Showing posts with label Jews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jews. Show all posts

Monday, June 05, 2006

MATTHEW - Full Sermons

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Sunday, July 10, 2005

HEBREWS 3:12-13 - Son of Encouragement!

TOPIC: Encouragement; prophesy
TITLE: SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT – How to be a biblical encourager!
“Take care … there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart which falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What is the profile of an authentic biblical encourager?
CONCISE OUTLINE:
I. AN ENCOURAGER IS FIRST A BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN
II. AN ENCOURAGER IS CHRIST-LIKE
III. AN ENCOURAGER HAS AN OBEDIENT SPIRIT
IV. AN ENCOURAGER THRIVES ON HIS LABOR'S FRUIT
TRUTH/CONTEXT: I was reminded this week by one of my daughters of the importance of encouragement as a ministry in our relationships.

A couple of weeks ago I preached on koinonia – fellowship! We can’t actually have authentic fellowship without encouragement ... you see they’re both rooted in love and if the church is rooted in anything it is rooted in love, agape love – for God is love!

How should I encourage others? What is the practical side of encouragement?

A Scottish blogger friend, John Brown at Scotwise, who lives on the Gold Coast of Australia, just finished a 3-part series on the subject. I’ve borrowed from some of his material.

When you encourage someone, is it limited to just words? Or do you get up close and personal, where you can see the whites of their eyes?
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. -
William Arthur Ward
It is wonderful when you run into an encourager … often they don’t know they are because it’s so natural to them. Many who are convinced they have no ministry have the ministry of encouragement.

My friend shares this story ...
[PLAY ME A SONG] An elderly widow, restricted in her activities, was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent – the service is free." When people called, she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?"

Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.
– Source unknown
Your image of a biblical Christian might be of one who speaks positive words of encouragement to you, one who says nice things, communicates with honey-like words. But you’d be wrong.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What is the profile of an authentic biblical encourager?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:
I. AN ENCOURAGER IS FIRST A BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN –
A. Being a Biblical Christian of course means he is born again
Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:3
B. Being a Biblical Christian means the bible is his operations manual, his daily guide ...
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
II. AN ENCOURAGER IS CHRIST-LIKE –
A. He is an imitator of Jesus (Christian means, lil' Christ)
B. He has compassion on the multitudes [Matthew 9:36]
C. He cares for the least of these [Matthew 25:31-46]
III. AN ENCOURAGER HAS AN OBEDIENT SPIRIT –
A. He loves the Lord his God with all that he is [Matt 22:35-38; the Great Commandment]
B. He loves his neighbor [Second Commandment]
C. He seeks first the Kingdom of God [Matthew 6:33]
D. He denies himself [Matthew 16:24]
E. He serves others not self [Philippians 2:3-4]
F. He reaches out to others [Matthew 20:28; Jesus did not come to be served]
G. His focus is on things above and not things of this world [Colossians 3:1-3]
H. He takes one day at a time [Matthew 6:34; Christy Lane’s song]
I. He makes disciples and teaches God’s commandments [Matthew 28:19-20]
J. He is a John 15 disciple …
1. He knows "apart" from Jesus he "can do nothing" [John 15:5a]
2. He glorifies the Father by bearing much fruit [John 15:8]
3. He loves the brethren [John 15:12]
IV. AN ENCOURAGER THRIVES ON HIS LABOR'S FRUIT –
A. He is not one who is satisfied with a moment's elation (e.g., Ananias and Sapphira)
B. He incites and exhorts others to act (Stephen)
C. His reward is a changed life (Paul at the Areopagus)
APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: The greatest encourager is the Holy Spirit; the Father had the Son tells us He sent Him to help and comfort us, lit. to encourage us.

He is referred to as the paracletos! One who comes along side of to console and to counsel, to edify and exhort!
[FLOTATION] During the Second World War a plane went down and the crew was for some reason unable to get their “Mae Wests” on and found themselves in the middle of the ocean with nothing to help them stay afloat … except a box of paper cups. Somehow they arranged the cups in such a ways that they served as a flotation device until they were rescued.

Encouragement is like those paper cups, it helps keep us all afloat until we are rescued.
My friend John says …
The ministry of encouragement does not involve great personal gifts of speech, or musical talent. Encouragement can be done by anyone, who will simply try to see those around them through the eyes of Christ, and there is a great need for people who will lift up rather than put down. It is a gift that we all must cultivate, or many who are downtrodden, will be ground into the dust.
He says ….
It costs us nothing to encourage people, it is a free gift from our encouraging God, let us use it freely to glorify his name, and to extend the Kingdom of Heaven!
But to be a biblical encourager one must be like the cups and not just like the “play me a hymn woman,” we must get in the water with the discouraged and put ourselves at risk with them.
[HALLMARK CARDS] has a great series of commercials on encouragement … the trou-bled teen whose principle encouraged her and the little boy who stayed in from his recesses in order to befriend a crippled boy … but they are only biblical if they cost you something.
I think of the 22 year old clerk at the florist who included a card of cheer to a customer’s friend’s 15 year old son who had just found out he had leukemia … she didn’t have to do it, but she’d survived the disease herself and wanted to encourage him … it changed his life!

The bottom line is this: and encourager exhorts, entreats, incites, uplifts, consoles, comforts, coun-sels, stimulates, edifies, excites courage, inspires, builds confidence & hope, motivates, and em-boldens among many things.

Notice an encourager is not a discourager, or a discomforter, a conspirator, a destroyer, a demotivator, or a robber of hope.

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Saturday, April 30, 2005

MATTHEW - Seed Archive

Matthew 1:1-17 (Luke 3:23-38)
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!
II. THE PURPOSE OF THE PASSAGE!
THEN, AND ONLY THEN, WILL WE DISCOVER -
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.

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!
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.

Matthew 10:27
TOPIC: Evangelism [Other topics: outreach]

TITLE: Be A Cheerleader For God
FOUNDATIONAL 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 light
II. 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)
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 ...
A. THE CUP OF...
1. HIS BETRAYAL!
2. HIS NECESSITY!
3. HIS SHAME!
4. HIS PAIN!
5. HIS CONDEMNATION!
B. THE BREAD OF HIS DEATH!
II. WE SEE OUR ECSTASY IN ...
A. THE CUP OF...
1. OUR AWE!
2. OUR REMEMBRANCE!
B. THE BREAD OF OUR NEW LIFE!
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!

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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Saturday, February 26, 2005

ESTHER - Seed Archive

4:14
... who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?
TOPIC: ; , , , , ,
TITLE: THE CALLING OF GOD: No one knows when or where it will come!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Why should all believers be prepared to be called?
I. NO ONE KNOWS FOR WHEN & WHERE THEY'RE CALLED!
II. BUT ALL ARE CALLED FOR SOME TIME & PLACE!
A. Some times are very inconvenient!
B. Some places are -
1. Mountains!
a. Heights
b. Meadows
2. Canyons!
a. Cliffs
b. Bottoms
III. BUT ALL ARE CALLED TO SERVE GOD
A. When He Chooses!
B. Where He Chooses!


10:3
... Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus and ... in favor with the multitude of his kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.
TOPIC: ; ,

TITLE: HOW TO BE A TRULY GREAT MAN! [Adapted from Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening, November 28, "Evening"]

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How did Mordecai become great among his people?
I. HE HONORED HIS MASTER!
II. HE FOUND FAVOR AMONG HIS PEOPLE!
III. HE SOUGHT THE GOOD OF HIS PEOPLE!
IV. HE SPOKE FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL!
APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Be like Mordecai … honor those in authority over you, be above reproach, look out for your own, but don’t discriminate against any!

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