SERMON SEEDS H11 FOR 5/24/04
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
SERMON SEEDS FOR MAY 24, 2004
This edition of Sermon Seeds includes five outlines appropriate for Mothers Day. All but one have been shared previously.
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AN OLD SOLDIER SPEAKS
Joshua 23
Introduction: Vss. 1-2
REMINDER OF PAST VICTORIES Vss. 3
REMINDER OF FUTURE CONQUESTS Vss. 4-5
REMINDER OF CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Obedience Vs. 6
2. Separation
Negative, Vss. 7,12,
Positive Vs. 8
3. Devotion Vs. 11
REMINDER OF GOD'S JUDGMENT Vss. 12-16
Sermon Seeds F11
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1 Chronicles 14:8-17
WAR TIME STRATEGY
THE ENEMY ASSEMBLED AGAINST DAVID Vss. 8, 13
DAVID ASKED GOD FOR ADVICE Vss. 10, 14
GOD ANSWERED IN EACH SITUATION Vss. 10, 15
DAVID ADHERED TO GODS GUIDANCE Vss. 11-12, 16-17
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Psalm 139:7-10
KNOWING GODS PRESENCE
Knowing God Series, #4
How many people go through life never aware that they are in the very presence of God, but God is present!
We continue our series on Knowing God.
We have already talked about Knowing Gods Sovereignty and Knowing Gods Holiness.
I think it very fitting that we speak of Knowing Gods Presence. This is an attribute of God that you should never forget. This is an attribute of God that will affect your behavior. This is an attribute of God that will make you different, if you let it.
This morning, Id like to share with you some of the characteristics of the presence of God.
GODS PRESENCE IS PERVASIVE
According to the American Heritage dictionary, the word pervade means To be present throughout; permeate.
So when we say, Gods presence is pervasive, we are saying that Gods presence is everywhere, or that God is present everywhere. Psalm 139:7
Gods Word tells us in this verse that there is nowhere that we can go without God being present.
Psalm 139:8-10
GODS PRESENCE IS PERSONAL
Although, God by nature is everywhere, it is hard to imagine that God would have the time or the interest to have a personal relationship with me. After all each one of us, in relation to the universe, arent even blips on the radar screen.
And yet, God from the beginning had time for a personal relationship with man.
Genesis 3:8 talks of God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day. Although on that particular day, Adam and Eve had sinned, I believe that it was Gods habit to spend time with them on a regular basis. They would have spent times with God until they sinned. After their sin, they were removed from that Garden and the intimate fellowship.
Sin broke off the sense of the personal presence of God.
It does the same thing today. Isaiah 59:2, Psalm 66:18
Each one of us was born a sinner by nature. Psalm 51:5
Each one of us has a sinful heart. Jeremiah 17:9
Each one of us is a sinner by choice. Isaiah 53:6
How can we have a personal relationship with the presence of God when we have sinned against this holy God?
Isaiah 53:6 which just read gives the answer, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
God placed the punishment of our sins unto His Sons shoulders.
The Lord Jesus died for us to pay for our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21
When we place our faith in Christ as the one who died for us, not only are we declared righteous in Gods eyes, but we also become Gods children. Thus a personal relationship with God is established, making His presence in my life personal. John 1:12, Romans 8:15-16
GODS PRESENCE IS PRACTICAL
Gods presence is something that is to be practiced in our lives.
Gods presence is beneficial and useful.
Gods presence is something to be enjoyed.
Practicing Gods presence is called abiding. John 15:4-5
Abiding is practiced when we trust God in all situations. Proverbs 3:5-6
Abiding is practiced when we worship God. Psalm 138:2, Hebrews 13:15
And of course, following worship is prayer.
This is certainly a way of abiding in Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 7:7-11
John 15:7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
We are to let Gods Word abide in us.
I believe that this includes memorization and meditation upon the Word of God. Psalm 119:97,
Joshua 1:8
GODS PRESENCE IS PEACEFUL
Gods Holy Spirit dwells in your life if you are saved.
He produces fruit in your life.
Part of that fruit is peace.
Most of us know and love the 23rd Psalm.
It is a conversation between a sheep and his shepherd.
And I think one of the reasons this Psalm is so loved is because it is so peaceful!
And think of the peace that Jesus has promised in
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
GODS PRESENCE IS POWERFUL
One of the prayers that I pray for you as a congregation says in part in Ephesians 3:14-17a, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, [15] Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, [16] That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
How rich is God? He owns everything on earth.
Imagine what His riches in glory are!
According to those riches, He wants to strengthen us in the inner man by his Spirit.
As a result, as we strengthened, Christ will dwell in our hearts.
Hell be at home there!
Hell rule there!
Hell be in control there!
Thats the power of Gods presence.
GODS PRESENCE IS PROTECTIVE
John 10:27-30 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and my Father are one.
Nothing can happen to me today unless God permits it.
The Lord Jesus securely holds me in His Almighty hand.
I can not be more protected than that!
