Archive for Encouragement
An Invitation to Rest and Refreshment – Bible Study Outline
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An Invitation to Rest and Refreshment
by Leif Hetland – (visit leifhetland.com for info about Leif's ministry)
Psalm 23 is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. Countless times this Psalm has been read in times of grief and sorrow to bring comfort to the listeners. If you read this Psalm carefully you will discover that it is "A day in the life of a sheep." It is spoken from the point of view of a well cared for and well-loved sheep.
There are countless golden nuggets to be mined from this Psalm. Let's look at two:
Golden nugget #1 is an invitation to Rest.
"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want." As one little child said in Sunday school when asked to quote verse one, "The Lord is my shepherd, that's all I need!" He may have missed the quote but he spoke truth. When you know the person (the Shepherd) you find rest.
In Psalm 22 He Is the Good Shepherd who dies for his sheep. (John 10:11)
In Psalm 23 He is the Great Shepherd who cares for his sheep. (Hebrews 13:20 – 21)
In Psalm 24 He is the Chief Shepherd who comes for his sheep. (1 Peter 5:4)
One of the definitions given for the word "rest" is – peace, ease, or refreshment resulting from sleep or the cessation of an activity.”
Listen to the words of our Shepherd when he said:
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
In commenting on this text, William Barclay wrote:
‘He says, "My yoke is easy." The word easy is in Greek chrestos, which can mean well-fitting. In Palestine ox-yokes were made of wood; the ox was brought, and the measurements were taken. The yoke was then roughed out, and the ox was brought back to have the yoke tried on. The yoke was then carefully adjusted, so that it would fit well, and would not gall the neck of the patient beast. The yolk was tailor-made to fit the ox.’ (The Gospel of Matthew, The Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh, Page 19).
David was persuaded of God’s ability to satisfy the need of his soul when he said in Psalm 62:1-2: "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I shall never be shaken."
He also knew how to encourage his own soul: "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken." (Psalm 62:5-6)
Jesus’ yoke (his words, teachings, and commandments) fits us well. The life that He has given us to live is not bitter or heavy burdened, but rather a life-style that is made to measure, to fit us. It is not a “one size fits all” life. Many times we choose to lay our burdens at His feet, only to pick them up again when we leave!
The yoke was a wooden frame used to harness together a pair of oxen at their necks so that they could pull a plow or some other load. It was a balancing device. Sometimes a younger ox needed to be taught to work and thus was paired with an animal of more experience. This beautifully illustrates our relationship with Christ. As we walk by His side, sharing the yoke and burden, the load does not disappear but is made lighter. We can try to carry our load by ourselves, or we can walk with Him, listening to His voice, and thereby find rest for our souls.
Golden nugget #2 is an invitation to Refreshment.
"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters."
Sheep can be very unstable and must be closely watched and cared for. Someone said that when people are compared to sheep in the Bible, it is not a compliment. So when Isaiah says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6), he is not saying, "That’s good”. He’s saying, "That’s bad” because we’re just about on the same level with sheep. When Jesus looked out on the people with compassion, the Gospel writers say that He saw them "like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). That’s not a compliment, either, but a concern.
Philip Keller was a sheep rancher and in his book A Shepherd Looks at the Twenty third Psalm, he says sheep require more attention than any other livestock. They just can’t take care of themselves.
Sheep (and people) can be "dumb" and make bad decisions. Jesus is our wisdom and will lead us to make wise decisions about our life.
Sheep (and people) are "defenseless" and need protection. The Good Shepherd is always on the lookout for the predator who will try to steal and devour His sheep. The Shepherd of our soul is on constant vigilance to protect us, even "when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death."
Sheep (and people) have no sense of direction and need to be led. A dog, horse, cat, or a bird can find its way home. When a sheep gets lost, it’s lost forever unless someone rescues it.
The Good Shepherd leads his sheep to a lush pasture where they have plenty to eat and their stomachs are soon full. Here, then, is a picture of a sheep so completely satisfied that there isn’t the least desire for anything more. He’s so content he lies down in green pastures.
