I just jotted down these quick notes and thought maybe you could make something out of them for your congregation.
In the text, Jesus is referred to a "Alpha and Omega." In our vernacular this would be A to Z. We might say that Jesus has it covered, that He is the answer - period. This is something we want the rest of the world to know. A to Z in what way? I. Jesus is the A to Z in victorious living. Look at His experience on the Mt. of temptation Matthew 4. II. Jesus is the A to Z in truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." He is the truth about God. Refer to Hebrews 1:1-3 III. Jesus is the A to Z in faith. Jesus teaches us to live by unseen realities: Hebrews 11:1 The most important things in life are spiritual -- unseen.... IV. Jesus is the A to Z in love. "No one ever cared for me like Jesus...." Think of what He did in love for us. V. Jesus is the A to Z in power. He gives us the power of the Holy Spirit. VI. Jesus is the A to Z in peace. John 16:33 Question: Is Jesus the A to Z in your life?
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There are many forces of influence in our lives: parents, peers, preachers, teachers, coaches, etc. But all of these boil down to two major influences - God and the devil. We experience the pull of both. Let's take a look at how this works.
I. Philippians 3:13-14 - The Upward Pull A. Fact: God is seeking to pull us upward. B. This upward pull is constant. 1. We never grow to the point that Christ says "that's enough." 2. We never reach a point that we do not need more of God. 3. We need the upward pull. C. We tend to resist the upward pull. 1. We resist by becoming smug and complacent. 2. We resist by becoming content in what we consider our achievements. II. 1 Peter 5:8 - The Downward Pull A. Fact: The devil is seeking to pull us downward. 1. The Bible amply illustrates this: Garden of Eden, Job, Peter's denial, etc. 2. The devil is the author of: spiritual complacency, internal conflict, internal conflict, etc. B. We must resisit the downward pull. 1 Peter 5:9 1. We resist by faith in Christ to deliver us. 2. The devil is not afraid of us, but he is afraid of Jesus. C . The downward pull is constant too. It is a fact that the devil never leaves us alone.... III. Matthew 25:40 - The Outward Pull A. Fact: How we react to the upward pull and downward pull will determine how we react to the outward pull. B. Notice the importance of the outward pull in Matthew 25: 40 and 45 1. Serving our fellowman through witness and ministry is the same as serving Christ - when it is done in His name. 2. Every obvious act of ministry slighted is a slight to Christ. C. The outward pull is not just a nice thing for Christians to do; rather, it is kingdom imperative. God and the devil are not equal foes. Through Christ and through our faith in Christ we can win the battle. Which "pull" are you responding to in your life today. In your heart, One of Satan's main ploys is to take our focus off of Jesus. This is what all of the sects, shuch as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. Satan wants our focus on anything or anyone but Jesus. This was happening in Colossae, and Paul called them back to their focus on Jesus and not Mosaic law, ritual, etc. Following are the reasons why Jesus should be first based Verson our text:
I. Verse 13 - He delivered us..... II. Verse 14 - He redeemed us.....Literally bought us back!!!!! III. Verse 15 - He is God...... John 1:14 IV. Verses 16-17 - He created us...... V. Verses 18-19 - He is the boss.... VI. Verse 20 - He reconciled us to the Father..... PUT YOUR FOCUS ON JESUS AND ALL OF LIFE WILL BE BETTER!!!!! In the text Paul did not claim to be a "know-it-all." But he knew Jesus and he knew about Jesus. There are some things that I know about Jesus that I want to share with you.
I. I know that we can know Him. A. As Savior B. As Lord (Master - controller) C. As Friend ("Sticks closer than a brother") II. I know that we can break His heart. A. By unholy living B. By indifferent living (Just not caring) C. By powerless living (We need to remember Acts 1:8.) III. I know that we can serve Him. A. Serve Him in the home B. Serve Him in the highways and byways of life C. Serve Him in the church Do you know these things about Him? Do you know Jesus? The church at Ephesus was doctrinally and morally straight but they had left their first love. I think that the "first love" is Jesus. We need to constantly check or love quotient where Jesus is concerned. Like the Ephesians, we can be as straight as we can be, but we must have a deep love for Jesus and not get legalistic and self-righteous like the Pharisees. How can we know whether or not we love Jesus as we should?
