Archive for Christian Living
4 Reasons A Christian is A Priest – sermon outline
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Following is a wonderful sermon outline on what it means to be consecrated. I am excited about this because this is only one sermon out of a hundred or so that I am about to release in a new eBook entitled REVIVAL SERMON OUTLINES. Stay posted as it should be released in the next week or so. Below is a sample of what to expect.
by the late Dr. C. Perren
"Put on him the best robe." Luke 15:22.
' Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 13:14.
' Put ye on the new man." Eph. 4 :24.
"Put on bowels of mercies." Col. 3 :12.
"Put on charity." Col. 3 :14.
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4 Things Every Church Needs to Grow – sermon outline
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4 THINGS EVERY CHURCH NEEDS TO GROW
by Eddie Lawrence
INTRODUCTION:
Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these, 'It might have been.'
These words were penned by J. G. Whittier and ring with truth. The people who carried out great exploits in Scripture rose to the occasion when opportunity presented itself. They moved in faith and power and today we still love to hear their testimonies. Today we will read of such an occasion when two men of God responded to an opportunity that paved the way for God's glory to be poured out on an entire city.
TEXT: Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
TRANSITION: With this text in mind, I would like to share with you four things we can identify that enabled Peter and John to be used of God in a way that met someone's need and led to the growth of the early church in a powerful way. Of course, there are many things that could be added to such a list but let's pull out four of them. The first is a ……
1. PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S ABILITY TO MEET NEEDS
THE NEED-Verse 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
THE SUPPLY-Verse 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
THE KEY – Peter and John knew God was able to give this man what he really needed beyond what the money could have bought him. Instead of coins to provide a meal, he gave him the health to begin to make a living and a Savior to give him an eternity of provision.
APPLICATIONS:
"God called us to be distributors not manufacturers."
"Don't focus on what you don't have when ministering to people. Focus on what you do have. God uses what you have to bring about miracles.
-The little boy had two fishes but they became enough to feed thousands.
-Peter had no tax money but he had a fishing net which caught a fish that had the money.
-Peter and John had no silver or gold, but they had access to the One who had it all. We have the same thing do we not?
ILLUSTRATION-One Sunday afternoon my wife and I were taking a short walk when we were overtaken by a storm. We took shelter in a neighboring church where we found a special service for Sunday school scholars in progress. The vicar was catechizing the children, and asked: "What is a miracle?" A little girl put up her hand and replied, "Something we can't do, but Jesus can." The minister seemed surprised at this original answer, and pressed for a response in "more dignified English." Several chimed out the set answer he wanted, "A parable in action," and he seemed well satisfied. It left me cold, however, for I was still thinking of the little child's definition, "Something we can't do, but Jesus can."—Christian Herald.
Peter and John understood this and we must too. Jesus can do what we can't! If we are willing, God is able!
2. SPIRIT LED SENSITIVITY AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS NEEDS
THE ABILITY TO SEE- Verse 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
We need to learn to be sensitive and see with our spiritual eyes what cannot be seen with our natural eyes. How often do we just push people aside or thoughts aside when it fact God is trying to get our attention so we will give someone else our attention? When we do this, then we can get their attention and help focus it where it needs to be focused. That is what happened in the text before us.
THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE- It is obvious, that Peter discerned that God wanted to do something supernatural. When he took him by the hand, Peter knew that God's hand was also reaching down and touching the man. This sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is key in our daily lives.
"As many as are led by the Spirit, they are the sons of God." Romans 8:14
Peter and John were being led by the Holy Spirit
3. PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN MEETING NEEDS
THE FAITH TO ACT -Verse 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
-When God desires to work through you to help others, faith will be required. Will you be willing to trust Him to do what you know you cannot do in and of yourself?
-It is when we do what we can do, that the step is taken to see God do what we cannot do.
HOW BIG A SITUATION CAN GOD HANDLE?
ILLUSTRATION-A church of which I was at one time pastor was heavily in debt, and I made it a matter of prayer. One day a stranger called on me and said, "Mr. McNeill, I understand that you have a debt on your church that you are anxious to pay. I have heard a great deal about your work and I want to help." Then laying a blank check on my desk, he said, "Fill in the amount you require and I will return later and sign it." Then he was gone.
As I sat looking at that check I said, "Surely he doesn't realize that our debt runs into thousands of pounds. He would never give that much. He told me to make it out for the full amount, but I'll just put down half. I'm afraid he will not even sign that much."