The Lord has provided us with plenty, too. There are few of us who will ever go hungry. In fact, we have so much to eat that dieting is a constant discipline, or maybe more accurately, a constant discussion.
While all of that may be true, it is comforting to know that we have a good Shepherd who will make sure that we are watched and cared for and not left to our own devices.
Did you notice the wording? David said, "He makes me lie down." Sheep sometimes have to be forced to lie down. They can be very stubborn.
Keller said in his book that in order for sheep to lie down, 4 things are required:
1. They have to be full. Hungry sheep stay on their feet searching for another mouthful of food.
2. Secondly, they must be unafraid. They will not lie down if they’re fearful. The least suspicion of wolves or bears and they stand ready to flee.
3. Thirdly, they must be content. If flies or fleas are bothering them they will not lie down.
4. Finally, sheep will not lie down unless there is harmony in the flock. If there is friction over the butting order among them, then they simply cannot relax and lie down.
David then says, "He leads me beside quiet waters." (see vs. 2) Sheep are frightened of swiftly moving water. They are easily upset. They’re poor swimmers, and get bogged down with their heavy wool. When they get wet, it’s easy for them to get “cast” down or turned on their back. When that happens, they must be helped or the lion, bear or wolf will come and kill them.
David used the same picture in Psalm 42:5 when describing his depressed state. “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”
David, in his distress, had “turned” or was “cast down” and needed God to lift him up. As a shepherd himself, he knew if he stayed in that spiritual condition for very long the enemy would come and destroy him.
So when the shepherd comes to a flowing stream, he doesn’t try to force the sheep to drink. Instead, a good shepherd builds a dam and makes a quiet little pool where his sheep can drink from still waters.
"Dr. Andrew Bonar told me how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn't get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet, and then they can't jump back again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress. They may be there for days, until they have eaten all the grass. The shepherd will wait until they are so faint they cannot stand, and then they will put a rope around him, and he will go over and pull that sheep up out of the jaws of death. "Why don't they go down there when the sheep first gets there?" I asked. "Ah!" He said, "they are so very foolish they would dash right over the precipice and be killed if they did!" And that is the way with men; they won't go back to God till they have no friends and have lost everything. If you are a wanderer I tell you that the Good Shepherd will bring you back the moment you have given up trying to save yourself and are willing to let Him save you His own way.” Moody's Anecdotes, pp. 70-71
Are you stressed to the max? Is it hard to focus on daily tasks? Your load is so heavy you think you will collapse under the weight? “Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you!” (1 Peter 5:7)
Much Love,
Leif Hetland
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5 Steps of Recovery – Sermon
Posted by: | Comments(The following came from a friend of mine, Leif Hetland. You can learn more about his ministry at leifhetland.com)
5 STEPS OF RECOVERY
by Leif Hetland
INTRODUCTION: GOD HAS GIVEN ME A "NOW" WORD FOR 2012
I have tried to operate my ministry using the five steps of David's recovery for many years. As 2011 drew to a close I began to cry out to the Lord for a WORD for 2012. I felt a stirring in my spirit and I believe that God told me, "TELL MY PEOPLE 2012 IS THE YEAR OF UPGRADE!"
2011 was an unusual and interesting year. On one hand, I saw tremendous blessing, power, and anointing. On the other hand, it seemed every time I turned around, the enemy was trying to steal things from me. I woke up one day and realized that; the greater the anointing, the greater the attack. The enemy only attacks what he is afraid of, so it was obvious to me that I was doing something right.
Of all things my briefcase was stolen, my wallet, along with all my important documents that were in my briefcase. Things that I thought I could not live without were taken away. If it's ever happened to you, well, you know how disconcerting it can be.
It became crystal clear that the enemy was trying to take:
· My Dignity
· My Identity
· And My Dreams
I was reminded of John 10:10:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill
and destroy; I have come that they
may have life, and have it to the full. "
While it is true that’s what the enemy wants to do, we also know that what he steals, God will make sure it is restored!
