ACTS 5:1-11 - The Great Pretenders

SERIES #8: Acts of the Apostles - Witnesses to Jerusalem
TOPIC: Hypocrisy; Deception, Duplicity, Fear of the Lord, Sin

[PLATTERS] During the late 1950’s The Platters sang a classic song called “The Great Pretender”; telling of a love which wasn’t sincere. Today’s mes-sage is about something even more egregious.

TITLE: THE GREAT PRETENDERS -- The Cost of Doing Business with Satan!
TEXT: Acts 5:1-11 [4:29-5:16]

INQUIRY: What was the sin that precipitated such severe discipline?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. One of many was PRETENSE!
II. One of many was UNBELIEF!
III. One of many was ARROGANCE!
IV. One of many was THE SIN OF EDEN!

TRUTH/CONTEXT:

[F. F. Bruce] The great Scottish scholar says of this event: “An act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of the people of God.” [Cited in Stott, Acts, p.109]

In this passage we are given a positive and a negative of early church life … notice the word “But” in verse one, contrasting Ananias and Sapphira’s niggardliness with the preceding events and Barnabas’ generosity.

[ROGERS] A few years ago Adrian Rogers, pastor of Bellevue BC of Cordova, TN, spoke on the subject of sin to the student body of one of our seminaries … he named three prominent precursors to a person’s fall into sin:

1. an undetected weakness
2. an unexpected temptation
3. an unprotected life.

[FAME] Andy Warhol, that weird artist of the post-sixties era, is credited with having said, “Everyone gets fifteen minutes of fame.”

Little did Ananias and Sapphira imagine theirs would come in this way.

We can agree this was probably not this couple’s first temptation to sin, nor was it the first occurrence of sin by them. Is it God’s warning to the church? Yes!

REVIEW: This passage is great for the purpose of recalling the threefold theme of the book of Acts:

1. the Preeminence of Christ
2. the Prominence of the Holy Spirit
3. the Power of the authentic church.

Authentic fellowship is marred; the authentic followed by the counterfeit.

Sadly we have many people today who are either disbelieving or offended or shocked by this story. When we compare it to others there is no reason to be; for example: Achan or Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, Jephthah, and the Levitical Priest who divided his wife into 12 parts and sent a part each to the tribes of Israel.

INQUIRY: What sin precipitated such severe discipline?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. One of many was PRETENSE!

They took the name of the Lord their God in vain! And their selfish desires got the best of them.

A. The desire to belong
B. The desire for the esteem of others
C. The desire to be seen
D. The desire to appear

1. fruitful among the fruitful is strong
2. righteous among the righteous is strong
3. spiritual among the spiritual is strong

Note: taking the Lord's name in vain is not using God's name when cursing (though it is a sin), it is calling yourself a Jew or a Christian when you are not one!

II. One of many was UNBELIEF!

They did not trust the Lord to meet their needs if all was given!

A. They didn’t truly trust God to care for them in the present
B. They didn’t truly believe that if they gave all, the Lord would meet their future needs

Conclusion: giving it all taxed their faith too much

C. They had no reality of relationship

[RELEASE] Susan Smart wrote about an experience as a student pilot. It seems she did well with all of the in-flight training except recovering from stalls. She previously panicked every time; her instructor told her she must master it to be licensed. On her first attempt she froze, her hands glued to the controls, the Cessna 150 flip-flopping in the air, spin-ning downward out of control. She tried to recall what her instructor had told her … “If you ever get into a spin in a Cessna 150, just let go of the controls. It’s built to pull out of a spin on its own.”

Instead she fought for control. Finally, in desperation, she called on God and shouted at herself, “Let go!’ She released the controls. After some wild yawing and pitching, the craft leveled out. She had descended al-most a mile but she was safe.

Smart pointed to similarities with our relationship with God. We’re told to trust and let go in spite of how fearful it is and in spite of how hard it is to release the controls of our lives! Before Cessna designed it into their aircraft, God had designed it into His plan for our future with Him.

III. One of many was ARROGANCE!

Like the Jews of old they thought God could not see what they were doing!

He says to himself, "God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it."

Psalms 10:11

They have said, "The LORD does not see, nor does the God of Jacob pay heed."

Psalms 94:7

Then He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.'"

Ezekiel 8:12

IV. One of many was THE SIN OF EDEN!

They heeded Satan and one another rather than God!

A. The text says, “Satan filled his heart.”

“You’re of your father the devil, & the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, & doesn’t stand in the truth, because there’s no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar & the father of it.”

John 8:44

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Luke 16:13

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’”

1 Kings 18:21

B. In the same way that God needed to make a point in the Garden, make a point with the Tabernacle (i.e., the sons of Aaron), in the Promised Land (Achan), and with two kings (Saul & David) … He needed to make a point at the inception of the authentic church.

