ZEPHANIAH 3:1-2 Examine Thyself!

TOPIC: Apostasy; Self-examination

TITLE: Examine Thyself!
TEXT: Zephaniah 3:1-2

“Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, The tyrannical city! She heeded no voice; She accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the LORD; She did not draw near to her God.”

CONTEXT: After the reigns of David and Solomon, the nation Israel fell into a declining spiral of arrogance, apostasy, intrigue, idolatry, collapse, lamentation, searching, revival, and restoration … only to repeat the process.

Verse 1 says they had become an oppressive, rebellious, and defiled (blood-stained) society [the Hebrew says: filthy and polluted].

In verses1-5, Israel is judged according to the privilege granted her … as are all nation before and since. Her ruling classes had rejected any critique of their behavior or beliefs.

Israel trusted in her wealth, her military, and her alliances.

In verses 2:1-3:8, we see the earth and all her nations judged according to her privilege.

The verbs in verse 2 are participles, and carry the sense of present and continuous practice.

TRUTH CLAIM:

"Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, 'I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now My eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.'"

2 Chronicles 7:12-16

The value of Zephaniah for the church is prophetic ... remember - God is unchanging (immutable)!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does God hate to find in his people ... what really grieves Him?
CONCISE OUTLINE:
Each of the following phrases is negative …

I. He hates to find a people who will not listen!
II. He hates to find a people who will not learn!
III. He hates to find a people without an eternal foundation!
IV. He hates to find a people who do not fear Him!

Notice the first two are indicative of Israel’s stubbornness; while in the second two the Hebrew is reverse, implying a particular kind of rebellion.

The ultimate question is “Will any nation which behaves in this way survive God’s wrath!” But today's question is simply -

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does God hate to find in his people ... what really grieves Him?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:
I. He hates to find a people who will not listen!

Who are independent and self-reliant; who have misunderstood His blessings as a sign of their own cleverness!

Israel was that kind of people!

Consider our present post-Christian Era.

II. He hates to find a people who will not learn!

Who have no desire to learn or grow.

Israel was that kind of people! Refusing the Lord’s discipline!

Consider our present post-Christian Era.

III. He hates to find a people without an eternal foundation!

Who have a foundation of sand, who are not built upon The Rock. [Matthew 7:24-27]

Israel was that kind of people!

Consider our present post-Christian Era.

IV. He hates to find a people who do not fear Him!

Who will not draw near to Him in awe and reverence!

Who will not humble themselves before their Creator.

Israel was that kind of people!

Involves the acts of worship and service, prayer and praise.

They took the Lord's name in vain … in an irreverent or dishonoring way.

Consider our present post-Christian Era.

APPLICATION: Israel, especially her leaders, didn’t see the relationship between their current problems and God’s displeasure … thus they did not see their actions or philosophies as sin. Kind of like a pharaoh who did not know Joseph [Exodus 1:8].

Why? Because ...

“[the righteous man’s] delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”

Psalms 1:2

... and ours is not! No wonder our righteousness is like a filthy rag.

The leaders of Israel were not God-fearers. Only in name! A violation of the commandment not to take the name of God in vain.

I personally fear Western Civilization (and most of the church) has fallen into a declining spiral just as Israel did … I fear she –

1) no longer heeds the voice of God or anyone else; heeding only its own voice

2) is no longer educable in the sense of receiving instruction

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:17

God’s word has become anathema to them.

3) no longer has a rock foundation ...

You see we’ve always known that we can’t expect every American to have saving or even living faith in God; but if the nation herself, meaning the majority of the people and the “ruling class,” were to have a solid moral and God fearing foundation … well??)

4) no longer fears God or even accepts His existence, and will not draw near to Him.

It can be said: “Any ship of state manned by a blind crew will certainly end up on the rocks but not on the Rock.” [quote me on that]

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

James 4:8

CHALLENGE: We must focus on things above, not on things of this world.

The final discipline of God, the one which has brought the true promise of peace to all men, fell on the shoulders of the Lamb of God, His “suffering servant” our Savior.

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5

Apostasy, Christianity, Expository,
Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching,
Sermons, Zephaniah

ZEPHANIAH: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons, preached at FBC La Verne in Southern California or at San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico ...

3:1-2

EXAMINE THYSELF - A Case for the Decline of Western Civilization!

QUICK LINK: ZEPHANIAH: Seed Archive

Apostasy, Homiletics, Preaching,
Sermons, Sermon Series, Zephaniah

1 CORINTHIANS: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons; preached at FBC La Verne California, and San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Mexico ...

