
UPDATE ON PASTOR DOUG WINN
- Doug had another hospital stay in Dallas, Texas. He and Linda will be there for a couple of more weeks before going home to Phoenix. The staff infection that he had received antibiotics for is back. Please pray for strength for him this Saturday when his daughter gets married. There are still many needs for this precious family. Please continue to pray.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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Judges 13
SAMSON AND ME
We can relate to many of the Bible Characters. We have all been impetuous like Peter and disturbed like Martha. We've all fallen into sin like David and seen the Lord deliver us from trouble like Daniel.
Other Bible characters are not as easy for us to relate to. One such character is Samson. We may not think that we have much in common with him, but we do.
SAMSON WAS SPECIAL - I AM SPECIAL Vss. 1-5
Samson had a special birth. - Vss. 1-3 As a Christian, so did I. - John 3:1-16
Samson was a special person - Vs. 5 - As a Christian, so am I. - Ephesians 1:3-6
Samson lived a special life - Vss. 4-5 - As a Christian, so should I - Titus 2:11-13
SAMSON WAS SELECTED TO SERVE GOD - I HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO SERVE GOD Vs. 5
He was selected to deliver Israel.
I am selected to be a faithful servant to my Lord Jesus Christ and to be his ambassador. John 15:16, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
SAMSON WAS SEPARATED - I AM SEPARATED Vss. 4-5, 13-14
Please note that there are two types of separation. The first kind is positional. That comes with birth. The other kind is practical. That is lived out on a daily basis. Samson was born separated, and did practice some forms of separation (long hair of a Nazarite). However, his biggest problem was a lack of separation from foreign women.
As Christians, we have been separated unto God. - 1 Peter 2:9
As Christians, we are to live a separated life. - 1 Peter 1:15-16
SAMSON WAS SPIRIT MOVED - I SHOULD BE SPIRIT FILLED - Vss. 24-25
See Acts 1:8, Ephesians 5:18-21, Galatians 5:22-23
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Psalm 138
RESTING COMFORTABLY
When someone is in the hospital because of an accident or sickness, his or her condition is often described as "resting comfortably". The person has been hurt but is now at rest. When we look in to check on our children or grandchildren, we are glad when they are sleeping quietly or resting comfortably.
As Christians we should be resting comfortably. Not that we are asleep, but we are not alarmed or distressed or worried because our confidence is in our God. When we are "resting comfortably" our:
OUR SONG IS PRAISE TOWARDS GOD - Vss. 1-2
OUR STRENGTH IS FROM GOD - Vss. 3-5
OUR SUBMISSION IS TO GOD - Vs. 6
OUR SECURITY IS IN GOD - Vss. 7-8
Sermon Seeds C14
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Jeremiah 6:16
A CALL FOR REVIVAL
Jeremiah 6:16
"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."
(from The King James Version, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1988, by Biblesoft)
Jeremiah was preaching to the Nation of Judah. They were obsessed with sin! In this little verse Jeremiah calls for revival, a turning from sin back to God. In our day we need to echo Jeremiah's call and to heed his advice.
STAND - We need to stop and stand before God in reverence. God must have our attention so he can speak to us. We are so busy with so many things that we don't stop so God can have our undivided attention.
SEE - We need to see that we are headed in wrong directions. We need to see that God wants us to change. We need to see that God has a better way than the way that we are traveling.
SAY - "Ask for the old paths." - God's Word provides the old paths of salvation by grace through faith in Christ and Godly living. Christians need to remind themselves from God's Word of these important principles.
SOJOURN - "And walk therein." - After discovering the old paths from God's Word we must walk in these paths. If you are unsaved, come to Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16). If you know Christ as Savior, repent of sin (Psalm 51) and strive to live a Godly life (1 Peter 1:15-16).
SAFETY - "And ye shall find rest for your souls." Rest for our souls is only found in Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30, John 3:16-18, John 14:1-6, 27)
STUBBORNESS - "But they said, We will not walk therein." The people of Jeremiah's day refused to heed the call of God. What will you do with God's call to revival?
Sermon Seeds C18
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Mark 6:35-44
GETTING THE JOB DONE
We usually admire the person how can take on a project and finish it successfully. In Christianity, there is much to be accomplished. We can get things done for Christ, if we go about it, His way.
