SERMON SEEDS G48 FOR 2/16/04
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
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2 Kings 6:8-23
ELISHAS EYES
ELISHA SAW DANGER AND WARNED Vss. 8-11
ELISHA SAW DELIVERANCE AND ACTED Vss. 12-20
ELISHA SAW THE DEFEATED AND SHOWED MERCY Vss. 21-23
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Psalm 102
WHEN HURTING
CRY FOR HELP Vss. 1-2
COMPLAINT TO GOD Vss. 3-11
CONFIDENCE IN THE ALMIGHTY Vss. 12-22
CONTINUATION OF THE ETERNAL Vss. 23-28
(God remains forever!)
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Isaiah 1:16-20
VERBS FOR REVIVAL
Verbs are action words. For there to be a revival in a person, a church, or a nation, there needs to be action! If the many action words are followed in this passage there will be revival! Consider the:
VERBS OF PENANCE Vs. 16
wash and make clean
put away and cease
VERBS OF PERFORMANCE Vs. 17
learn, seek, relieve, judge, plead
VERBS OF PARTICIPATION Vs. 18
come, reason
VERBS OF PURPOSE Vss. 19-20
We will be "willing and obedient" or we will "refuse and rebel".
One set of verbs or the other reveals the purpose of my life!
Sermon Seeds A5
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Luke 10:25-37
LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
One of the advertisements that we have heard for years is LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, STATE FARM IS THERE. Even the world recognizes the value of a good neighbor.
I want us to consider the story of the Good Samaritan.
It is here that we learn how we can be good neighbors to those around us.
BACKGROUND
Vs. 25 A certain lawyer appears. He is an expert in the law of Moses. He is a theologian, a doctor of divinity, if you will. He asks a question designed to put our Lord to the test.
The question is, What must I do to inherit eternal life?
In order for that lawyer to come to the Lord, he had to see his own inability to live such a life without Christs help.
Vs. 26 Jesus answers the question with a question. What does the Bible say? This is always a good question.
Vs. 27 The lawyer gives the summary of the law. This is a combination of two quotes from the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18
Vs. 28 Jesus congratulates him. Youve given a good answer. Just go and do this and live!
But theres a catch to Jesus answer.
No one but the Lord Jesus ever lived such a life in their own power. If anyone could, they would be given eternal life based on merit. Galatians 3:11
If this lawyer was honest, he would have had to admit that he could not make it on his own, by law keeping. I am confident that he would have then been offered life through faith in Christ.
Vs. 29 Instead, the lawyer looked for another way out.
He might have thought that he had kept the first part of the law about loving God, but in order to make sure that he hadnt blown it, he had to know the identity of his neighbor.
Now comes the story of the Good Samaritan, and the qualities of being a good neighbor.
HE SAW
Vs. 30 Undoubtedly, you know the story.
A certain man, by implication, a Jew was on his way to Jericho from Jerusalem.
Robbers stripped him.
They beat him up.
They left him to die.
The distance of the mans journey was about 17 miles. The trip was downhill through mountainous territory. It was full of caves and hollows, which made it dangerous. Many a criminal and highway man worked that area. This man met more than his match.
Vs. 31 Along came a religious leader, a priest, whose job it was to model and practice his religion. He saw him and passed on.
Vs. 32 The priest was followed by a priests helper, a Levite, who should have also been inclined to help, but he saw it and passed by.
These men saw, but they didnt really see.
They saw but they didnt recognize this man as their neighbor.
These men had an attitude like the one we see so much today. It is the attitude that says, I dont want to get involved.
Vs. 33 The Samaritan came along and he also saw.
Remember the Jews hated the Samaritans.
Nevertheless, the situation spoke to his heart.
HE FELT
Not only did the Samaritan have a sharper vision, he had a sharper burden.
He felt compassion for the injured man.
Some people will help out as a matter of duty, and that is better than no help at all.
But help that is not bathed in compassion is often cold, even cruel, and makes the one helped feel badly.
The help based on compassion does not judge, nor does it lecture, nor does it act superior. This type of help is based on an I care attitude.
Jesus had compassion on those who have needs and we should also.
It is compassion that will lead to action!