I. Do you spend time with Him daily? A. In prayer? B. In worship and celebration? C. Do you enjoy His company and companionship? II. Do you go out of your way to serve Him? A. Do as He says. Jesus said "If you love me keep my commandments...." B. Do His will for your life. (He has a perfect will for you....) C. Obey Him in all of life. III. Do you love HIm enough to tell others about Him? A. Tell them you love Jesus, and why. B. Tell them what Jesus can do for their lives. C. Tell them that He loves them. IV. Do you love Jesus enough to love people? A. According to 1 John 4:20, we can't say that we love God whom we have not seen if we don't love people that we have seen. B. To love Jesus is to love people too. C. To love Jesus is to minister to people. Using the above criteria, do you love Jesus? Note: I have just begun to read through John's Gospel this morning. I want to share with you an idea that hit me and I just had to turn my computer on and put it on CouchPotato for you. It should be a good start to a good sermon for you.
Bro. Joe It is tragic,but true, that people all around us do not know who Jesus is. Here in the "buckle of the Bible Belt," one would think this is not so, but it is. There are even regular churchgoers who have no idea of the breadth, depth and width of who Jesus is. In the first four verses of John's Gospel who Jesus is, is spelled out for us clearly and plainly. I. Vs. 1a - He is "the Word." In Greek thought "the Word" was the ultimate being. In Hebrew thought "the Word" was God - period. For some understanding of John's concept, turn to Hebrews 1:1-3. He is God's ultimate Word to mankind - period. II. Vs. 1b - He is God. No real explanation is needed here, but this fact is well-documented through the "God things" that He did while on this earth: turning water into wine, stilling a stormy sea, casting out demons, healing diseases, raising dead people. His own resurrection proves it as well. All of these are humanly impossible. III. Vs. 3 - He is Creator. You can get some real arguments on this from people who do not understand who and what Jesus is. Paul agreed that he was the creator. Read Colossians 1: 16-17. He not only created the world; He holds it together! IV. Vs. 4a - He is life. In John 14:6, Jesus declared Himself to be "the way, the truth, and the life." This means, among other things, that Jesus is the way to God, the way to real truth, and the way to real life. John 10:10 explains this well. V. Vs. 4b - He is light. In John 8:12 Jesus declared Himself to be "the light of the world." If you don't want to be engulfed by the world's darkness, live in the light of Jesus, in relationship with Him. In Matthew 5:14 Jesus called His followers "the light of the world." We are this because we live in His light, and we are to let His reflected light shine in and through us for the world to see. In vss. 15-16, we are told to let that light shine for the world to see and glorify God. According to vs. 5, the world does not understand that light, but the way we live can show them what it means to walk in His light. Who is Jesus? Look at the verses in the text again. We are supposed to be witnesses of who Jesus is. The world needs to know Him, and as we reflect Him to the world, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, they can come to know Him. The world is asking: "Who is this Jesus, and what does He want with me?" Our text answers this question. Let's take a look at it.
I. Vss. 14-17 - Who is Jesus? A. Vs. 14 - There was some confusion over who He was. 1. Most people would have been complimented by being compared to these people. 2. Don't doubt that there is still confusion by a majority of people as to who Jesus is. B. Vss. 15-16 - There was a confession of who He is. 1. "Thou art the long-awaited Messiah...." 2. "Thou art the Son of the Living God...." 3. Looking on this side of the cross, we can add that He is Savior and Lord... C. Vs. 17 - There was a divine confirmation of who He is. 1. God revealed who Jesus was/is to Simon Peter. 2. God confirms Jesus in us by His Holy Spirit. II. Vss.18-19 - What does Jesus want? A. He gives a commission. 1. Built upon Peter's confession of faith in Christ. - not on Peter! 2. "My Church..." Jesus claims the church as His own. 3. His church is peopled by people who have faith in Him, but it is built by Jesus Christ Himself. A church built on people is doomed. B. Vs. 19 - He asks for a commitment. 1. He gives us the keys to open up the Kingdom of God to people. I think the keys are the Holy Spirit and His power in us. 2. Jesus wants us to be committed to telling others about Him so that they can enter into His kingdom. C. His purpose is clear. What does Jesus want? He wants us to believe in Him and become part of His church. He wants us to live for Him and to fight the good fight of faith. He wants us to commit ourselves to being His witnesses to the world. Now the challenge of this passage: Who is Jesus to you and are you doing what He wants of you in your life? Is He your Savior? Is He your Lord? Note: There are two Mother's day sermons below. Scroll down to "Lois and Eunice."