After a little while the stranger returned, and with scarcely a glance signed the check, and left without another word. I looked at the signature; it was that of a well-known philanthropist. When I realized that he meant what he said, and could easily have paid the whole debt, I exclaimed, "Oh, man of little faith, I will never doubt again." (The King's Business)
4. AN AIM TO GLORIFY GOD
Verses 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
-The above verses and the stories that follow demonstrate that the man who was healed glorified God. Many of the people around him glorified God and the story spread and resulted in thousands getting saved and glorifying God. This all started with Peter and John choosing to live their lives in a way that God could use them to bring glory to Himself.
-This is the way Jesus told us it would happen. A very familiar verse of Scripture bears this out:
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
-By Peter and John's sensitivity to reach one person, the door was opened to reach the masses.
-When we don't live to glorify God, we live for the wrong ends.
Consider these—-
Unhealthy Alternatives to Glorifying God through What We Do:
A. Being Blind to Others and Just Live for Ourselves
B. Take Advantage of People's Needs for Ourselves - This is using people to get what we want instead of helping people to get what they need.
C. To See The Needs of Others and Choose to Be Unresponsive
CONCLUSION: As you think of these four things, how to you measure up? Are you challenged to become more sensitive, to use your faith to see God work and to be more involved in helping others? Are you willing to believe that what might seem a small thing can become the spark of a massive revival in the hands of God?
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THE DASH – A great poem for funeral sermon
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The Dash
by Linda Ellis
I read of a reverend who stood to speak
at the funeral of his friend.
He referred to the date
on her tombstone
from the beginning… to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the date with tears
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth, and
now only those who loved her know
what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own;
the cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we lived and loved
and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard,
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
You could be at "dash mid-range"
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel, and
be less quick to anger,
show appreciation more
and love the people in our life like
we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
more often wear a smile
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash…
would you be pleased with the things they say
about how you spent your dash?
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FINDING VICTORY IN YOUR VALLEY
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FINDING VICTORY IN YOUR VALLEY
by Eddie Lawrence
INTRODUCTION: I read a story about a man who saw an eagle. He said this….Once when I was in Switzerland I saw an eagle, a splendid bird, but it was chained to a rock. It had some twenty or thirty feet of chain attached to its legs, and to an iron bolt in the rock. There was the king of birds, meant to soar into Heaven, chained to earth. That is the life of multitudes of believers. Are you allowing business, are you allowing the cares of the world, are you allowing the flesh to chain you down, so that you cannot rise?
Is this a picture of your life right now? Are you being overcome by life's circumstances? Are you finding it hard to rise up and be who you know God has called you to be? The Scripture speaks to us on our place as Spirit born believers. Listen to what John wrote in 1 John 5…
TEXT: 1 John 5:For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Transition: The above passage is rich in its content. Through God's Love and Obeying the God of Love we who have been born again are positioned to be overcomers. Our victory to overcome is found in placing our faith in the Victor himself…Jesus Christ. There is no situation beyond the reach of Calvary's power. We need to remember this in our seasons of struggle. The enemy desires for us to forget this power to overcome so that we can be overcome.
Let me share with you three things to remember to help you find and live in this victory in your valley.
1. Remember Your Victories
In the Old Testament, the people of God would gather together stones and mark a place where they had experience God in some type of breakthrough or victory.
1 Chronicles 16:12 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,…
Psalm 78:41 Yes, again and again they tempted God,
And limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember His power:
The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,
43 When He worked His signs in Egypt,
And His wonders in the field of Zoan;
Paul reminds us that even the enemy of death cannot stand against the victory that is ours in Christ. Listen to these verses:
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Each time we partake of Holy Communion we are celebrating the victory we have through Christ.
2. Remember Your Valleys
Notice in the following passage mention is made of passing through the valley of Baca.
Psalm 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.
Baca is a word that has dual meanings: It can be translated "garbage heap or dump" and it is also translated "a place of weeping or tears." In both instances, the picture is not a pretty one but one we often face in life.
A. TRASHY TIMES–These are the times of failure, of wasted opportunities, of bad choices and ruined relationships. The place of disposal where life has tossed you into the dump.
B. TRAGIC TIMES–These are the times when you are pinned to the mat, cornered in the ring, and facing "inevitable defeat." These "no way out" moments tax and test us to the hilt. Will our God come through? These are times of tears and weeping.