I was reminded of the story of David in first Samuel 30.
You will remember that David had been a man on the run. Even though he had the anointing on him, he is still not reigning as King.
When he learned how to take back what the enemy had stolen from him, it became a turning point in his ministry.
God told David,
“Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
You remember the story?
While David and his men were away from his stronghold at Ziklag, the enemy attacked. They took their families captive, and burned the city. David and his men were distressed, and didn't know what to do. David's men were so angry they blamed him and even talked of stoning him.
What was David to do?
If you will look closely at this passage of Scripture, you will see five keywords that outline David's recovery:
1. Praise
"Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."
1 Samuel 30:6
This is the foundation for his recovery. David began to learn how to focus on the promises of God and not on the problems at hand. He encouraged himself in the Lord. It's always great to get encouraging words from other people, but sometimes, when everyone is against you, it's best to learn how to encourage yourself. This is what David was learning to do.
One of the hardest, most difficult things to do is to praise God when everything is going wrong.
WHAT WE DO AND SAY FIRST WHEN WE HEAR BAD NEWS IS A HINT AS TO WHAT WE BELIEVE.
2. Prayer
"Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
1 Samuel 30:7 – 8
David asked specific questions and got specific answers. He called for the man of God and got into agreement and he did not come out from the agreement until he heard from God. We give up too easily when faced with difficult problems.
“Again I say[ to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19 – 20
3. Pursuit
"So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor."
1 Samuel 30:9 – 10
This Is the Turning Point in David’s Recovery.
So David went – David pursued. God gave his word, and David acted on it. He could have looked at the negatives and said, "I don't think this plan will work." Everybody is mad at me, I've lost my stronghold, my family, and my men. David didn't do that, he pursued the enemy and recovered it all.
4. Prevailed
"Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. 18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. 19 And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all."
There will always be warfare attached to our recovery. David stepped out on the word of God, focused on the promises of God, and God began to move on his behalf. God led them right into the enemy's camp.
God is raising up an army of men and women who will learn how to pursue, advance on the enemy, and take back everything.
5. Perpetuate
”Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men[a] of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.” 23 But David said, “My brethren, you shall not do so with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. 24 For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.” 25 So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.”
1 Samuel 30:21 – 25
There were some who couldn't go to the battle. They were too weak to follow David, and stayed by the supplies. David did not punish them for not going. His attitude was that they would all share in the reward. The principle is obvious. He is sowing generous seeds for future harvest. That is how we perpetuate the victories that we win.
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FIVE FAITH BUILDERS FOR LIFE’S PROBLEMS – sermon outline
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by Savio Sebastian under CC BY with wpseopix.com[/caption]
FIVE FAITH BUILDERS FOR LIFE'S PROBLEMS
By Eddie Lawrence
Recently Bible Gateway which is one of the largest Bible access sites online asked their Facebook fans to share with them the Bible verses they go to when they are struggling with doubt. The five verses that follow were the winners. I have taken those five verses and made a little outline out of them, developed it a bit, and given it a title.
I pray you find comfort, reassurance and encouragement as you read the scriptures and respond in faith to the Lord's invitation to you through His Word. Actually, each of these could make an entire sermon.
1. THE LORD HAS A GOOD PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE
Jeremiah 29:11-13: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’”
A. Plans to Prosper
B. Plans to Keep You Safe
C. Plans that Give You Hope
E. Plans that Give You a Future
F. You Should Call on Him and Pray
G. You Should Seek Him with All Your Heart
2. THE LORD DESIRES TO BE YOUR FORTRESS
Psalm 91: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust….’” (read the rest)
A. He Invites You to Come to Him for Shelter
B. He Invites You to Rest in His Shadow
C. He Invites You to Flee to Him for Refuge
D. He invites You to Find Your Fortress in Him
E. You are to Dwell
F. You are to Rest
H. You are to Testify
I. You are to Trust
3. THE LORD COMES THROUGH FOR THOSE WHO WAIT ON HIM
Psalm 27:13-14: “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
A. Root Your Confidence in God's Goodness
B. Trust God to Keep You Alive
C. Wait for the Lord to Act
D. Be Strong and Refuse to Act Independently of Him
4. THE LORD WILL ENABLE YOU TO COME OUT ON TOP
Isaiah 54:16-17: “‘See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.”