POTENTIAL FOR HIM Vss. 35-38
The crowd needed to be fed. Jesus says, "Give ye them to eat."
This statement tells me that the disciples should have seen the potential of what Jesus could do through them, if they would let Him. They had potential to be used of God. Notice, also that Jesus used what was available, 5 loaves and 2 fishes. There is potential for each believer to accomplish great things for Christ. We should remember that He uses those who are available.
POWER IN HIM Vss. 39-41
It is not our power that works miracles, but God's power.
PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH HIM Vss. 41-44
The disciples did actually end up feeding the multitude (They served.).
They did it through Him. We too, can be productive as we do all things through His power, and not our own.
Sermon Seeds B7
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Luke 4:14-45
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
Begin the Sermon by talking about towns in which you lived. If the setting is informal, you might want to ask the congregations to share interesting places where they lived.
Sometimes we are born into a family that lives in a certain place.
Sometimes we move to a certain place because a job requires it or we are going to school there.
Sometimes we move to somewhere because we moving back with family.
Other times we move somewhere out of choice. People often retire to a place like Florida.
Two of the places that Jesus lived were two towns mentioned in our text. One place was his hometown of Nazareth. We can assume that he lived there over 25 years. The other place was the town of Capernaum. Matthew 4:13
Now these two towns were different in a very important way.
NAZARETH WAS RESISTANT TO JESUS
CAPERNAUM WAS RESPONSIVE TO JESUS
And I want to suggest to you tonight that, figuratively speaking, you live in one of these two towns. And I want to warn you that it is very possible to be a Christian, and at this point in your life be resistant to the Lord Jesus.
In Luke 3 there is the ministry of John the Baptist as the forerunner to Jesus and there is also the Baptism of the Lord Jesus. Luke tells us in Luke 3:21-22 - "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."
In Luke 4 we are told about the temptation of Jesus.
Luke 4:1-2 - "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered."
Of course Jesus successfully resisted the temptation by Satan and then began his ministry.
Luke 4:13-15 - Now we come to our text. Jesus will visit two towns where he lived or had lived. One was resistant to Jesus and the other was responsive to Jesus. My question is where do you live Spiritually? Do you live in Nazareth, resistant to Jesus or in Capernaum, responsive to Jesus?
DO YOU LIVE IN NAZARETH? - Vss. 15-31
THEY WERE FAMILIAR - Vss. 15-22
Jesus gave a wonderful introduction of himself as Messiah through the presentation in the synagogue. Although the people admitted that they noted his gracious words, they could not get past the fact that he was someone that they knew. They thought that they knew Jesus well, but they didn't.
Today many have a similar problem.
They have heard about Jesus all their lives.
They have gone to church all their lives.
And yet they really don't know Him. Mention Jesus, and they'll say, "Oh, I know who He is."
But they don't act like they know Him and teaching about Him is just shut off. "Oh, I've heard that before!"
Christian we are in great danger when we get so familiar with Jesus that we take Him for granted or ignore Him. Don't let Jesus become so familiar to you that you ignore Him or take Him for granted.
In Nazareth they were familiar.
THEY WERE FAITHLESS - Vss. 23-24
Jesus knew what these people were thinking.
They were using a saying of that day, "Physician heal thyself."
They wanted to see Him perform some miracles as He had done in Capernaum.
Jesus used another saying of the day on them. "No prophet is without honor except in his own country."
They had had the very Son of God living among them for years, and they gave Him no honor. Other places, including Capernaum, did!
Why did Jesus not work miracles in Nazareth?
Matthew 13:58 - "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."
Have you ever wondered why God doesn't do more around here?
Have you ever wondered why God doesn't do more in your life?
Could it be that we are just as unbelieving in some ways as the people of Nazareth.
THEY WERE FRUSTRATED Vss. 25-30
Vss. 25-27 - In these verses Jesus mentions two Gentiles who received miracles. There were plenty of Jewish widows and leprous men, but God chose to heal these two.
Perhaps there are two things to consider here. One would be the general state of unbelief of Israel in the days of Elijah and Elisha.
The people of Nazareth were showing the same unbelief. Therefore, there were no miracles.
The other thing to consider is that God is not obligated to act just because some one thinks that He should!
These People now took their unbelief to the outer limits.
They got angry, frustrated with Jesus. Why?
Because He told them the truth and they didn't want to hear it.