APPLICATION: There were many other sins committed by this couple besides lying to the Holy Spirit ... the story here begins in the hearts of the two antagonists: it is their inward disposition not their outward operation that reveals the problem.

Wheat can only recognize the tares among us when we reach maturity.

CHALLENGE: What lessons may we learn?

1. The non-discrimination of iniquity; even you can be its victim
2. The Enormity of Sin: God hates it; it ruins fellowship, unity
3. The commonness of guile (deception, fraud, duplicity, etc.); Jesus called Nathaniel “a man without guile.”
   
4. The unfortunate necessity for church discipline.
5. The deceitfulness of our heart and the need for the Holy Spirit to goad our consciences.
   

God desires transparent, real people for His Body; as the east African church is fond of saying, “[God wants a people] without ceilings and walls.” (Stott, ibid)

Most Christians are oblivious to what is going on around them in the visible Body of the Church today.

Many are living a lie, faking it: hoping no one notices … believing God will not hold it against them … knowing but not comprehending the Living Word of God.

For examples I give you the following links as examples of church leadership in the past two years: Bynum & Weeks, Paula & Randy White, Tommy Tester, Carlton Pearson, the Paulk brothers, Jason Christy, Dick Dewert, Lonnie Latham, Ted Haggard … and hundreds more who are hiding in sinful deception as I write this!

Romans 3:18 warns us about "the fear of the Lord" ... where is the fear of the Lord in all of this?

This discipline of Ananias and Sapphira, however, got everyone’s attention: see 5:5 and 11 ... “great fear” … I wish it would today … for He is the same God today as He was back then!

Apostates, Christianity, Deceivers, Expository,
Fear of God, Holy Spirit, Homiletics,
Non-believers, Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

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

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

Matthew 25:1-13 - Stone "1" on our spiritual weekly pathway!

TOPIC: Holy Spirit [Preparation, Second Coming]

TITLE: COME, HOLY SPIRIT – Stone "1" On Our Weekly Spiritual Pathway!
TEXT: Matthew 25:1-13

Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

The foolish said to the prudent, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the prudent an-swered, “No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for your-selves.”

And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.

Later the other virgins also came, saying, “Lord, lord, open up for us.” But he answered, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.” Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What is the Holy Spirit’s role in my walk?
CONCISE OUTLINE:

I. HE IS TO LIVE WITHIN ME!
II. HE IS TO HELP ME!
III. HE IS TO TEACH ME!
IV. HE IS TO REMOVE THE DARKNESS WITHIN ME!

TRUTH/CONTEXT:

[AIR SPEED] All winged aircraft have one thing in common, they must maintain air speed or they will go into a stall and nose-over. From time to time, our walk seems to nose-over, our forward progress being insufficient to sustain the "lift" needed. We must ...

1. be prepared for His presence
2. be prepared to respond to his presence, and
3. be prepared to experience His presence!

Two things confront me as a Pastor – first, the condition of the world and, second, the condition of the church.

Now, if the condition of the world makes me think that the Lord’s Second Coming might be close, then I must choose between a very few options. I can say the end is close and risk embarrassment if wrong; or, I can avoid the embarrassment by ignoring it and preaching on other things.

However, if I am right and the Lord does come, then I'm guilty of not preaching “in season and out,” [2 Timothy 4:2] and will answer to the Lord … what will I say to Him? However, if I'm wrong and the Lord delays … what am I guilty of before the Lord?

So, let me explain why I’m preaching on the role of the Holy Spirit: because – right or wrong – we are to be prepared. That is our role, our faith obligation.

We hear much of revival lately; revival resides in hearts not behaviors. A mere emotional upheaval, a spurt of religious excitement, is not revival.

I think it is time for us as a church to make a change in our attention to the Holy Spirit … no, I’m not calling on our church to become Charismatics or Pentecostals … I’m calling on you to be intentionally receptive to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, one day a week, for one hour!

Now that’s not too much to ask!

It is a scandal to the Lord if our faith is but one hour per week; but I’m not asking for that, because that would be the final stone in our Christian walk when said that way. I am asking for this one hour to be the first stone of our weekly spiritual pathway.

It is my conviction we must start here, in this hour, together, to honor and magnify the Lord. Please, by the mercies of the Lord, allow yourself to be renewed in the Son, to be restored in the Father, and to be revived in the Spirit.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What is the Holy Spirit’s role in my walk?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. HE IS TO LIVE WITHIN ME! [1 Corinthians 6:19]

READER: Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

A. He is to be the life within me; the life I live is no longer my own!

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

[Galatians 2:20]

B. But precursor to this is my allowing Him in to live in me!

[GLOVE] The glove cannot do anything by itself, but when my hand is in it, the glove can do many things. True, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts. The Christian is a glove. It is the Holy Spirit in us, the hand, who does the work. We have to make room for the hand so that every finger in the glove is filled.