We as Christians need to learn what it means to feel compassion for those we see around us.
HE CAME
and went to him Vs. 34
Of the three characters in our story, only the Samaritan came closer to survey the situation. The others went further away.
He got closer to see that the man was still alive and that he needed help.
There are families in our community that most Christians wouldnt touch with a ten foot pole.
There are many self righteous Christians who wont get their hands dirty, or even close enough to see what can be done to help.
Sometimes we dont want to get too close because we are afraid of what might happen to us! We are not willing to become vulnerable because we might get hurt. And yes, some of the people Ive helped have hurt me in return.
But look to the life of our Lord Jesus and see how he was hurt. He was hurt so he could help us.
Isaiah 53:6
And consider what the Apostle Paul said about being hurt. 2 Corinthians 12:15
There are times when we will come close and people will retreat. We may have to back off. There will times when we come close and find that there is nothing we can do except offer a word of comfort or prayer.
There will be still other times when we get close and find that there are things that we can do to help, even when we didnt think there was.
The Samaritan did not find out what he could do until he got close. Neither will you.
HE HELPED
Vs. 34 The Samaritan bandaged the wounds.
He poured oil in, this would have soothed.
He poured in wine, this would have cleansed.
He put him on his own beast of burden, walking himself.
He brought him to a nearby inn, and continued to nurse him.
Helping this man meant total involvement in his life for at least a day, giving completely of himself to the man in need.
HE PAID
Vs. 35 In order to help, this man had to spend some money.
¯ The wine he was using cost money.
¯ The oil he was using cost money.
¯ The room at the inn cost money.
¯ Leaving money for the mans care cost money. He left two days wages for a common laborer.
A lot of help that is needed today is monetary.
It is not the only kind of help needed, but often it is needed.
HE FOLLOWED UP
Vs. 35 - The payment for care included the promise, Ill be back to pay the difference.
I might add that this meant the man would be back to see the wounded soul, if the man was still there.
Follow up is important.
Sometimes we help someone for a while, and then after the initial crisis is over, we more or less forget them.
Vss. 36-27 - The conclusion of the story is that we should go and do the same.
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Acts 11:19-30
JOY IN EVANGELISM
Evangelism is the communication of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who need it. We also call it witnessing or sharing our faith.
This text is where we find the story of a new church founded in Antioch-Syria.
In it we find that there is joy in evangelism for several reasons.
THE GOSPEL WAS EXPOUNDED Vss. 19-20
Jesus had told his disciples to spread the Gospel.
Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Back when Stephen, the first Christian martyr was stoned to death, a persecution arose that caused Christians to scatter. Acts 8:1-4
Vs. 19 As Christians scattered they took the Gospel with them sharing the Gospel. The Gospel is the Good News. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 John 5:11-12
As these refugees fled they shared the Gospel, going as far as Antioch in Syria, the third largest city in the Roman Empire, smaller only than the cities of Rome and Alexandria in Egypt.
As these Jewish Christians fled, they preached only to other Jews.
The incident of Peter visiting a Centurion and discovering that the Gospel was for the Gentile as well as the Jew did not occur until after the Jewish Christians began to scatter.
Vs. 20 Some of the Jewish Christians that scattered were Hellenistic Jews, that is, they grew up outside of Israel. These men of Cyprus and Cyrene started sharing with the Gentiles.
Have you ever stopped to think why there is joy in sharing the Gospel with others?
1. Our lives have been changed by the Lord Jesus and we want others to experience that same change.
2. The Lord Jesus has given us the joys of peace with God, forgiveness of sin, eternal life and the presence of God in our lives. We want others to have those same joys.
3. We realize that those without Jesus are condemned to an eternity in hell. It is a joy to tell them that they need not do that if they trust Christ.
BELIEF WAS EXPRESSED Vs. 21
Vs. 21 The Christians shared their faith.
God was them. He enabled them
Many placed their faith in Christ.
Please note that when we witness with the right motive and in reliance upon God that God is with us.
Acts 1:8
I am impressed with the story of another Bible character in the Book of Acts. Her name was Lydia.