1:1-17

HOW HAS CHRIST SENT US? - What did and did not God send us to do?

1:18, 22-23

THAT FOOLISH CROSS - The Power and Wisdom of God!

1 Corinthians, Expository, Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

2 KINGS: Full Sermons

22:1 - 23:3

DUST ON THE BIBLE: Go Find The Book!

2 Kings, Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

2 Kings 22:1-23:3 - Dust On the Bible!

TOPIC: Scripture; Apostasy, Bible, Consecration, Covenant, Word (of God)
TITLE: DUST ON THE BIBLE: Go Find The Book!

TEXT: 2 Kings 22:1-23:3

(1) Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. (2) And he did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David [and] he did [not] turn aside to the right or to the left.

CONTEXT: Manasseh’s evil reign had brought Israel to its knees. Though money was everywhere it only flowed in the hands of the rich, the privileged, or the powerful. The poor were considered a necessary evil. The nations’ leaders were self-serving.

Politicians were corrupt to the core, even good politicians lack ethical and moral depth. Religious figures were no better … it was rare that good was done publicly in the name of the Lord. False religions and cults abounded. Right was wrong and wrong was right; black was white and up was down.

When King Josiah, the grandson of Manasseh, was 18 (perhaps as old as 26) he began a project to restore the run-down, cluttered temple that had been abandoned during his father’s horrible reign.

Hilkiah, the High Priest, had done some Temple Spring-cleaning and discovered a hidden copy of the law of Moses. He turned it over to the scribe Shaphan who had been sent by the king to prepare the administration of the Temple for the needed improvements.

Shaphan read the scrolls and reported to the king on what had been found. The king, a righteous man, ask that they be read to him. After they were read he came under conviction for his nation and himself. The result was a mighty revival.

TRUTH CLAIM: There is an old gospel song that has a stanza which says, “Dust on the Bible, Dust on the Holy Word, the words of all the prophets and the sayings of our Lord.” (Kitty Wells)

How is it possible that we allow dust to collect on God’s Holy Word? I continue to be amazed at how little Bible reading goes on among God’s people; I am equally amazed at how often I am asked questions that are fundamental in nature.

And yet right here in Scripture is an example of a prior time when the same thing was taking place.

Now please don’t misunderstand, I would much rather the questions be asked than not asked. It just surprises me that certain questions are asked by solid believers. And I am equally surprised at how few people want to know more about the Bible.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What Does the Story of Israel’s Rediscovery of God’s Word Suggest To You And Me?

EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. IT SUGGESTS WE SHOULD NEVER NEED TO REDISCOVER GOD'S WORD! (vv. 3-8a)

Now it came about in the eighteenth year of King Josiah that the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of the LORD saying, "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest that he may count the money brought in to the house of the LORD which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. And let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD, and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of the LORD to repair the damages of the house, to the carpenters and the builders and the masons and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house. Only no accounting shall be made with them for the money delivered into their hands, for they deal faith-fully."

(8a) Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD."

What place does the Word of God have in your life? Is it abandoned in your home like it was in Israel in the days of the evil king Manasseh?

[BIBLES] Bibles per capita in the world as a whole is estimated at less than half of a Bible per person. Yet in the USA we average over five bibles per household. An average household is 2.2 people. That’s over two Bibles per person in America.

More Bibles are used as coffee table decorations or bookshelf fillers than are used in Bible study.

God did not ordain the written word in order that we have a record of what He has said, nor as a book of dos and don’ts, nor as a reference work. The Bible is God’s way of reminding us of who He is and that His word is sure and true!

GO FIND THE BOOK! GO FIND THE BOOK!

The old saying, “Out of sight, out of mind!” applies to the Word of God. It was not the cause of Israel’s rebellion, nor the cause of their unrighteousness. Their hardened hearts and stiff necks were the cause of their apostasy.

When the word of God was rediscovered by His people they were reminded of Him, when they were reminded of Him they were reminded of their great apostasy, when they were reminded of their condition they were brought under conviction.

Now just because someone is brought under conviction does not mean they will change, change comes about after a person has broken and pleaded for forgiveness.

GO FIND THE BOOK! GO FIND THE BOOK!

II. IT SUGGESTS WE SHOULD GO READ THE BOOK TO KNOW ITS CONTENTS! (vv.8b-10)

(8b) And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. And Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought back word to the king and said, "Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD." Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

GO READ THE BOOK! GO READ THE BOOK!

God’s people not only discovered the word but they uncovered the word. They rolled open the scrolls and read what God had said to His people. They rejoiced to hear from the living God. They came from every corner of the nation to hear form their Lord.