II. HE IS TO HELP (COMFORT) ME! [John 16:7]

READER: But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

A. Therefore, I must receive Him.
B. And I must not to be stressed out by life and its circumstances!

III. HE IS TO TEACH ME! [1 Corinthians 2:12-13]

READER: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by hu-man wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

A. I must have teachable (i.e., have a teachable spirit within me)!
B. I must not let the world dictate what I believe.

IV. HE IS TO REMOVE THE DARKNESS IN ME! [Luke 11:34]

READER: The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.

[HOME] We’ve all seen a home, late at night where all of the lights are out, and seen how dark the home is … in fact it doesn’t seem like a home at all, just a dark house, black panes, no light from within. But then you see a home with a light on in one room, perhaps it is just a night light, but the whole house, every window seems to be affected by that one lamp.

[SIGNS] Along our highways, well placed at appropriate locations, are official signs which give us direction and warn us of danger. Most of these are the reflector type; that is, they are designed to reflect the light of auto headlamps. In darkness, they are invisible to anyone who travels with-out a light. But when our auto headlights are flashed upon these signs, they reflect back to us their message of guidance or caution. Their night-time aid to us depends upon the light we bring to them. They have no meaning for unlighted lamps.

God would like to guide us through the days and through the years of this life. His signs are out there - in all the appropriate places. But whether we see them will depend upon the light within.

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: And I must remember that God has not given me a spirit of timidity …

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

The Book of Acts is called the Acts of the Apostles; but I agree with Chuck Swindoll – “it would be better to call it the Acts of the Holy Spirit” (my paraphrase).

So, I believe Acts reveals a spirit of power, of love, of discipline (sound judgment or self-control)! Read it again for yourself!

An element of a power is heat, and in a powerful life the heat of an unquenchable enthusiasm.... Acts is a burning book; there’s no cool or lukewarm in it, from beginning to end.

The disciples had been baptized with fire, with the holy, glowing enthusiasm caught from the very altar of God.

This fire caused them to love others in extraordinary ways. They had a love burning with heat and strength but they never manifested an excessive behavior, out of control or lacking in judgment.

Nothing could stop these men. Nothing could hinder their doing.

“We cannot but speak the things that we have seen and heard. We must obey God rather than men.”

Acts 5:29

This rings true throughout their behavior and speech. They have power, light, and life because they were not operating in their own strength but in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Someone once said they knew when a believer was growing because:

1. he more and more elevates the Lord
2. he less and less speaks of self, and more and more speaks of God,
3. and he became smaller and smaller in his own eyes …

“until, like the morning star, he fades away before the rising (Son).”

Bonar

John the Baptizer understood this timeless truth when he said, “He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease.”

I am asking you to be a Spirit indwelled, a Spirit enlightened, a Spirit taught, Spirit guided, and a Spirit empowered believer just one hour per week, one day a week to start your week on the first day of the week.

Today, right now, is the first stepping stone in your weekly Christ-walk!

Holy Spirit, Homiletics, Matthew,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

2 CORINTHIANS - Seed Archive

2 Corinthians 5:14

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died.

TOPIC: Atonement, Commitment, Love of God, Sanctification

TITLE: No Longer Living for Self!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What have those who're controlled by Christ's love concluded?

I. They have concluded that only One has died!
II. They have concluded that One died for all!
III. They have concluded all therefore died!

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: See verses 15-17

2 Corinthians 15:12

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?

TOPIC: Christ crucified, Christ resurrected, Easter

TITLE: If Christ is preached?
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What consequences accrue if Christ had not risen?

I. Our Preaching Would Be In Vain! (v.14)
II. Our Faith Would Be In Vain! (v.14)
III. Our Faith Would Be 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/CHALLENGE: But now Christ has been raised ... [15:20-22]. So the power of these truths has set us free from fear and unleashed our boldness in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians, Ecclesiology, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

EPHESIANS - Seed Archive

Ephesians 1:1-14 (part of ROMANS 8:32)

TOPIC: Unity with Christ [Abiding in Him]

TITLE: What's In It for Me? FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Being in Him! What's in it for us?

I. In Him we are chosen! [4]
II. In Him we are adopted! [5]
III. In Him we are redeemed! [7]
IV. In Him we are Benefited! [11]
V. In Him we are Sealed! [4]

Ephesians 5:17-21

TOPIC: Holy Spirit [Filling]

TITLE: How To Know You're Filled With The Spirit!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How may we know we are filled with the Holy Spirit?

I. If we have joy-filled fellowship! [v.19a]

"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs ... "

II. If we offer heart-felt praise! [v.19b]

"singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord ... "

III. If we possess a thanks-giving spirit! [v.20]

"always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God ... "

IV. If we are a God-awed servant! [v.21]

"submitting to one another in the fear of God."

Ephesians, 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

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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