Matthew 1:1-17 (Luke 3:23-38)
Matthew 2:2a
TOPIC: Knowledge; Bible, Discipleship, Scripture, Word
TITLE: ROOTS OF THE TREE OF LIFE – Hidden Treasure in Biblical Trivia!
TRUTH CLAIM: It's becoming the single greatest embarrassment to the Body of Christ in the last 20 centuries! What is it? It's the horrible lack of biblical knowledge on the part of the saints of God!
It used to be any youngster in Sunday School was better by far in Scripture than any unchurched counterpart. Not only is that no longer true, but now grownup Christians run and hide when Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormon missionaries arrive at their door. Why?
Webster’s defines ignorance as "the lack of knowledge." That's why!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What must we know about a biblical passage in order to profit from it?I. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE POSITION OF THE PASSAGE!THEN, AND ONLY THEN, WILL WE DISCOVER -
II. THE PURPOSE OF THE PASSAGE!III. THE PROFIT OF THE PASSAGE!APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Bible study isn’t a duty or an obligation for the child of God; but it's not an option either.
The old saying is true: if you love the Author, then you'll love His book.
At no time in the history of the world has it been easier to know His story than it is now. And yet, at no time in the history of the world have so many, who have been blessed with so much, known so little about the Giver of all blessings.
Sadly, this is true in almost every church in America today!
Think long and hard about why you (yes, you!) lack the necessary knowledge to defend your faith.
Ask yourself, "What is so important in my life it keeps me from the study of God's word?" Whatever your excuse is, ask yourself this, "Will it (whatever it is) stand judgment over me on that day, or will God?"
Matthew 2:2a
Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
TOPIC: Christmas [Christ]
TITLE: Where Is He? [Seven questions]
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Where is He who was born King of the Jews?I. Is He in our world?
II. Is He in our philosophy?
III. Is He in our religion?
IV. Is He in our government?
V. Is He in our homes?
VI. Is He in our lives?
VII. Is He in our heart?
Matthew 3:15a
But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”TOPIC: Obedience [Other topics - focus, God's plan, righteousness]
TITLE: Fulfilling All Righteousness!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How is "all righteousness" fulfilled?I. By Being Obedient to the Father's Plan!
II. By Demonstrating Agreement with His Plan!
III. By Separating the Vertical from the Horizontal!
Matthew 6:18
... upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.Only the True Church will be built, only perfect materials will be used; no natural or supernatural disasters will be able to shake it or break it, and the title is clear, no second mortgages, no liens, no encumbrances, it is bought and paid for.
TOPIC: Church
TITLE: UPON THIS ROCK
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Why is Jesus a successful church builder?I. Because He builds on a solid foundation!Jesus says, upon this rock, not just anyplace!II. Because He builds with certainty!Jesus says He will build, not can or might build!III. Because He builds as owner!Jesus says the church is My church!IV. And because He builds for permanence!Jesus says even the gates of Hades shall not overpower My church!
Matthew 10:27
TOPIC: Evangelism [Other topics: outreach]
TITLE: Be A Cheerleader For GodFOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: I want to be a cheerleader for God, what do I do?I. Get On Stage, Where You Can Be Seen!What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the lightII. Get A Megaphone, So You Can Be Heard!What you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops
Matthew 25:14-30
TOPIC: Kingdom (to come) [Other topics - discipleship, prophecy, sanctification, saved vs. unsaved, warning]
TITLE: THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT - What He Lacked!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What did the Unprofitable Servant lack?I. He Lacked Comprehension (of God)!
II. He Lacked Devotion (to God)!
III. He Lacked Justification (from God)!
Matthew 26:17-46 (27:27-54)
Matthew 26:36-46
TOPIC: Lord's Supper [Atonement, Blessing, Crucifixion, Easter, Ordinance, Sacrifice, Substitution, Suffering]
TITLE: THE KEEPSAKE OF THE LORD - His Agony, Our Ecstasy!
TRUTH CLAIM: Memorial tokens are given to special people in our lives to cause then to have fond and enduring remembrances of us! They're intended to be kept for remembrance’s sake ... thus they are known as keep-sakes!
