SERMON SEEDS K9 FOR 5/7/07
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
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SERMON SEEDS FOR MAY 7, 2007
FOR MOTHERS DAY OUTLINES - http://www.sermonseeds.org/Mother's%20Day.htm
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FRIENDS!
Friends Day
Today is Friends Day in church and it is very fitting that we talk about friends. When you have true friends you are rich. When you have true friends you are not a failure.
Lets talk this morning about some of the positive aspects of friendship. As we do, we want to remind you of the best friend of all, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We also want to show you what qualities you need to have in order to be a good friend. And you can use these same qualities to decide if a person really is your friend. If he or she shows these qualities he or she is a true friend. If he or she does not show these qualities, the chances are that the person is not a true friend.
FRIENDS ARE SELECTED
It has been said that you can choose your friends but you cant choose your family.
It makes sense to choose your closest friends well.
· They will have the greatest influence on you.
· They will either build you or pull you down.
· They will either encourage or discourage you.
· They will either help you or hurt you.
I have seen many a person go down hill because they have hung with the wrong kinds of friends.
I have seen many a person experience Gods best because they have chosen the right kind of friends.
It makes sense to choose the very best friend available who is willing to be my true friend.
That person is the very Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
It boggles my mind to think that the God who made the universe wants to be my friend.
It boggles my mind to think that the God who holds all things together wants to live inside of me and be my friend.
It boggles my mind to think that Jesus would call me, friend.
How do I select Jesus as my friend?
John 15:14 - Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
The most important commands Jesus gave concerned eternal life. If we do not follow His commands concerning eternal life, we cant possibly be Jesus friend. John 10:9, 14:6, 3:16-18
· Jesus says that He is the only way to Heaven.
· Jesus says that when a person places their faith in Him they have everlasting life.
· Jesus says that if a person does not place their faith in Him they are condemned because of their lack of belief.
To have faith in Christ is to admit that you are a sinner who cant save himself. Isaiah 64:6
To have faith in Christ is to believe that he paid for all of your sins when He died on the cross.
Romans 5:6-8
To have faith in Christ is to trust Christ alone for forgiveness and eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-9
To have faith in Christ is to have your life changed by Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Are you Jesus friend because you have trusted Him as your Savior?
If you have chosen Him as friend, He has chosen you as friend, and has great plans for you. John 15:16
If you are wise you will select your friends carefully.
You will not select friends who will bring you down, but those that will build you up and that you can build up.
If you wise, you will also select the best friend of all, the Lord Jesus Christ.
FRIENDS SACRIFICE
My friends have made sacrifices for me.
I have made sacrifices for my friends.
A friendship that costs nothing is no friendship at all. John 15:13
This is exactly what the Lord Jesus did for us. He laid down His life for His friends, you and I who have trusted Him as our Savior. Isaiah 53:3-5
To be Jesus friend will also mean sacrifice. Luke 14:26-27
To be Jesus friend will require sacrifice.
· The sacrifice of time
· The sacrifice of talent (used for Him).
· The sacrifice of thought (that pleases Him)
· The sacrifice of treasure
· The sacrifice of tasks done for Him
It will cost everything to be Jesus friend.
It cost the Lord Jesus everything to be your friend.
If you will not sacrifice for a friend, you are not much of a friend.
If your friend will not sacrifice for you, he is not much of a friend.
We are not suggesting that we can always do what our friends ask. If a friend asks me to do what is illegal, immoral, or in any way contrary to the will of God, I should not make that sacrifice.
If a friend asks me to lie or to cheat for him or her I should not make that sacrifice.
If a friend asks me to do something that will hurt him or her, I should not make that sacrifice.
FRIENDS STICK
True friends stick with you. You stick with them.
When things are going well, your friend is there to enjoy it with you.
When things are going poorly, your friend is there to suffer with you.
Proverbs 18:24 - A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
The ultimate friend who sticks closer than a brother is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5-6
The Lord Jesus never leaves.
The Lord Jesus never forsakes.
The Lord Jesus will stick with you to the end.
That encourages me to be faithful to Him.
I am to stick with Him as a loyal friend.
I am to do what He wants me to do.