Quote: A man by the name of William Ward said, "We should be thankful for our tears: They prepare us for a clearer vision of God."
What testimonies could you share today of being rescued from the trash heap or of God reversing your circumstances when it seemed impossible?
3. Remember Your Victories Often Come Through Your Valleys
Notice this passage again…it says they made a spring and were strengthened in the valley of Baca. Isn't it true that it is often in the struggle that we find the strength of God?
Wow…from the garbage dump to the palace! From under the heel of the enemy to your heel on the head of the enemy. These are the turnaround situations God specializes in. These are the stories created through the power of the cross and the favor of God that is now upon us who were once sinners. Yahooooooooooo!!
Psalm 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.
Is it not true that as New Testament believers we have a Spring inside of us now through the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit brings to us the refreshing strength and grace of Christ to live in victory in all circumstances. Even death has no hold on the believer. Whatever it is that we need, Christ will supply it to us through His Spirit.
Illustration: Allow me to read to you from a devotional that once appeared in OUR DAILY BREAD:
In northern Chile, between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, lies a narrow strip of land where the sun shines every day! Clouds gather so seldom over the valley that one can say, "It almost never rains here!" Morning after morning the sun rises brilliantly over the tall mountains to the east. Each noon it shines brightly overhead, and every evening it brings a picturesque sunset. Although storms are often seen rising high in the mountains, and heavy fog banks hand their gray curtains far over the sea, Old Sol continues to shed his warming rays upon this "favored" and protected strip of territory. One might imagine this area to be an earthly paradise, but is far from that! It is a sterile and desolate wilderness! There are no streams of water, and nothing grows there.
We often long for total sunshine and continuous joy in life, and we desire to avoid the heartaches that bring tears to our eyes. Like that sunny, unfertile part of Chile, however, life without clouds and even an occasional downpour would not be productive or challenging. But though showers do come, they will also end, and the sun will shine again. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30:5).
Let me remind you of the Psalm of David we call the Shepherd's Psalm. Here are a few verses that tie in with finding victory in the valleys of life and even death.
Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
POEM: VISION ACROSS THE VALLEY
I stood upon the hillside
In driving mist and rain.
The wind was round me whistling
A sobbing, sad refrain.
But away across the valley
The hill was bathed in light,
And in its golden glory
Was radiantly bright.
But would I reach that hillside
This valley I must tread:
The glory of the sunlight
Is to the valley wed.
And so, methought, how often
The story of our years
Is but a glimpse of glory
Through vision cleared by tears.—F. H. Oakley
CONCLUSION: Are you in a valley right now in your life? Let me encourage you believer…..you are still an overcomer through the One who has overcome. His victory is now your victory. His strength is now your strength. Have faith. Remember this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
For those of you who do not yet know Christ….place your faith in Him today. When you do, He will forgive you, fill you with His peace and power that will enable you to rise up in Him and overcome.
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Ten Signs You Are Near A Burnout/Meltdown
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The following I am reposting from Pastor Perry Noble's blog. Having experienced this meltdown in my own life and ministry, I pray it will help those of you who need to be alerted to this reality in the lives of so many ministers.
Ten Signs You Are Near A Burnout/Meltdown
By Pastor Perry Noble
My counselor shared a statistic with me two years ago that floored me…90% of the people entering ministry DO NOT RETIRE from ministry, they either quit or have some sort of moral/ethical failure that disqualifies them.
I’m not a rocket scientist…but I honestly do not believe that is what Jesus called us to OR what He wants for our lives.
AND yet so many of us (church leaders) struggle/wrestle with this (usually inwardly because if we said out loud that we are dying inside we fear that people may perceive us as weak!)
Here are ten signs that you are near a burnout and/or meltdown…
#1 – You are beginning to despise people and your compassion for them is continually decreasing rather than increasing.
#2 – You OFTEN think about doing something other than ministry…and your biggest desire isn’t to honor God and reach people but to simply find relief from the pressure that seems to be building daily inside of you.
#3 – You cannot remember the last time you simply had fun with family and friends…and joy is something you talk about but are not experiencing for yourself.
#4 – You are disconnected at home…when you get there you do not want to engage with your spouse or your children, you cannot enjoy being around them…you spend more time online than you do with your family…and you find yourself wanting to sleep all of the time.
#5 – You continually tell yourself and those you love that “this is just a really busy season and that you will slow down soon.” (However, the truth is that you have been most likely “singing that same song” for years!)