In general they broke as a nation and repented of their errant way of life. The turned from their evil ways and determined to follow after their God.

GO READ THE BOOK! GO READ THE BOOK!

A dusty Bible says it has not been read. A dusty Bible says “I don’t care what God says.” A dusty Bible says “I know everything it says, it can offer me nothing new.” A dusty Bible says, “This book is old fashioned, it doesn’t apply to today, it’s not relevant.

III. IT SUGGESTS WE SHOULD HEAR THE BOOK! (vv. 11-20)

And it came about when the king heard the words of the book of the law, that he tore his clothes.

Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant saying, "Go, inquire of the LORD for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us."

So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her.

And she said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to me, thus says the LORD, “Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched.”

But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD thus shall you say to him, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Regarding the words which you have heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD. Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on this place."'" So they brought back word to the king.

GO HEAR THE BOOK! GO HEAR THE BOOK!

The Bible says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." [Romans 10:17]

GO HEAR THE BOOK! GO HEAR THE BOOK!

IV. IT SUGGESTS WE SHOULD SHARE THE BOOK! (vv. 23:1,2)

Then the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. And the king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant, which was found in the house of the LORD.

The Gospel of John begins by identifying the Lord Jesus Christ as the Word, the writer of Hebrews identifies Him as the Living Word!

GO SHARE THE BOOK! GO SHARE THE BOOK!

V. IT SUGGESTS WE SHOULD OBEY THE BOOK! (23:3)

And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

We need to heed: “When all else fails, follow instructions.” When we survey the panorama of contemporary American life we must conclude that we have failed. We need to read the instructions and determine where we have gone wrong.

GO KEEP THE BOOK! GO KEEP THE BOOK!

The Bible says,

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.

James 1:25

GO KEEP THE BOOK! GO KEEP THE BOOK!

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE:

[DAVID AND GOLIATH] The Rev. Frank Morgan reported in a recent issue of Reader’s Digest that …

“My daughter’s boss, Gene, a commercial appraiser of short stature, arrived in court with a bulging briefcase. The lawyer for the other party was a Goliath of a man who, when he caught sight of Gene, cried out across the courtroom, ‘Well, little man, what have you got in that briefcase?’

Without looking up, Gene replied, ‘Five smooth stones.’”

Let me suggest to you that the quickness of this man’s response was a function of his personality and character: his self-esteem was in place, he was confident and he knew his bible.

PRINCIPLES

1. It is possible for God’s people to abandon His word!
2. It is possible for religion to go on without His word!
3. God abandons those who abandon His word! Scripture suggests that God blesses those who humble themselves, pray, fast, repent, and turn from their evil ways!
   
4. Scripture suggests that leaders must be involved in revival and spiritual awakening!
5. Scripture emphasizes the hearing of the Word!
6. The bottom-line is man’s heart!

Notice the godly man’s has a heart for the upkeep of the Lord’s house! The godly man searches widely for the truth in God’s word! The godly man is not only a hearer of the word but an effectual doer as well!

2 Kings, Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Preaching, Sermon Outlines, Sermons

1 CORINTHIANS 1:17 How to make the Cross meaningless!

TOPIC: Easter (series); Cross, Gospel, Word, Works
TITLE: How has God sent us?

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What did and did not the Lord send Paul to do?

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Easter is a time to remind ourselves that what matters is Christ … not us. In the passage before us, Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about the Christian focus because he knows he is about to confront them concerning their individual and corporate behavior.

Paul chooses his words carefully in order not to take away from his ministry to them but he wastes no time getting to the Cross (before the first chapter ends).

Consider that Paul says, "Christ did not send me to" (do certain things) ... implying the Lord did send him to do other things. What things?

First let's be clear about what he wasn't to do and then look at what he was to do!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What did and did not the Lord send Paul to do?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. HE DIDN’T SEND PAUL TO DRAW ATTENTION TO PAUL!

A. He didn't send him to do righteous works ... "Christ did not send me to baptize"
B. He didn't send him to proclaim spiritual truths with clever words/speech ... "not in cleverness of speech"
C. Such things make "void" (i.e., make meaningless) the cross of Christ

II. HE SENT PAUL TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HIS WORDS, AND HIS CROSS!

A. He did send him that Jesus’ works would be full of meaning (ant. "void") …

[WOUNDED] I'm told that during World War I the Prince of Wales (I believe Edward who later abdicated his throne) visited 36 severely wounded men in a London hospital. The Prince shook hands with the men. As preparations were made to leave, the Prince indicated he’d only seen 30 men. "Where are the other six?"

