If you are looking for sermon ideas and can't find what you need on this page, click on "Joe's Blog" and look for "catergories." You will find many titles there and many ideas. It is my joy to share these ideas with you, and use them as you see fit.
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LOOK UNDER CHRISTMAS IN THE "CATEGORIES." THERE ARE A FEW IDEAS THERE.
In our text, David touched some of our greatest spiritual needs.
I. Vs. 7 - Divine Grace (mercy) A. We are saved by grace. B. We receive grace throughout our lives. C. Without grace we would all be lost. II. Vss. 8-10 - Divine Presence A. Vs. 8 - Seek the presence of the Lord. Isaiah 55:6 B .Vs. 9 - Acknowledge the need. C. Vs. 10 - Realize that He will not forsake you. III. Vs. 11 - Divine Guidance IV. Vs. 12-14 - Divine Deliverance A. Vs. 12 - He will deliver us from our enemy Satan. B. Vs. 13 - Seeing the goodness of the Lord in His guidance will keep us from fainting -- giving up! C. Vs. 14 - The secret of waiting on the Lord is to trust His timing. I think that you will agree that David pinpointed four of our greatest spiritual needs. .In verses 1-4 Paul asks for prayer for his ministry. In our text, verses 5-6, he give good advice to witnessing ministry.
I. He tells them walk wisely. A. This is also translated "conduct yourself wisely." B. This means to watch how we live in front of people. Of course that would entail watching your private life. C. Other people are always watching us if they know that we go to church, they want to see if we are practicing what we preach. II. .He tells them to use their time wisely. (That is basically what "redeeming the time in the KJV means.) A. Spend time studying the Bible. I don't mean skip through the Bible reading your favorite passages; Study systematically. B. Spend time in prayer. Set aside a time of prayer as best you can. Of course you can pray all day, but you need a time of concentrated prayer. C. Spend time with people. Seek out people who need Jesus. III. He tells them to speak wisely. A. Speak graciously to others about the Lord. B. "Seasoned with salt." Be excited in what you are telling them about Jesus. C. The time spent in Bible study and prayer will enable you to answer questions etc. This is good advice not to just preachers, but people that you encounter in your daily life. THE DAY THAT CHANGED HISTORY
TEXT: 1 Peter 2:21-25 INTRODUCTION: The Crucifixion of Christ is positive proof of God's infinite love. He (Christ) came from Heaven's Coronation to earth's Condemnation. He came down from the beauty of Glory to the ugliness of Calvary. He came down from God's throne to Golgotha's tree. The Cross was designed, determined, deliberate, definite and dependent. I. SUFFERING verse 21 A. Bound—to make others free B. Blindfolded—to give world light C. Buffeted—Bruised—that we might be healed D. Body Pains—that He might be the great Physician II. SUBMISSION verses 22-23a A. Pure—without any selfish nature B. Power—willingly of Himself C. Purposeful—Walking in the will of the Father D. Peaceful—Writing the history of Redemption III. SUBSTITUTION verses 23b-24 He took our: A. Darkness—that we might have light B. Disease—that we might not be lame C. Death—that we might have life D. Doom—that we might have liberty IV. SHEPHERD verse 25 A. Finds by His Gospel 1 Cor. 1:18 B. Forgives by His Grace Eph. 2:8 C. Free—by His Goodness John 10:9 D. Fashions by His Greatness Romans 8:28, 29 If you do not find an idea in this blog, most of my articles in Joe's Blog are in outline form and loaded with sermon ideas.
In Luke 22:20, Jesus said, "This cup is the New Testament (Covenant) in my blood which is shed for you. I want us to meditate on what the "New Testament" means to us. The Magi followed the star to see Jesus. When they found Him, they worshiped Him and gave Him prophetic gifts, which I call "the first Christmas gifts." Here are my thoughts on these gifts:
I. Wealth (Gold) A. It is true that Jesus had "nowhere to lay His head..." Jesus lived a simple life that did not reflect earthly wealth. B. The Bible reminds us that as God, Jesus had wealth far beyond what gold represented. Two examples are given in Psalm 50:9-12 and Colossians 1:16-17. C. The seeming paradox of Jesus is that though Jesus "had nowhere to lay His head, Jesus was really wealthy beyond any wealth that people can have. II. Worship (Frankincense) A. Frankincense was used in worship as a "sweet smelling savor..." B. In Matthew 2:2 and 11, the magi practiced what this gift prophetically reflected, i.e., that Jesus is worthy of worship, and that He is our focus in worship both personally and corporately. C. We should worship Him now, and we will worship Him throughout eternity. III. Weeping (Myrrh) A. Myrrh was used in burials, reminding us that Jesus came to die for us in order to forgive us for our sins. B. This is magnificently illustrated in Matthew 26:6-13. C. Myrrh reminds us that Jesus died as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, and as a substitute for us. He took the wrath of God for us. The gifts of the Magi predict the meaning of the life of Jesus. He is wealthy, as God is wealthy. He is worthy of our worship and devotion. We are to never forget that He died for us. Matthew 7:7 tells us to "ask and it shall be opened..." Acts 16:14 tells us about Lydia whose "heart the Lord opened." In both cases we are invited and told that we should not be closed to God, but to open up to Him. This sermon is an illustration of what it means to open up and how we can do it effectively.
I. We need to open our ears that we may hear. A. To hear what the Lord is saying to us in the circumstances of life. B. To hear what the Lord is saying to us about the people we encounter. C. To hear what the Lord is saying to us through His word. II. We need to open our eyes that we may see. A. Open our eyes to the opportunities to be witnesses for Jesus. B. Open our eyes to the opportunities to better ourselves. C. Open our eyes to clearly see "the paths of righteousness." III. We need to open our hands that we may do God's work. A. In Ecclesiastes 9:10, Solomon advised: "Whatsoever your hands find to do, do it with all your might..." B. In Galatians 6:9, we are told: "And let us not be weary in well doing...." C.Jesus told us that "if your right hand offends you cut it off..." Aren't we glad that He did not mean that literally! IV. We need to open our lips that we may speak. A. That we may speak for the Lord. B. That we may offer words of kindness. C. That we may share words of joy. V. We need to open our minds that we may think. A. Open our minds to discover God's truth. B. Open our minds to Philippians 4:8 C. Open our minds to think of ways to serve Jesus instead of ourselves. VI. We need to open our hearts to love. A. Open our hearts to love God/Jesus above all. B. Open our hearts to love people as Jesus did. C. Open our hearts to love what God loves.... Now you see what I mean when I say "open up." Open your life up today. (Adapted from an outline in The Preacher's Goldmine.)
The most amazing fact in the Bible is that God loves us. Our text and a lot of others tell us that. I. It is a unique love. John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." That is what Jesus did, and there is no greater love - it is unique. II. It is unusual love. Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 5:8: "But God commends His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 1 John 4:10: "Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." III. It is unconditional love. Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are you saved through grace; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." We do not deserve it, nor can we earn it: Ephesians 2:9: "Not of works, lest any man should boast. IV. It is universal love. God loves all people and wants all to be saved through His Son. Don't leave this fact out: God loves you..............." |
All of these materials are free of charge. There is no copyright on them and you are free to use them as you see fit. I am happy to be of assitance to you in your preaching/teaching minstry.
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