While He was here on earth, Jesus loved children. He still does today. In fact, if you will read verses 14-15, you will see that He wishes we were more like them. Our text tells us at least two things about Jesus: I. Vss. 13-14 - Jesus does not exclude children. A. Jesus was angry with His disciples for rebuking the parents who brought their children to Him. 1. People still say there is no room for children at the feet of Jesus. 2. We worry about their understanding of Jesus. Childen understand a lot more about Jesus than we know. (Surely, these children who can teach us about computers, can fathom the love of Jesus.) B. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and forbid them not. 1. Children should be encouraged to go to Jesus, to pray and read about Him in the Bible. (We have confused "walking the aisle" and "joining the church" with coming to Jesus.) 2. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that faith in Jesus is only for people who have reached the magic age of 12. C. We need to be careful that we do not make Jesus a forbidding person to children. Our text certainly doesn't encourage that thinking. II. Vss. 14-15 - God's kingdom is made up of people who come to Jesus as children. Why? A. Children have a greater capacity to believe - to trust. 1. Much of life's experiences make us wary of trusting. 2. We should, must, put all of that "junk" away and trust Jesus. B. Children have the quality of humility. 1. We must come to Jesus humbly, for no arrogance, or pride, will suffice in His presence. (Luke 14:11) 2. There might have been some, but I have never witnessed a child who was arrogant about Jesus. C. A childlike (not childish) faith has the quality of wonder and amazement. 1. Life's experiences often kill our sense of wonder and amazement. If this has happened in your life -- stop it. 2. In order to really worship and serve Jesus, we must stand amazed in His holy presence and wonder. 3. When is the last time that you "stood amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene"? Vs. 16 - Let Jesus take you up "in His arms" today. Let Him touch you and bless you, as He did those children so many years ago. In our text John painted a beautiful and accurate portrait of Jesus. It gives us a clear view of our Savior. He is far more here than "gentle Jesus, meek and mild." He is seen in His full glory. It shows us:
I. Vs. 5a - Who and what Jesus is. A. "The faithful witness" 1. A witness is one who has seen and heard and has first-hand knowledge. Jesus uniquely has first-hand knowledge. 2. He witnessed with His life, His ministry, His miracles and His death and resurrection. 3. We know God only because of the faithful witness of Jesus Christ. B. "The first begotten from the dead" 1. Jesus alone defeated death. Others had been raised from the dead, but they died again. Jesus still lives -- forever and ever. 2. Illustration: Jesus has always had power over death. For example, He never went to a funeral that the corpse did not walk away. C. "The prince (ruler) of the kings of the earth" 1. Satan tried to get Jesus to worship him and rule. Jesus refused. 2. What Jesus would not falsely claim from Satan, He gained by His death and resurrection. He is "King of kings and Lord of lords." II. Vss. 5b-6 - What Jesus does. A. He loves us and He died for us. 1. Romans 5:8 - "God commendeth His loves for us, in that while we were yes sinners Christ died for us." 2. In His own words: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) This is what He did! B. He cleanses us from sin. 1. 1 John 1:7, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." 2. How? 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." C. He makes us "kings and priests" to serve God. 1. We are children of the king by faith in Jesus. He has given us royalty. 2. He has made us priests. We are our own priest. We have access to God because of who Jesus is, not because of who we are. III. Vs. 7 - What He is going to do. A. He is coming!!!! His coming is a sure and certain promise of the Bible. B. He will be seen. Every believer and every unbeliever will see Him. Philippians 2:9-11 C. His coming will be mournful for unbelievers and glorious for believers. All that Jesus is, He is for you! All that Jesus did and does, He did and does for you. All that Jesus will do in His coming will benefit you if you believe in Him. Paul did not claim to know everything, but he knew Jesus and he knew about Jesus. There are some things that all of us need to know about Jesus, and I will share them with you.
I. I know that we can know Him. A. We can know Him as Savior. B. We can know Him as Lord of our lives. C. We can know Him as a friend that "sticketh closer than a brother." II. I know that we can break His heart. A. We can break His heart by unholy living. B. We can break His heart by indifference. C. We can break His heart by powerless living. (Acts 1:8) III. I know that we can serve Him. A. We can serve Him in our homes. B. We can serve Him in the highways and by-ways of life. C. We can serve Him through His church. IV. I know that we can look for Him to come again. A. We can look for Him in our daily living. B .We can look for HIm prayerfully. C.We can look for Him in the clouds. Do you personally know these things about Jesus? Do you know Jesus? |
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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