Although he was informed the others were severe cases, he insisted he see the others. The others were soon seen. "But there are only five, where's the last?" asked the Prince. Although the Prince was told that the grotesqueness of the man's appearance would be unbearable, the Prince insisted on seeing him. They took him to the man's bedside.

The Prince stood silent for a long moment, then moved to the man and stooped to kiss him! With emotion breaking in his voice, the Prince of Wales was heard to say, Wounded for me. Wounded for me."

"Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD [i.e., power] been revealed? For He grew up before [the Father] like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed." [Isaiah 53:1-5].

B. And not made void [without meaning]!
C. That Jesus' words would be heard

1. Though foolishness to some ...
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, [1 Corinthians 1:18a]
2. It is powerful to others ... but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. [1 Corinthians 1:18b]

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: We now know that both the cross and the Good News are "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" [Romans 1:16].

And we know it is totally unrelated to man's works of righteousness ...

But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. [Galatians 5:11]

For ...

Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. (i.e., embarrassed) [Galatians 6:12]

So if we want to look good, then we must imitate Paul ...

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.* [Galatians 6:14-15]

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. [2 Corinthians 5:17]

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. [Col. 2:13-14]

We have the very bad habit of getting in the way of this Good News … talking about what we think and what we know and how we interpret and understand it and what we're doing or what we've done! All of this is fine but not what Christ sent us to do.

[VICTOR] A Commander-In-Chief may defeat all his enemies on the battlefield yet be unable to defeat his critics at home [Lincoln, Grant, Wilson, FDR, and Dubya].

He may be able to control the men under him and yet be unable to control himself [Jefferson, Kennedy, and Clinton]. He may be a victorious leader in the estimation of men, yet defeated in the estimation of God [numerous recent Christian leaders].

And he may congratulate himself that no one has been able to stand up against him, yet he will go down at last before man's final enemy, death [Stalin, Mao, Ho Chi Min, Castro, etc,].

Thus, all men's victories are partial in this life. Even the victory over sin and evil that the regenerated believer has in Christ is at best incomplete. Only one Man has ever conquered sin and death completely and defeated all His enemies.

And faith in Him is the victory. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying,

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." [Matthew 28:18-20]

Our works and our words are offered within His authority and He has "all authority." Where do we hear Jesus saying, "Go therefore and cleverly trick them into buying what you’re selling nor are we to impress them with fancy footwork. We are to simply "go", "make", "baptize", and "teach" without worry or fear.

And as I reminded you last week, "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, so send I you.'" [John 20:21]

Understand, if we do what Paul says not to do, but rather do what we want to do or what seems right to us in our own eyes, we make the Cross of Christ and the Good News meaningless or void ... the opposite of meaningless is meaningful or full of meaning; that is what Paul is telling the Corinthians and you and I today ... that's what we’re to be doing.

This message is not about you or me ... it’s about Him, the One who was on the Cross but no longer, the One who was in the grave but no longer, the One who was in the clutches of death and hell but could not be kept, the One who was in the flesh but is no longer, and in this world but not of this world. How would you like to leave church today knowing that you have been making and will continue to make the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and the Good news meaningless? You can.

"Wounded for Me, O glory to God, wounded for me!"

1 Corinthians, Cross, Easter, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

HABAKKUK - Seed Archive

Habakkuk 2:4, 8, 20

TOPIC: God's Will

TITLE: Three Elements of God’s Sovereign Will to Know.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What three elements of God's will should we know?

I. God will spare His own (4)
II. God will judge His enemies (8)
III. God will rule in His-story (20)

Habakkuk 3:1

TOPIC: God's nature

TITLE: Three Critical Aspects of God’s Nature!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What three aspects of God's nature are undeniable?

I. God is Capable of Intense Wrath!
II. God is Capable of Remembering!
III. God is Capable of Compassion!

Habakkuk 3:16-19

TOPIC: Prophecy

TITLE: The Effects of Prophecy on God’s People
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What should the effects of prophecy be on God's people?

I. Abject [Arena of] Fear (16)
II. Absent [Absence of] Fruit (17)
III. Abundant Future [Abundance of Future or Faith] (18-19)

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: God takes us into an arena of fear, chastening us by removing the very things which drew us away from Him, and leaving us with tested faith and the promise of an abundant future.

Hababbuk, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

GALATIANS - Seed Archive

Galatians 4:1-8 (cf. Luke 1:26-31)

TOPIC: Incarnation [Christmas]

TITLE: In the Fullness of Time!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What ought the Incarnation remind of us each year?