A. The Lord is Creator
B. The Lord is Sovereign Over All Creation
C. The Lord Controls What You Can't
D. The Lord Knows the Enemies Plans Against You
E. The Lord will Refute the Enemies Accusations Against You
F. The Lord will be Your Vindicator
5. THE LORD WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH IF YOU WILL TRUST HIM
Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.”
A. Wholeheartedly Trust God not Yourself
B, Don't Try to Figure Everything Out on Your Own
C. Live in Submission to God's Plans not Your Own
D. Listen and Obey His Directions in order to Suceed
E. Don't overestimate Your Own Wisdom
F. Reverence God and Refuse Evil
___________________________
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5 Benefits of Knowing God is With You – sermon
Posted by: | Comments5 Continual Benefits of Knowing God is With You
by Eddie Lawrence
(Thanks to Dave Bronsburg one of my FaceBook friends for supplying the Scripture references.)
Knowing that God is with you gives you the confidence that:
1. You are not alone
2. Nothing is impossible
3. You have access to wisdom for every decision.
4. There is a redemptive purpose in/for your life.
5. You can live your life knowing you are loved.
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God is With You – Sermon Video Nugget
Posted by: | CommentsThis sermon video nugget by Eddie Lawrence is about the truth that God's presence is always with the believer.
Bless you for visiting Sermon Seedbed.
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What Will I Cry? – sermon
Posted by: | CommentsOne of my sermon subscription subscribers requested an outline on Isaiah 40. As I studied it, this is a message of encouragement I begin to see.
WHAT SHALL I CRY?
by Eddie Lawrence
Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“ Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make straight in the desert[a]
A highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
6 The voice said, “Cry out!”
And he[b] said, “What shall I cry?”
In Isaiah 40 the Prophet tells of the voice crying out to God's people to get ready. This was fulfilled by John the Baptist who was the forerunner for Jesus himself.
All through the rest of the chapter the writer tells us how great God is and that He rules over all and will have His way. It also contains some powerful truths of what God says He will do for HIs people. Now we know that He does this for us through Christ. So I encourage you dear believer to know four things that I have selected from these verses. I want to cry them out to you.
I will cry:
1. GOD'S STRONG ARM WILL BRING YOUR REWARD
Isaiah 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand,
And His arm shall rule for Him;
Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His work before Him.
-When it is all said and done, what God says will be done!
-Claim that truth for your life as you are surrounded by a mountain of seemingly impossible circumstances.
-He is faithful. You are His child. He will not abandon you.
-Do not think anyone or anything is greater than your God.
-Remember He is for you, not against you.
-He's got a strong arm and strong hand.
-Read all the great things Isaiah 40 reminds us that God has done.
2. GOD WILL SHEPHERD YOU IF YOU WILL FOLLOW
Isaiah 40:11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young.
-Though He is all powerful, He is also so gentle and loving.
-Notice the terms used to describe how He sheperds:
a. He gathers (He can brings things together, people together, you together with Him)
b. He carries (How many times has He carried you when you could go no further. Remember the footprints in the sand poem).
c. He gently leads (He is not a demanding tyrant. He is a gentle leader, expecially when we have childlike hearts.)
3. GOD WILL GIVE YOU POWER WHEN YOU ARE WEAK
Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
-If you are weak and without strength, you qualify for a God encounter with His power.
-Claim this verse in your weakness.
-There is something about your weakness that draws the power of God toward you.
4. GOD WILL RENEW YOU WHEN YOU WAIT ON HIM
Isaiah 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
-God honors patience.
-The person willing to wait on God wins.
-If you want to fly, then learn to die. Die to wanting to do things your own way to speed them up.
-Renewal is so needed when we are tired, weary, and battleworn.