#6 – You are continually becoming obsessed with what others say about you…and one negative comment from someone who does not like you can put you in an incredibly deep valley and cause you to feel hopeless.
#7 – You begin to make easy decisions rather than the right ones…because the right ones take too much work.
#8 – There is no hope in you…and, you actually despair life. You have actually thought of death…and some have even entertained suicidal thoughts.
#9 – You are experiencing unexplained depression and/or anxiety. You are even having panic attacks and you can’t explain it!
#10 – You are increasingly becoming withdrawn from family and friends.
“How did you come up with this list,” you ask…it’s quite simple, I went back to December 2007 until January of this past year and listed out the qualities that were the most prominent in my own life. That’s right…my life! I went through a trial of intense depression and anxiety during that time period and, the best way I can describe my life would be “dark!”
However, through me swallowing my pride and asking for help, the support of an incredible wife, the support of great friends and seeking out an incredible counselor…and the unbelievable mercy of God I broke free from my darkness this past January. Oh sure, I still struggle with it more often than I wish I would…but I cannot tell you the incredible feelings of freedom and joy I’ve had since January that I haven’t had in YEARS!
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5 Ways to Avoid Lack in Today’s Economy
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5 Ways to Avoid Lack in Today's Economy
by Eddie Lawrence
INTRODUCTION: There is motto that boasts a claim for both corporations and individuals which says, "Here are four words that hold the key to success—-MAKE YOURSELF MORE USEFUL!" (adapted from Meggido Message)
In 1 Thessalonians, Paul mentions several things and then concludes by saying "that you may lack nothing." Therefore, this short list is powerful and calls us to examine ourselves to see if we are in alignment with these principles that help us to have what we need to live how we need to live. They too should be consider principles of success.
TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 4:9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
1. Increase in Your Love Toward All the Brethren v9-10
One of the key components to success is love. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:8 that "Love never fails." The more you love the more you reflect God's heart and the more God's heart affects you. There is favor in walking in the love of God.
In today's church environments where there are so many divisions, denominations, and differences, God smiles on those who join their hearts in agreement with what Jesus prayed in John 17 that we "all would be one even as he and the Father are one." We must find the place of unity without compromising what Jesus and the Father hold dear between them. This does not mean that you will be able to walk in unity with everyone who claims to follow Christ but I am sure it means we will walk in unity to a greater degree with those we can. The circle is bigger than most of us have made it. The first major hurdle for the early church was at this very juncture and the willingness of the early disciples to finally accept the Gentiles into their numbers was a major step toward God's heart.
ILLUSTRATION: In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, "Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less." (Our Daily Bread)
Psalm 133 is a beautiful picture and promise to us of the power of unity…..and favor for those in unity. There is a commanded blessing from God upon unity.
PS 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore.
One sure way we can position ourselves to avoid lack is by not cutting people out of the herd that God has included in the herd. Who knows, one of those persons may the person God has ordained to open a door for you.
2. Aspire to Live a Quiet Life v11
One sure way to get in a bind is to choose to be a noisy self-promoting pride-filled individual who constantly is spouting out orders to the rest of the world as to what they should be doing while neglecting your own soul. Christians are to be a prayerful deliberate people who are led by God …..not by the latest fad of the world.
Does the following remind you of yourself in anyway"
ILLUSTRATION: The "Coronary and Ulcer Club" lists the following rules for members…
1. Your job comes first. Forget everything else.
2. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are fine times to be working at the office. There will be nobody else there to bother you.
3. Always have your briefcase with you when not at your desk. This provides an opportunity to review completely all the troubles and worries of the day.
4. Never say "no" to a request. Always say "yes."
5. Accept all invitations to meetings, banquets, committees, etc.
6. All forms of recreation are a waste of time.
7. Never delegate responsibility to others; carry the entire load yourself.
8. If your work calls for traveling, work all day and travel at night to keep that appointment you made for eight the next morning.
9. No matter how many jobs you already are doing, remember you always can take on more.
(Bits and Pieces–January 7, 1993.)
There is not enough listening in today's world. We are called to a simple and quiet life of submission and dependence on God. In humility we are to patiently wait, listen, and then act in faith as we are led by the Holy Spirit. Yet, the truth is we are inundated by opinions endlessly all around us. We must learn to tune these things out and tune the Holy Spirit in.