Acts 16:14
Lydia came to believe on the Lord because the Lord opened her heart. When people come to faith in Christ it is because God is at work. He uses us to share the Gospel but it is God who opens the heart to faith.
Anytime a person comes to faith in Christ there is joy!
« There is the joy of the person who has been saved, when they realize that he or she has forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
« There is the joy of the person who led the person to faith in Christ.
« There is the joy of friends, loved ones and hopefully church people when they realize that they have a new brother of sister in Christ.
« And there is joy in Heaven.
Jesus told the story of a man who had 100 sheep.
One was lost, so the shepherd went out to find him. Luke 15:5-7
PEOPLE WERE ENCOURAGED Vss. 22-24
Vs. 22 Antioch was the first church that was primarily made up of Gentiles. This was a new thing.
So, when the news of what had happened in Antioch reached the mother church in Jerusalem, they decided to check it out.
They ended up sending a man named Barnabas.
Barnabas was also a Hellenistic Jew who had come to Christ as his Savior.
Barnabas was actually a nick name given to him by the Apostles. His name means Son of Consolation, or Son of comfort, or Son of Encouragement.
Barnabas was Mr. Encouragement.
Of course, when there are new converts to Christ around, it always helps to have encouraging people around. When a person truly becomes a Christian, the old devil likes to attack and make the person miserable. A new Christian needs someone to encourage Him when things are going badly or just so he knows that what he has done is a right decision.
Vs. 23 Guess who was the first person that got encouraged when Barnabas arrived at Antioch?
IT WAS BARNABAS HIMSELF
He was glad.
« He was probably encouraged because the reports that had come to the Jerusalem church were true.
« He was probably encouraged because so many gentiles, those who would have had little or no exposure to the true and living God, were now believers.
« He was probably encouraged because there were more people going to Heaven.
« He was probably encouraged because someone had the concern and compassion to share the Gospel with those who had never heard the Gospel.
Not only was Barnabas encouraged but he encouraged the new believers.
He exhorted or urged them to stick with it.
He exhorted them to cleave to the Lord.
There are many things that a new believer in Christ needs to learn. One of them is faithfulness.
The more a new Christian learns to be faithful to the Lord and to following His word, the more he or she will grow. John 8:31-32
Encouraging Christians both old and new is the job of every other Christian. We should make it a point to encourage all Christians in their walk with God. Hebrews 3:12-13, Hebrews 10:24-25
So how can you and I become good encouragers?
The answer is found right here in Verse 24.
We should follow the example of Barnabas!
Acts 11:24 - For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Barnabas was a good man.
Barnabas was not a sinless man, but he was a man who been changed through his own faith in Christ.
A good man is a man who has a heart for God and for the things of God.
Jesus told the story of the sower and the different types of soil. The different soils are different people. Listen to what says about the word sown into a good heart. Luke 8:15
A good man has an honest and good heart that hears the Word of God and keeps it or obeys it!
Barnabas was also full of the Holy Spirit.
That means he was under the control of the Holy Spirit.
That means he would have produced the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23
You cant be more encouraging than a person who shows the fruit of the spirit.
Barnabas was also full of faith.
Barnabas trusted God.
Barnabas relied on God.
Barnabas would have the positive attitude that faith gives.
THE SAINTS WERE EDIFIED Vss. 25-26
Vss. 25-26 Encouragement was needed, but Barnabas
realized that teaching was also needed.
New Christians need to be taught.
There is joy when new Christians start to learn, and grow and mature in the things of Christ.
There is an interesting point found here.
Barnabas went and got Paul. Paul had been saved but was back home, waiting for God to open up the door of ministry that was promised to him. And that was a ministry to the Gentiles.
Barnabas realized that Paul had teaching gifts that perhaps he didnt have.
Barnabas was a gifted encourager, Paul a gifted teacher.
The two working together would make a great team.
Remember that no church is to be a one man show.
No pastor has all the Spiritual gifts.
And remember also that just as new Christians need to be taught, so do older Christians. That means you and I never outgrown our need to learn as Christians. Philippians 3:130-14
THE MINISTRY WAS EXTENDED Vss. 27-30
Vss. 27-30 These new believers were mostly gentiles.