The Lord gave us His keepsake - an ordinance - we know it as the Lord's Supper! He paid for it with His life, yet it brings us great blessing!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How ought we visualize the Lord’s Supper in the light of His agony but Our ecstasy?I. WE SEE HIS AGONY IN ...APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: 1 Corinthians 11:26 says "as often as" we partake of His supper we "proclaim the Lord's death until He comes." This we may all do, freely!A. THE CUP OF...II. WE SEE OUR ECSTASY IN ...1. HIS BETRAYAL!B. THE BREAD OF HIS DEATH!
2. HIS NECESSITY!
3. HIS SHAME!
4. HIS PAIN!
5. HIS CONDEMNATION!A. THE CUP OF...1. OUR AWE!B. THE BREAD OF OUR NEW LIFE!
2. OUR REMEMBRANCE!
Yet only those who can declare in truth they’ve been "crucified with Christ" will have power in the proclamation of their testimony!
I perceive there are many who desire to proclaim Him "crucified," yet have no power, because they themselves have not been crucified with Him!
How the Lord must grieve as He sees us partake of His supper with such a deficiency in our lives.
If we freely choose to preach the Lord's agony (in this symbolic way), then we are obligated to practice what we preach!
It's not just those who are called to the preaching ministry who are obligated to preach that Christ died for our sins, but all those who go by the name of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)!
And, if we preach the Lord's agony, in this memorial way, professing to be followers of His, then we must manifest that same spirit of sacrifice which brought Him to the cross of His agony!
For it's in that spirit of sacrifice the world sees the truth and reality of what Jesus did for them!
Matthew 26:36-46
TOPIC: Pre-Easter [Other topics - prayer]
TITLE: HE WAS HEARD! [Adapted from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening; "Evening," March 22]FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How did Jesus face the road He had to travel?I. With Powerful Humility! (He fell on His face!)
II. With Powerful Misery! (Being in agony!!)
III. With Powerful Sanctity! (Thy will be done!)
Matthew 26:36-56
TOPIC: Pre-Easter [Other topics - prayer]
TITLE: STAYING FAITHFUL! [Adapted from Family Bible Study: Life Truths quarterly; LifeWay Christian Resources (© Southern Baptist Convention) June 24 2001, pp.43-51 (edited for use by Pastors Pastor)]
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How may I stay faithful to God in the face of difficult circumstances?I. By Asking Friends for Support! [36-38]
II. By Seeking God’s Will! (39)
III. By Guarding Against Temptation! (40,41)
IV. By Facing Difficulties Head On! (47-50)
V. By Knowing God’s Word! (51-56)
Matthew 28:18 [cp. 22:37]
TOPIC: Lordship
TITLE: If Not Of All, Then Not At All!
TRUTH CLAIM: If we claim to understand every doctrine concerning the person and workof Christ but fail to allow Him to be Lord of all, we must sadly confess that weunderstand nothing at all!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What must Jesus be Lord of if He is to truly be Lord of All?I. He Must Be Lord of All the Visibles!A. All Our Possessions!
B. All Our Professions!
C. All Our Personals!
D. All Our Particulars!II. He Must Be Lord of All the Invisibles!A. All Our Thoughts!
B. All Our Emotions!
C. All Our Will!Jesus is not Lord of anything if He is not Lord of everything.
Two points: first, Jesus IS Lord whether we accept Him or not but, second, we must submit to Him as Lord in order for Him to be OUR Lord!
Matthew 28:18-20
TOPIC: Great Commission
TITLE: A COMMISSION WITH ROYAL BACKBONE - "Go ... I Am is with you."
[Adapted from T. C. Horton, "Go & Lo!" The King's Business (Biola Press, March 1922) pp.227-28.]
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What kind of a commission are we given?I. A BLESSED COMMISSION - One with Authorization!All authority has been given to Me ...II. A BLESSED COMMISSION - One with Association!... lo, I am is with you ...III. A BLESSED COMMISSION - One with Assertion!Go therefore ...APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: The Great Commission -
- provides us the greatest work place - the whole world!
- provides us the greatest work ethic - the gospel truth!
- provides us the greatest work mate - The Risen Lord!
- Will you hear?
- Will you heed?
- Will you hesitate?
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