A noisy life is a distracted life. A distracted life is an off center life. An off center life is a life out of the will of God. A life out of God's will will miss blessings that could have been received.
What is the noise level in your life? When is the last time you have had a mini-retreat just for an hour or so to just be with God? I am not trying to induce guilty….I am just asking if you are aspiring to live a quiet life/ A quiet life has to be a life with some quiet in it. A quiet life has to be a life that knows how to stop the noise getting to one's soul and the noise being released from one's soul.
3. Mind Your Own Business v11
The third thing Paul mentions is minding one's own business. This is not an injunction to helping other's in need, but it is a mandate to take care of yourself and your own business and avoid mettling in everybody else's. Often a person who is constantly in everybody else's grill is simply avoided dealing with what is in their own trunk.
I believe Paul is telling people to avoid finding yourself without what you need, you need to avoid sharing your mind on what you think everybody else needs or does not need to do.
This is a command for the Archie Bunkers of the world to keep their mouths shut. In our culture we are surrounded by a media culture of talking heads arguing about what everybody else needs to do. We must choose to be people who take care of our business at home and then let God direct us to what we need to really do to help other people.
To "mind one's own business" at the very least implies quit minding everybody else's business to the neglect of your own. This is not about not helping people. It is about not hurting other people by broadcasting their business or problems or troubles.
ILLUSTRATION: The word "gossip" has an interesting origin, and came to have its present meaning by a roundabout route. Originally it came from the Anglo-Saxon word "godsib," which meant "related to God." The word referred to a sponsor at one's baptism. Thus a "godsib" was a close friend who was familiar with you and knew all about you.
It didn't take long for the idea of "knowing about you" to change to "telling all about you," and the present meaning of the word 'gossip" was born. (The Friend)
Who wants to hire someone who will constantly broadcast to others everything they see wrong with the company for whom they work?
4. Be Willing to Work Hard with Your Own Hands v11
There seems to be a progression here because the person who always is trying to mind somebody else's business often will not lift a finger to help anyone even themselves. So Paul, here calls his readers to be good workers. This is a very practical truth….a good worker has a better chance of employment than someone who refuses to work.
The goal of a worker is not just to make a wage but to make a profit for the people for whom they work as well. It is foolish to be lazy on the job and rob your employer of money that could be your future raise if you only worked harder. Christians should be the best workers in the marketplace. We should live in such a way that when there is a job opportunity the employer is thinking, I need to hire a Christian because they are the best workers. They are hard workers. They are honest. They are diligent. They want the company to succeed.
ILLUSTRATION: A boy came to the home of a minister in Los Angeles and applied for a position. Now it happened that the household was already well supplied with servants; so the minister's wife said, "I am sorry, but we really haven't enough work to keep another boy busy."
"Madam," said the Oriental politely, "I am sure that you have. You may not know what a little bit of work it takes to keep me employed."(Adapted from Record of Christian Work)
Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying if you are struggling with unemployment that you are lazy or not a hard worker. These are hard times for many. I am simply saying to us all, being hard workers with a willingness to give our best in the marketplace positions us for greater success than when refuse to take the initiative to do what we can do and should do.
5. Conduct Yourself Properly with All People v12
We must always realize that how we act paints the picture of what we believe. The world is watching. We must conduct ourselves in a way that speaks well of our Master. Even the lost world around us knows it is wiser for them to partner with people who conduct themselves properly in their relationship with other people.
ILLUSTRATION: W. Michael Blumenthal, chairman of Unisys, talks about the mistakes he made in hiring: In choosing people for top positions, you have to try to make sure they have a clear sense of what is right and wrong, a willingness to be truthful, the courage to say what they think and to do what they think is right, even if the politics militate against that. This is the quality that should really be at the top. I was too often impressed by the intelligence and substantive knowledge of an individual and did not always pay enough attention to the question of how honest, courageous and good a person the individual really was. (Jerry Flint, in Forbes Magazine)
Too often, the world testifies to how they were cheated or mistreated by someone calling themselves a "Christian." For sure, the bullets always fly toward believers but we must avoid supplying them with the ammunition by the way we live.
CONCLUSION: How are you doing when it comes to these 5 areas? In what area do you feel the most challenged? Are you willing right now to ask God for His grace and help in this area? What difference could there be in your life if you experience a greater degree of these changes in your life? Do you feel you have been missing God's blessing because of a deficit in one or more of these areas? Why not do something about that right now? Why not tend to this business in your own soul right now?