The church in Jerusalem was mostly Jewish.
However when a prophet named Agabus announced a famine, the church in Antioch was quick to respond.
These new Christians did not isolate themselves from other Christians. They extended themselves to other Christians.
One of the signs of a true conversion is when a new Christian cares about and responds to the needs of others. 1 John 3:16-18
THE GOSPEL WAS EXPOUNDED Vss. 19-20
BELIEF WAS EXPRESSED Vs. 21
PEOPLE WERE ENCOURAGED Vss. 22-24
THE SAINTS WERE EDIFIED Vss. 25-26
THE MINISTRY WAS EXTENDED Vss. 27-30, 13:1-4
There are several things that bring joy to Evangelism.
But it all begins with evangelism.
We must reach out.
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REAL MEN ARE CHANGED MEN
Real Men - Lesson #1 The Story of Paul Acts 9
(Here are the outline and questions I used to teach this mens Bible Study.)
q What does it mean to be real or authentic?
q Why should Christian men be real?
q Who are some Bible Characters who were real?
q How can these Bible Characters help us?
We are starting a series on Real Men and will study the lives of men in the Bible who can help us because they were real.
þ What changes do we look for when a person professes faith in Christ?
þ Of all the people you have seen come to Christ, who
changed the most?
þ Why do we put such an emphasis on change for a Christian? 2 Corinthians 5:7
One of the most changed men who appear in the Scriptures is the Apostle Paul. The dramatic change in his life deserves examination.
PAUL THE TRADITIONALIST Philippians 3:3-6
n What is a traditionalist?
n In what ways was Paul a traditionalist before he had his encounter with Christ?
n On what was Paul relying in order to have everlasting life?
n Why was Paul wrong?
PAUL, THE TERROR Acts 7:58, 8:3, 9:1-2
Ø Stephen was stoned and Paul watched the coats. What does this mean?
Ø Why do you think Paul was so adamant against Christians?
Ø What does Acts 9:2 tell you about Pauls attitude or mental state?
PAUL, THE TERRIFIED - Vss. 3-9
à What was remarkable about the Lords appearance to Paul?
à Why was Paul so scared?
à Does God ever scare people today into a decision?
Should we ever use fear as a means to convince people that they need to trust Christ as Savior? Jude 1:22-23
à Has God ever scared you into a decision?
à What indication is there in verses 6-7 that Paul had believed in Christ? Will the same indication of belief be present today?
PAUL, THE TRANSFORMED - Vss. 10-18, Philippians 3:7-9
Why was Ananias hesitant to meet with Paul?
What does the response of the Lord in Vss. 15-16 tell you about Gods intentions for new believers?
See Ephesians 2:10.
What indication is there that Ananias believed that Paul was changed?
What did Pauls baptism indicate? Why is it important that believers be baptized?
What is significant about Pauls statement in Philippians 3:7-9?
PAUL, THE TAUGHT Galatians 1:15-18
Matthew 28:20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you
What was unique about the learning that Paul had after being saved? Why did God choose such a unique method for Paul?
What should a new convert be hungry for? Why?
How should we help new converts?
What is a sad thing about believers as they get older?
2 Peter 3:18
PAUL, THE TESTIMONY - Vss. 18-22
² Why were people so amazed when Paul testified for Christ?
² Why was Pauls public testimony necessary?
² Why is a testimony of a new believer important?
See Romans 10:9-10.
PAUL, THE TARGET - Vss. 23-28
Of the Jews - Vss. 23-25
¯ What makes Pauls persecution so ironic?
¯ Is it possible that we will receive the same response?
2 Timothy 3:12
Of the Christians - Vss. 26-28
¯ Would you have been skeptical of Paul? Why?
¯ What does this tell us about our response to new Christians?
¯ How should we be like Barnabas?
This is an expansion on the outline found Sermon Seeds E14
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Romans 2:1-11
ANSWERING TO GOD
FOLLY OF MANS JUDGMENT Vs. 1
FAITHFULNESS OF GODS JUDGMENT Vss. 2,11
FAILURE TO REPENT Vss. 3-5
FUTURE ACCOUNTABILITY Vss. 6-10
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