I. That We Were Slaves!
II. That We Are Saved!
III. That We Are Sons (& now heirs)!

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: See verses Hebrews 4:15-17

Galatians, Homiletics, Outlines,
Preaching, Sermons

LAMENTATIONS - Seed Archive

1:1

"How lonely sits the city That was full of people! She has become like a widow Who was once great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces Has become a forced laborer!"

TOPIC: People of God

TITLE: The Cost of Disobedience - How to be Lifeless, Alone and Enslaved!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How does God want His people ["the city"] to be?

I. He wants her full of life! [a city once "full of people," now "lonely"]
II. He wants her great among nations! [once "great," now widowed]
III. He wants her regal! [then a "princess," now a "forced laborer"]

1:4

The roads of Zion are in mourning

Because no one comes to the appointed feasts
All her gates are desolate;
Her priests are groaning,
Her virgins are afflicted,
And she herself is bitter.

TOPIC: Price of Sin [Church health & behavior, Spiritual infidelity, Worship; holiness]

TITLE: BLACK GOLD*: The Heavy Price of Infidelity! [* see 4:1]
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Why does the way to Zion mourn?

I. Attendance problems! [1b]
II. Missing Elders ! [1c]
III. Complaining priests! [1d]
IV. Declining [read "Reclining"] virgins! [1e]
V. Insensitive members [1f]

Apostasy, Christianity, Homiletics, Outlines,
Preaching, Rebellion, Sermons

1 CORINTHIANS - Seed Archive

3:13

... each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.

TOPIC: Discipleship [Sanctification]
TITLE: UNFIRED CLAY - What it means to be a Christian!

TRUTH CLAIM/CONTEXT: What a privilege to even be considered worthy to pass through the fire, to be provided works that need testing! Likewise, what a privilege to be placed on the Potter's wheel and be molded by the Master's hand!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does being a Christian mean?

I. It Means We've Chosen (versus being forced)! [Acts 26:28]
II. It Means We've Changed (the old is new)! [Acts 11:26]
III. It Means We're Challenged (to glorify our God)! [1 Peter 4:15,16]

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Why are Christians so proud of their denominational affiliations, of their family tree or father's name? Our Savior's name is Jesus! We ought to be more proud of our affiliation with Him and with our Father in heaven's name.

Rebirth involves a conscious choice of acceptance, a certain and consequentialchange in one's life, and no promise of vital life with out challenge.

10:1-13

TOPIC: Testimony

TITLE: STANDING LEST WE FALL - An Example to Follow!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What seven examples in the wilderness did the Israelites leave for us to follow?

I. Not to crave evil things! [6b]
II. Not to submit to idols! [7a]
III. Not to act immorally! [8a]
IV. Not to provoke the Lord! [9a]
V. Not to grumble! [10a]
VI. Not to be proud in you own eyes! [12]
VII. Not to think you suffer alone! [13a]

10:1-14

TOPIC: Walk (The Christian), Hypocrisy
TITLE: NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON’T!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How Is Life in Corinth seen in this passage?

I. The Life Presented Outwardly!
II. The Life Revealed Inwardly!
III. The Life Ignored Spiritually!

Christians seem to be awfully naive; believing like the Hebrews ... during the days of Ezekiel and Jeremiah ... that God does not see what they are doing or know what they are thinking. (added 2/22/06)


11:11-29

TOPIC: Lord's Supper [Communion; Eucharist]
TITLE: Testimonial Proclamation!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What three questions need to be answered before we come to the Lord's Table?

I. Why do we partake in the Lord's Supper?

A. To recognize His presence!
B.To remember His absence!
C. To proclaim His resurrection!

II. What is the Lord's Supper?

A. It is a cooperative (aspect of sharing)!
B. It is a concert (aspect of unity)!
C. It is a companionship (aspect of participation)!

III. Who may share in the Lord's Supper?

A. Disciples only! (only kind present)
B. Baptized only! (ditto)
C. Worthy only! (ditto)

15:12

TITLE: HOW DO SOME SAY?

Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What consequences accrue if Christ doesn't rise from the dead?

I. Our Preaching Is In Vain! (v.14)
II. Our Faith Is In Vain! (v.14)
III. Our Faith Is Worthless! (v.17)
IV. We Are False Witnesses! (v.15)
V. We Are Still In Our Sins! (v.17)
VI. Our Dead have Perished! (vv.15,18)
VII. We Are To Be Pitied! (v.19)

APPLICATION: But now Christ has been raised ... ! [15:20-22]

(Rev. 2/22/06)

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