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Three Reasons to Be Thankful – Thanksgiving sermon
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THREE REASONS TO BE THANKFUL
by Eddie Lawrence
Introduction: A visiting preacher to a small country church delivered a sermon on "Gratitude." At the conclusion of the sermon, when an offering was to be taken up for him, he said, "And remember, however small the gift, always be grateful and thankful to the Lord."
Well, the offering was taken up, using the preacher's hat as a 'collection plate.' When the hat came back to him, the preacher looked inside: It was empty!
Seeing this, the congregation watched carefully to see if he would practice the words about "gratitude" which he'd just preached.
He thought for a moment, then prayed, "Dear Lord, I thank thee that I got my hat back!" (from esteeple website)
Transition: Being a thankful person is not always easy. As a matter of fact, it is contrary to our fallen nature and requires that we live out of the resources that Christ gives us.
TEXT: Colossians 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Transition: In the passage we just read, I desire to call your attention to verse 15. Notice that it begins with the word "And" which connects it to what is already been said about putting on love. But it also indicates that what follows is seen as having it's own characteristic. Verse 15 has three components. It talks about the peace of God, it talks about being part of the body, and it talks about being thankful. I believe that all these truths are connected. So, as we go into this holiday week called "Thanksgiving", let me share with you three reasons from this text that we need to be thankful.
1. YOU CAN'T BE PEACEFUL IF YOU'RE NOT BEING THANKFUL
Peace and ingratitude cannot sleep in the same bed together, nor do they fellowship in the same soul. There is something about the nature of ingratitude that keeps a person from being filled with the peace of God.
We are told that peace is to rule in our hearts. The word "rule" in this verse means to serve as an umpire. The Holy Spirit cannot release peace to us when we are living out of bounds. And the land of ingratitude is definitely outside the boundaries of God's will for us. There are no benefits that come with ingratitude.
Do you enjoy hanging out with someone who is always demonstrating how ungrateful they are? They are always negative? Always pointing out what is wrong with everyone else but never see it in their own lives? I would venture to say that none of us here would deliberately choose such a person for our friend. Neither does the Holy Spirit.
If you think about it, when we are being ungrateful, it is a sure sign that we are not at peace with our place in the world. We are not at peace with how God is caring for us. We are not at peace with our "lot" in life.
2. YOU CAN'T BE IN UNITY IF YOU'RE NOT BEING THANKFUL
Paul writes that collectively we are called to a life of peace and to live in unity as a body. As I just mentioned, we find it difficult walking in unity with people who are ungrateful.
Think about it. If God can't please someone, then how can we? How can thankful people and unthankful people really walk in unity and agreement and serve the purposes of God together.
TWO CHOICES:
We will live with one of two orientations in our lives: We will be focusing on God's goodness, blessings, and all that He has done for us. OR, we will be constantly complaining about what has not yet happened, what He has not done yet, or what others are not doing, or what the government is not doing, and on and on it goes. And most people who live this way, seldom see their own irresponsibility or need to change.
In Romans 1:21, Paul writes about how the lost world has turned away from God and have gone into foolishness and darkness. One of the things he mentions that is part of their make up in denying God he states in three simple words, "nor were thankful."
Being unthankful leads us into foolishness and darkness.
Can we take some hard facts here? If we are not a thankful people, we are a foolish people. If we are not a thankful people, we are not choosing light but darkenss. Ingratitude indicates that some darkness has taken root in our hearts and leading us into foolish thinking and living.
How many church issues and problems may very well be solved if we just became more thankful for what we do have, for what God is doing?
ILLUS-This reminds me of one of Aesop's Fables about a Father and his sons.
A Father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the bundle into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it.
He next opened the bundle, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons’ hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words: “My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this bundle, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”
Being thankful helps us to "stick" together and therefore accomplish more together than we could apart. God has called us together and one of the ways we stay together is to be thankful always!
3. YOU CAN'T BE WHO YOUR SUPPOSE TO BE IF YOU'RE NOT BEING THANKFUL.
Paul tags two little but powerful words to the end of verse 15. BE THANKFUL! It is not a suggestion he is making. It is a charge to live a thankful life.
Being thankful means that we are full of thanksgiving. There is always something to thank God for in every situation. Notice I said you can thank God regardless of the situation. I did not say you had to be thankful for the situation, but you can still thank God in the situation. May I remind you of what some unknown soul once said,
"Do not grumble because you do not get what you want; be thankful you do not get what you deserve!"