-What does verse 31 tell us about the heart of God? He is drawn to those who are willing to wait upon Him.
-So often we think the opposite. We think we can get Heaven's attention by running out on an impulse that we call courage. It often requires more courage to wait than to charge off into a hunch. Wait on the Lord and He will renew you.
CONCLUSION – When the heat is on, and the enemy tries to get you to doubt just Who your God is. Then just cry these things out over your life. It will help you to cry out!
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The No Quit Formula
Posted by: | CommentsThe No Quit Formula
By Eddie Lawrence
A few years ago I heard a missionary by the name of Allen Skelton share a sermon out of Galatians 6:9 which really spoke to my heart. What I really remember him saying that has stuck with me is, "If you don't quit, you won't fail!"
I think it is so important to have an "Anti-Quit" attitude.
Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (NKJV)
See, there it is, if you don't quit, you want fail. It seems that this is an attribute that people possess who really accomplish things in life.
There are three very simple ways you can avoid experiencing failure:
1. Never start anything.
This is the one for the real whimps.
The people who never start anything usually do. They start trouble for others by criticizing and complaining about what somebody else should do.
This is not a viable option because it is deception. When you do not take the courageous steps you should to do what has been placed in your heart to do, you will always be frustrated at your self and others. Living a life of frustration is a miserable way to avoid risking success. So do something, but not the wrong thing which brings us to the next piece of advice.
2. Never start anything with a wrong end in view.
This can keep you out of lots of trouble.
Notice the context of the above verse is about doing good and to keep on doing good.
-Starting something in order to harm or somehow disrupt the lives of others is to be avoided.
-We all are tempted to start out in wrong directions with our lives. Do a U-turn if you do.
-We all -An affair would not damage or end a marriage if it was never started.
-A man would not have lost his paycheck had he not bet that first dollar.
Look at the end of the road you are thinking about traveling on before you press the accelerator.
3. Never stop what you start until you do what you set out to do.
This can help you accomplish more than you can imagine.
-This does not mean there will not be times when you fall down, but you get back up and keep going.
-This does not mean there will not be set backs, but you will not stay on your back.
-This does not mean that you will not be knocked out, but you will whiff some smelling salts and get up and start swinging again.
Think of Paul and all he went through. Thank God he did not quit. He died with a sword falling on his neck, but the words he wrote while waiting for that to happen still encourage people all around the world. He did what he could do as long as he could do it, and then breathed his last. That's a success!
There are dreams inside of you as well my friend. What potential you possess. You can do it! You can do all things through Christ who is your strength. Search your heart for that destination God has placed inside you. It is the thing that makes your spirit leap, and your heart come alive. Go for it!
So, develop an "Anti-Quit" Attitude. READY? Then get started with it……
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Favor With God — sermon
Posted by: | CommentsFavor with God, a sermon about favor with God and how it unfolds in our lives.
by Eddie Lawrence
Text: Luke 1:6 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS…..38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (NKJV)
1. An Announcement from God (v26-28)
-Mary was made aware that God was speaking to her. In her case, it was an angel. God has a way of getting our attention when He desires to call us into action for His plans and purposes.
-(List the ways that God can speak to us and briefly share those here in the sermon)
2. A Response of Fear (v29-30)
-Mary was troubled and afraid. We too are initially afraid when God begins revealing what He wants to do. Even God speaking to us can be an intense experience that rattles us.
-(Share a time the Lord spoke to you and you were afraid when you considered what was happening.)
3. A Promise of Favor (v28-29)
-Twice the Lord lets Mary know He has come to favor her. It is important for us to know that God’s intentions for us are always in our best interest. It is a sign of favor when the Lord invites you into what He is doing.
-(share a story of someone who experienced God’s favor because of stepping into God’s plans)
4. A Conception and Birthing
-Mary was told she would conceive and birth a child. With us, there is also the development within us of what God wants to do. It is a step into a process. As we faithfully carry it, it will be brought forth.