KNOWING GODS PRESENCE:
GODS PRESENCE IS PERVASIVE
GODS PRESENCE IS PERSONAL
GODS PRESENCE IS PRACTICAL
GODS PRESENCE IS PEACEFUL
GODS PRESENCE IS POWERFUL
GODS PRESENCE IS PROTECTIVE
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Matthew 9:9-13
THE PRIORITY OF EVANGELISM
Jesus had many priorities. One of His top priorities was evangelism.
JESUS CALLS SINNERS Vss. 9-10
Not only did Jesus call Matthew, but he ate with sinners so He could win them to Himself.
JESUS CONCERNS PHARISEES V. 11
The self-righteous Pharisees were concerned that Jesus would associate with those who were such sinners.
JESUS CORRECTS THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS Vss. 12-13
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Luke 16:1-13
MONEY MANAGEMENT
This is perhaps the most difficult parable in all of Luke. We find the story of the unjust steward. The problem with this parable is the commendation of an unrighteous man by our Lord Jesus.
The theme of the parable and the section that follows is the use of money as a proper investment in the Kingdom of God. Tonight we want to look at
THE PARABLE OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS STEWARD
Vs. 1 According to C. Marvin Pate, The economic setting presupposed here has been analyzed by two authors and J.D.M. Derrett.
They have shown that the rich man was typical of an absentee landlord, the owner of a Galilean latifundium (a large land estate), who entrusted the transaction of his business to a steward. This person was properly trained and given great authority, able to represent his master in significant financial matters (e.g., the renting of land to tenant-farmers, the making of loans against a harvest, the liquidation of debts, the keeping of all financial accounts).
C. Marvin Pate, Luke, Moody Gospel Commentary (Chicago, Moody Press, 1995), p.313
This particular steward had a problem.
He was not honest and he evidently squandered his masters resources for his own pleasures. He was accused before his master.
Vs. 2 The steward was fired. He had make a final account
of his stewardship and then he was done! Of course, we are reminded that at the Judgment Seat of Christ, we too, will have to give account of our stewardship of the things that God has blessed us with.
Vs. 3 The steward, obviously is in a quandary. He is not physically able to do manual labor, and he would be too ashamed to be a beggar.
Vs. 4 The steward thinks and comes up with a plan. He decides to make friends with his masters debtors, so they, also, people of means, might receive him graciously into their homes. His plan is a very clever one.
Vss. 5-7 The way the promissory note was written, according too many scholars, the agents commission was written right into the note. The first debtor probably actually owed only 50 measures or baths of oil, about 400 gallons worth. The rest was possibly a very stiff commission that the steward was to receive. By the way, the cost of the oil was the equivalent of a little over three years salary for a common laborer.
The second debtor owed about a thousand bushels of wheat or about 8-9½ years wage. The bill was reduced to a little over 800 bushels of whet. Again, this was a significant savings.
According to many commentators, the steward was eliminating his commission.
This would have endeared him to his masters debtors, who would have shown appreciation by receiving him into their homes after he was done his job.
Not every commentator thinks that the steward was just eliminating his commission. Some commentators think that he was being downright dishonest and cheating his master some more. But remember, this is a parable and Jesus is making a point.
Vs. 8 The unjust steward was commended not for his honesty, but for his shrewdness. It doesnt mean that the unjust steward was right, but he was shrewd and helped solve his personal problem.
Jesus goes on to make an application. The children of this world are wiser than the children of light.
The children of this world would be those who are unsaved.
The children of light would be those who are saved.
You have met or heard of many people who were shrewd in business dealings in order to further themselves. But how many Christians, who might be shrewd in their finances for their own worldly pleasure, use that shrewdness in business to invest Heavenly dividends?
THE PARABLE OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS STEWARD
THE PRINCIPLES THE PARABLE TEACHES
In verses 9-13 our Lord gives us three principles that this parable would teach. These are things which we should learn for our own lives.
1. BE FRIENDLY
Luke 16:9 - And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
First of all, we know that Jesus is not teaching that you can buy your way into Heaven. John 14:6, John 3:36, Ephesians 2:8-9
Now we have to ask the question, how can we make friends with money that will mean something in everlasting habitations or Heaven?
The immediate context of Jesus day was the perhaps the giving of alms to the poor.
However in our day, there are a few ways money can be invested that will bring reward in Heaven.
The first thing that comes to mind for me is investing in missions. We can earn money so that we can give to the cause of bringing people to Christ.
Imagine the joy of a heavenly reunion someday where you are welcomed by the missionary who was on the mission field with you help and by the people he won to the Lord because you gave.
Another way of investing is giving to evangelistic efforts in our own church or through evangelistic outreaches in the United States.
Another way of giving is giving to those in need both Christian and non-Christian. Galatians 6:9-10
Imagine Christians in Heaven receiving you thankful that you had invested in them because you helped them when they had need.
2. BE FAITHFUL
Luke 16:10 - He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
The context is concerning money, but this statement is true for every endeavor.
If we are faithful in little issues, we will be faithful in big issues.
If we are unrighteous in little issues, we will be unrighteous in big things.
The person who is faithful in a small job at work or at church would be faithful if you gave him or her a big job.