Ah, this is so true isn't it? What God has already done should suffice us to be grateful for eternity.
HERE IS A THANKSGIVING TEST?
If a recording angel has been following you around for the last month recording every word you have spoken, every thought you have thought, and interpreted every bodily response to every situation you have encountered, would such a record convince a jury that you truly a person who lives a life filled with thanksgiving? Or would you be convicted of being an ungrateful person?
An even harder question is: What is my first response when faced with difficulty? Am I thankful or unthankful? May God help us to get to the place where we quickly go vertical and thank God for what we do have instead of what we don't. How that would help us to see that God is still in charge and will take care of us.
ILLUS- A lawyer had successfully handled a difficult law case for a wealthy friend. Following the happy outcome of the case, the friend and client called on the lawyer, expressed his appreciation of his work and handed him a handsome Moroccan leather wallet.
The lawyer looked at the wallet in astonishment and handed it back with a sharp reminder that a wallet could not possibly compensate him for his services. "My fee for that work," acidly snapped the attorney, "is five hundred dollars."
The client opened the wallet, removed a one-thousand dollar bill, replaced it with a five-hundred dollar bill and handed it back to the lawyer with a smile.
Conclusion: How many blessings we forfeit because our hearts are not right…we are not thankful to God. Paul also wrote to the Thessalonians, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." It is God's will for us to be thankful. It is one of the ways, that we can glorify God in our lives.
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Thanksgiving Jokes – for preachers to use.
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SOME THANKSGIVING WISDOM
A man in Chicago calls his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving and says,"I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.
"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams. We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Dallas and tell her."
Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this,"
She calls Chicago immediately, and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.
The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says, "they're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way."
THE SCRAWNY TURKEY
It's the day before Thanksgiving, and the butcher is just locking up when a man begins pounding on the front door.
"Please let me in," says the man desperately. "I forgot to buy a turkey, and my wife will kill me if I don't come home with one."
"Okay," says the butcher. "Let me see what I have left." He goes into the freezer and discovers that there's only one scrawny turkey left. He brings it out to show the man.
"That's one is too skinny. What else you got?" says the man.
The butcher takes the bird back into the freezer and waits a few minutes and brings the same turkey back out to the man.
"Oh, no," says the man, "That one doesn't look any better. You better give me both of them!"
DUH!!
A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family.
She asked the stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?"
The stock boy answered, "No ma'am, they're dead."
TAMING A CUSSING PARROT!
Martha had a parrot called Brutus, the only problem was that Brutus cussed something awful. Now Martha was having her in-laws over for Thanksgiving, and so she needed to train Brutus quickly not to swear.
Just before her Mother-in-law was due Brutus cussed terribly, so Martha but him in the freezer for 2 minutes to literally cool off. Then she opened the door and took out the parrot along with the turkey.
'And have you learned your lesson about cussing?' Martha asked the parrot.
Brutus the parrot took one look at the dead turkey and said: 'I sure have. But I have one I have a question, "What did the turkey do?" '
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How to Stumble Proof Your Life – sermon outline
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How to Stumble Proof Your Life
by Eddie Lawrence
TEXT: 2 Peter 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
8 Areas that Need to be Strengthened: verses 1-7
-Think of this way, it what way am I in danger of stumbling in this area?
1. Faith
2. Virtue
3. Knowledge
4. Self-Control
5.Perseverance
6. Godliness
7. Brotherly Kindness
8. Love
Four Questions that Need to be Asked: v8
1. Do these things belong to me? v8
2. Are these things abounding in me? v8
3. Am I barren in any of these areas? v8 (no sign at all of them)
4. Am I being unfruitful in any of these areas? v8 (was once fruitful but not now)
Three Reasons We May Lack These Things: v9
1. Shortsighted – we don't live with tomorrow in mind or we live too shallow.
2. Blindness – we are not looking to see if these these are there or don't believe they are important.
3. Forgetfulness – forgotten what Christ has done for you. Moving backwards toward your old way of living.
A Charge for Us All: v10-11
1. Be diligent to keep these areas right.
2. Realize that our call and election indicates that these areas should exhibit Christ.
3. Be aware that failure in these areas causes a person to stumble and keeping these areas right keeps us from stumbling.
4. We are to live in such a way that we can step across the threshold into the presence of Christ at any time.
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