-(share how it is important to be patient and allow God to develop things. Use other biblical examples here)
5. A Response of Faith (v38)
-Mary heard, overcame her fear and said "Yes, be it unto me!" She demonstrated faith and obedience.
-Call for people to say yes to what God is speaking to them.
6. A Focus on Jesus (v31)
-Mary’s call was to birth the Christ child.
-When God is at work in us, it is always about forming Christ in us and making him known to others. For us to live is Christ!!!
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Who’s To Blame? – sermon outline
Posted by: | CommentsThe following is a sermon and sermon outline preached by S. Baring-Gould and published in 1886. Sift through it and you will be able to easily put together a more contemporary outline on a much needed message.
CASTING BLAME
Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
INTRODUCTION –A Schoolmaster finds one day that several of his scholars are playing truant. The morning passes and they do not arrive. At last, in the afternoon, the truants turn up. The master has a strong suspicion where they have been: however, he asks, "Why were you not at school this morning?" "Please, sir, mother kept me at home to mind the baby." "Indeed–let me look at your mouth." He opens the mouth, and finds it black inside. "Ah! I thought as much, rambling in the woods, picking and eating whortleberries." So with the others, they make their excuses, but he looks into their mouths, and the black colour betrays them.
Now, my friends, I am almost afraid to look in your mouths, lest I should see them black, not with whortleberries, but with something much sweeter, blame and fault-finding. You are, I suspect, all of you nearly fond of abusing your neighbours, of finding fault, of telling unkind things of them, of blackening their good names.
SUBJECT.–I am going to take as my subject to-day the Casting of Blame.
I. "Be ye merciful," said our Lord, "even as your Father which is in heaven is merciful." He did not mean only in our dealings with others, to be merciful to their bodies, and merciful in not exacting debts, and merciful in not punishing neglect, and so forth, but He meant also that we were to be merciful with their characters. We are not to be ready to impute evil, not ready to cast blame, not ready to believe hard things of others and retail them to our neighbours, but to be very slow to suspect evil, very slow to charge it on others, and exceedingly slow to say what is evil of others.
"Charity," says S. Paul, "is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." It seems to me, that charity is the exact reverse of this fault-finding, blame-imputing character. "Charity thinketh no evil," but how is it with you? Do you not always suspect that the motives of people are bad, do you not always think people are worse than they really are? "Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity." Ha! there is a bit of scandal, something very bad has come out about So and so. What a running about from house to house! the village is like a hive of bees swarming. Do you mean to tell me it is not a delight, a joy to you, to have this little bit of iniquity to talk about? I know better. "Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity," but charity is not to be found in that tittle-tattling, excited crowd of talkers. "Charity believeth all things"–will, that is, believe and trust, as long as it is possible, that people are not so bad after all, that the stories told are not true, and "Charity hopeth all things," hopes even against hope that it is so.
O! what a blessed thing is charity! S. Paul said he would rather have that, than be able to speak with tongues, and to prophesy; he would rather have that than work miracles. It is a better thing even to have that than Faith. But, alas! if it be such a good thing, it is also a very rare one.
II. How very often we cast blame when there is no cause, and are therefore guilty of serious injustice.
I was one day walking in the street of a little town, when a poor inoffensive dog passed me. He went quietly along without a thought of doing anyone an injury, when he happened to pass a knot of boys just come out of school. At once one of the urchins took up a stone and threw it at him, the others clapped their hands, and hooted after him,"Hit him! Knock him over! Mad dog!" Away ran the unhappy cur, and all the boys yelling after him, throwing dirt, and striking at him with sticks. What next? Everyone in the street ran to the door, and saw the brute tearing down the way, with his tail between his legs. Then out of every door rushed all the house-dogs, the butcher’s dog, and the coach-dog, and even the little lap-dog jumped up, and ran down stairs, and out of the door, to join in the barking, and away went all the dogs of the place after the poor wretch. There was a tumult! And the people in their doors and at their windows shouted, and one said, "Kill him! he is mad!" and another, "He has bitten a woman!" and another, "He has stolen some meat!" and another, "He has knocked over a child!"