I am to serve Him all of my days. John 14:21
You can tell a person is a good friend when he sticks with you.
You can tell that you are a good friend when you stick with them.
Who is the good friend that you need to get in contact with this week? Maybe one of your friends has unintentionally fell through the cracks. Go! Find your friend! Let him know that you are sticking with him or her.
FRIENDS SHARE
True friends do more than talking about hunting, sports, the weather, girl things, guy things, movies or food.
True friends communicate what is on their hearts.
True friends talk about things of substance and importance.
True friends share the joys and the sorrows, the ups and the downs of life.
Jesus is the friend of those who have trusted Him as their Savior.
Jesus, because He is a friend, shares. John 15:15, John 16:13-14
Through His Holy Spirit Jesus is still sharing with you.
He wants it to be a reciprocal sharing.
Jesus is your friend. He shares with you.
Are you are Jesus friend? Share with Him!
There isnt anything that you cant share with Him! John 15:7, 1 Peter 5:7
Remember, a good friend shares. Let your friends share their burdens and joys with you, even when it hurts.
And dont you let things get so bottled up inside that you cant share with a friend.
Sometimes God places that friend in the right place at the right time so you can share your burden!
FRIENDS SPEAK UP
A friend will speak up for a friend.
He will defend him. He will plead in his behalf.
He will say a good word for his friend.
If Jesus is your friend He speaks in your behalf in Heaven. 1 John 2:1-2, Hebrews 7:24-25
Jesus speaks up for you.
If you are Jesus friend, you need to speak up for Him! Psalm 107:2, 1 Peter 3:15
If Jesus is your friend, speak up! Others need His friendship too!
If you have a friend, dont be afraid to speak up in his or her behalf.
FRIENDS ARE SELECTED
FRIENDS SACRIFICE
FRIENDS STICK
FRIENDS SHARE
FRIENDS SPEAK UP
How good a friend are you?
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2 Kings 4:8-37
FOUND - A VIRTUOUS WOMAN!
Proverbs 31:10 - Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Here is the story of a virtuous woman (Perhaps this is a good Sunday School lesson!)
HER PERCEPTION OF CHARACTER - Vss. 8-9
HER PROVISION FOR GOD'S PROPHET - Vs. 10
HER PROMISE OF BLESSING - Vss. 11-17
HER PROBLEM WITH HER SON - Vss. 18-20
HER PROCLAMATION OF FAITH - Vss. 21-30
To Her Husband - Vss. 21-23
To Gehazzi - Vss. 24-26
To Elijah - Vss. 27-30
HER PRACTICE (OF FAITH) REWARDED - Vss. 31-38
Sermon Seeds F9
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Psalm 79
PRAYER OF A HURTING PEOPLE
COMPLAINTS Vss. 1-4
QUESTIONS Vs. 5
REQUESTS Vss. 6-12
ASSURANCE Vs. 13
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ISAIAH 1:16-20
REVIVALS CALL
CALL TO REMOVAL (OF DIRT)
Isaiah 1:16 - Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
CALL TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
Isaiah 1:17 - Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
CALL TO REASON Vss. 18-20
Isaiah 1:18-20 - Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. [19] If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: [20] But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
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Matthew 13:1-23
A FARMERS PARABLE
THE PARABLE INTRODUCED Vss. 1-9
THE PARABLES INTENT Vss. 10-17
THE PARABLE INTERPRETED Vss. 18-23
1. THE DECEIVED Vs. 19
2. THE SHALLOW Vss. 20-21
3. THE CHOKED Vs. 22
4. THE PRODUCTIVE Vs. 23
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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. 36-37 - The conclusion of the story is that we should go and do the same.
Sermon Seeds G48
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1 Peter 3:7
A GODLY HUSBAND GOOD FOR MOTHERS OR FATHERS DAY
WISDOM - It is the duty of the husband to understand his wife. He is to dwell with her according to knowledge. Ephesians 5:25
WORTH - The husband is to give honor to his wife. A Christian Husbands should not be constantly embarrassing their wives. Proverbs 5:15-21
WARNING - A husband who does not obey this verse will have his prayers hindered. God does not honor the prayers of a man who is sinning against his wife. Psalm 66:18
Sermon Seeds B9
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