We can get that way sometimes.
We can angry or frustrated with people who tell us the truth about God or about our behavior, or lack of faith, and we don't want to hear it.
We can get angry or frustrated with God because He is confronting us with His truth and we don't want to hear it!
DO YOU LIVE IN NAZARETH?
OR DO YOU LIVE IN CAPERNAUM? - Vss. 31-41
DOCTRINE WAS RESPECTED - Vss. 31-32
Jesus did the same thing in Capernaum that he did in Nazareth.
He taught them. He taught them with authority, something rabbis of that day didn't do. They just quoted other rabbis! Jesus also taught them with power! There was conviction and strength in His words.
Why was that? Yes, He was the Son of God, but also remember that the Spirit of God had descended on Him at His baptism and that according to vs.14, "he returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee. "
Now, what was the difference between Nazareth and Capernaum?
Luke tells us about one Sabbath Day and Sabbath Days in Capernaum. There was one Sabbath in Nazareth, several in Capernaum. What was the difference? On one Sabbath Day in Nazareth the people rejected Him and His word. Capernaum was evidently receptive to His teaching. That's why He stayed longer!
How receptive are you to the Word of God?
Do you listen with interest?
Do you listen with enthusiasm?
Do you pay attention?
Do you care?
Sometimes people get nothing out of God's Word because they are not receptive to God's Word.
SATAN WAS RELEASED - Vss. 33-37
The people were receptive and the devil was released.
In this situation the devil, through one of his demons, had a man bound.
Of course, the devil is no match for the Son of God!
Oh that we would realize this! The Lord Jesus came to give us victory over sin and to release the power of Satan from our lives! Romans 6:10-14
SICKNESS WAS REMOVED - Vss. 38-41
Jesus healed Peter's Mother-in-law.
There was a great victory! Notice out of gratitude she got up and served.
Does Jesus heal disease today? He does, according to His perfect will.
But more importantly He heals the diseases of the heart.
Only the one who is receptive to Jesus will experience His healing touch of the heart.
Capernaum was a responsive town for a while.
Unfortunately Capernaum eventually showed its unbelief. Matthew 11:23
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
Sermon Seeds D29
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ACTS 5:12-42
THE MESSENGERS THAT COULD NOT BE SILENCED
INTRODUCTION - Vss. 12-16
God was doing a great work through the ministry of the apostles. Many were coming to faith in Christ.
CONFINEMENT - Vss. 17-18
The Jewish leaders were upset and threw the apostles in jail.
COMMISSION - Vss. 19-26
An angel set the apostles free and sent them back to preaching God's Word. Vss. 19-21
The leaders eventually discovered that the apostles were missing and were told that they were teaching in the temple. Vss. 21-25
The captain of the guard quietly brought the apostles before the Jewish leaders. Vs. 26
CONFRONTATION - Vss. 27-32
The high priest verbally chastised the apostles for disobedience. Vss. 27-28
Peter responded that it is more important to obey God than man. Vss. 29-32
CONSULTATION - Vss. 33-39
Gamaliel advised the leaders to be careful how they treated the apostles.
In verses 38-29 Gamaliel reminds the leaders that it the apostles' work was of men that it would die.
However, if the apostles' word was of God, the Jewish leaders could not stop it.
COMMAND - Vss. 40-41
The apostles were beaten and told to remain silent concerning their faith.
CONCLUSION - Vss. 42-43
The apostles rejoiced. Vs. 42
The apostles continued to preach. Vs. 43
Sermon Seeds C29
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2 Timothy 4:6-8
LOOKING BACK
We all have the ability to look back, reflect, and evaluate what has happened in our lives, and what we have accomplished. Many a Godly man can look back and see the blessings and hand of God in their lives. (Chose a couple of men or women your congregation would know, and share how that man or lady can look back and see how God has worked through them.)
I think most of us want to be able to look back at the end of life and be able to say that we have accomplished something for the Lord. Paul was able to say this at the end of his life. Our text gives us some lessons so that at the end of our lives we will be able to say something similar to what Paul said.
"I AM" speaks of Paul's CHARACTER in Vs. 6..
"I HAVE" speaks of Paul's CONDUCT in Vs. 7.
"THERE IS" speaks of Paul's CONCLUSION in Vs. 8.
Sermon Seeds A27
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