Now all this arose from one boy throwing a stone at a harmless dog. And all the things said about the dog were untrue. The proverb was verified, "Give a dog a bad name, and you may hang him."
Is not this very much like what takes place among men? Someone throws blame on a poor harmless person for no cause in the world but out of sheer malevolence, or love of mischief, and at once others join in. Everyone has something to say, everyone joins in the general abuse. No lack of blame. No lack of unkind things said. And–all untrue, all unjust!
I do not mean to say that when a person has done what is wrong we are not to speak of it at all; but what I do say is, that we should be very careful indeed not to cast blame till we are quite sure that we are justified in doing so. "As for this way, we know that it is everywhere spoken against," was what was said of Christianity. All sorts of bad, lying things were said of the early Christians, that they killed and ate children, that they practised horrible idolatries: the stories were not true, but they were believed, simply because everyone said these things were done.
III. Now this is the advice I give you:–
a. Be sure that blame is just before you cast it.
b. Be merciful in attributing blame even when it is deserved.
First:–Be sure that you have real cause to cast blame, be sure that you are not committing a great injustice, and doing another a grievous injury which is unmerited.
"Do to others as you would they should do to you." Consider how miserable you would feel were you the subject of unmerited blame.
Secondly:–Be merciful in attributing blame even when it is deserved. Remember that you yourself are not guiltless. There are things that you have done which deserve censure quite as much as those things you blame in others. One day a woman, taken in adultery, was brought before Christ, and the Jews desired to stone her to death because of her sin. Then our Lord said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." And when they heard it, being convicted by their own consciences, they went out, one by one, beginning at the eldest even unto the last.
I say to you: when you are inclined to cast blame, even when just, think, "Am I without sin, that I should judge and condemn another?"
– S. Baring-Gould, The Village Pulpit (Vol. 2)
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Seven Reasons that You Must Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Posted by: | CommentsThe following sermon outline and sermon notes focus on the importance of the resurrection of Jesus to our faith.
By Clicking Below, You Can Hear a Six Minute Audio Overview of this Sermon While You Read the Outline.
Seven Reasons that You Must Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
by Eddie Lawrence
Introduction– I believe in the literal resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that is an essential element of the very Gospel presented in the New Testament. I believe that is a foundational doctrine of any true Church.
1 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? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
Transition– Paul teaches us what the Christian faith would look like if there were no resurrection of Jesus. It would mean that:
1. Jesus Body is Just Dust (v13, 16 Christ is not risen)
The absence of a literal resurrection means the absence of a risen Christ.
2. We Have No Gospel Message (v14, your faith is empty, v17 faith if futile)
What we believe as Christians is vain, useless, meaningless and without any substance in reality if there is no resurrection. Our faith is vain. If we do not believe the tomb is empty then it leaves us with a faith that is empty.
3. We Witnessess of the Life of Christ are all Liars (v15 we are false witnesses)
No resurrection, not true testimony.
4. The Pulpit is Silent (v14 preaching is empty)
Our preaching is vain without a resurrection. The preacher becomes a fraud peddling a message that is a well fabricated lie without the literal resurrection of Christ.
5. We Have No Remedy for Sin (v17 still in sin)
Romans 10:9-10 teaches us that we must believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead in order to be saved. Without a resurrected Jesus we are hopelessly lost.
6. Those Who Have Died Have Simply Perished (v18)
If there is no resurrection, the bodies of the dead will forever remain in the dead. There will be no reunion or afterlife.
7. Christians Are Saturated with Misery (19)
We are a miserable group who have held onto a hoax if there is no literal resurrection of the body of Christ.Without the risen Christ we are just bad news people not good news people.
Conlusion– Dear friends, do not allow unbelievers or even professing Christians who deny the resurrection to trick you into believing it is not an essential. We must agree with the Apostle Paul, the witnessess of the Scripture, the witnessess of history, and the witness of the precious Holy Spirit within us that "HE LIVES!"
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