The person who is unfaithful in a small job at work or at church will be unfaithful in a big one.
The person who is faithful to the Lord in little behavior issues will be faithful in big issues, such as honesty.
The person who is unfaithful in little behavior issues, will be faithful in big behavior issues, such as honesty on a larger scale.
Luke 16:11 - If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Money and the things money can buy wont go with you to Heaven.
Faithful use of it, however will lead you to receive true riches, the riches that do not pass away. I believe that often we are not blessed with other responsibilities for the Lord because we have not been faithful in using our money wisely. Matthew 6:19-21, Ephesians 4:28
Luke 16:12 - And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
God owns everything.
Anything that we own is simply a gift from Him.
Therefore how we use the resources God has given us is of the utmost importance.
Our poor people in America are rich compared to many other people around the world.
God will not give us true riches in Heaven of our own if we have not been good stewards of what He has given us here.
3. BE FERVENT
Luke 16:13 - No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Actually, you will be fervently in love with either God or money. Jesus says you cant love both.
You will love one and despise the other.
Most people love money and dont even realize it.
They are tied up with the things that money can buy.
If they dont have money, they dream and talk of things they would like to have if they had money.
Here is a very convicting test.
Listen to what you think about and what you talk about.
If you love money you will think and talk about things that money can buy.
If you love someone or some activity you will talk about that.
If you love God, you will talk about Him.
If you love God, you will use your money as much as possible to further the Kingdom of God.
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2 Timothy 2:3-4
A GOOD SOLDIER
ENDURANCE - "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
ENTANGLEMENTS - "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of [this] life;"
ENLISTMENT - "...that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."
If you would like another point, consider:
ENABLEMENT - Ephesians 6:13-18
God will only call on us to do those things that He will enable us to do.
Sermon Seeds C18
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Hebrews 2:1-4
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
HEBREWS STUDY #3
This lesson is complete with study questions.
s What is the value of taking time to think?
s What are some of the things that all people should take time to think about?
s What events in your lifetime have made people stop and think?
s What are some things that Christians should periodically stop and think about?
s How do we know that God wants us to think?
s How do we know when God wants us to think?
In Hebrews 2:1-4, we are given something to think about. It is an outgrowth of what has been said in chapter 1.
POINTED CHALLENGE - Vs. 1
Ø The therefore points us back to chapter 1 where we are reminded that Christ is the awesome son and the superior son.
Ø He is the Awesome Son:
1. JESUS CHRIST IS HEIR OF ALL THINGS Vs. 2
2. JESUS CHRIST IS CREATOR Vs. 2
3. JESUS CHRIST IS THE BRIGHTNESS OF GODS GLORY - Vs. 3
4. JESUS CHRIST IS THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF GODS PERSON Vs. 3
5. JESUS CHRIST HOLDS THE WORLD TOGETHER Vs. 3
6. JESUS CHRIST PURGED OUR SINS Vs. 3
7. JESUS CHRIST SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD Vs. 3
Ø He is the Superior Son:
1. HIS NAME Vss. 4-5 (Psalm 2:7, 2 Samuel 7:14)
2. HIS POSITION Vs. 6
3. HIS RIGHTEOUS REIGN Vss. 8-9 (Psalm 45:6-7)
4. HIS JOY Vs. 9
5. HIS CREATIVE ACTS Vs. 10 (Psalm 102:25-27)
6. HIS PERMANENCE Vss. 11-12
Ø The words, give more earnest heed mean to pay attention.
Ø The words let them slip mean drift away?
Ø What are some things that Christians stop paying attention to?
Ø What are some things that you have seen Christians drift away from?
Ø Is this drifting a gradual or a sudden thing?
PROMISED RETRIBUTION - Vs. 2
ü In some way the angels were involved with the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. They were involved with the giving of the Ten Commandments and other laws.
Galatians 3:19 - Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of
transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and
it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Acts 7:53 - Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have
not kept it.
ü According to Hebrews 2:2 this word communicated through angels was steadfast. The word was final! It stood as the law!
ü What were some of the punishments that were given for violating Old Testament Law?
ü How exacting was judgment on disobedience?
PIERCING QUESTION - Vs. 3a
à What neglect have you seen that troubles or angers you?
à Why is a Christians neglect more serious than any other kind of neglect?
à What are some of the ways Christians show neglect?
à Make a mental note of any Christian neglect in your own life. What are you going to do about it?
à How is salvation great?
à How does a Christian receive retribution for his sins in this life? Hebrews 12:5-6
à How does a Christian receive retribution for his sins in the next life? 1 Corinthians 5:10
POWERFUL WITNESSES - Vss. 3b-4
· There are three witnesses to our great salvation mentioned here.
· How was salvation spoken of by the Lord?
· How did the apostles confirm what the Lord had said?
· Of what significance were the acts of God mentioned in verse 4?
· What witness of your salvation have you received? Romans 8:14-17
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Sermon Seeds is a weekly e-mailing of free brief sermon outlines from Pastor Jack Peters. These outlines are meant to help other pastors and Bible Teachers in their own preparations.
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