The Cross before the Crown
Timothy 2 2:1-10 “And if a man contend in the games, he isn’t crowned except he contend lawfully.” “If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him.” “If any man will be my Disciple, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” I: Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 1. The Roman soldier endured for Rome. 2. He left home and business. 3. He became acquainted with danger. 4. Lonliness and separation was often his. 5. Timothy called to be a soldier for Jesus. II: “Strive Lawfully!” 1. Like a Greek Athelete. 2. Olympic games, every 4 yrs. 776 B.C. – 394 A.D. 3. Rules of the Olympic games. a. Open to all classes of competition. b. Of pure Greek descent. c. 10 solid months of...
Stewards of the Good News
Corinthians 2 5:14-21, John 3:16, and Peter 1 4:10 Bad news becomes a burden and good news makes one to rejoice. I: The Greatest News of All Times: “Adam where art thou?” 1. “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3. 2. “Greater love hath no man…” John 15:13. 3. “Love of Christ passeth knowledge.” Ephesians 3:19. 4. “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth…” Romans 8:38-39. 5. “For God so loved.” II: News that can never make us blush for shame. 1. Paul before Ephesus, Athens, Phillipia, and Rome. 2. It is the greatest of all gifts. 3. It is a gift to those that loved him...
Presumptuous Sins
Numbers 15:29-31, Peter 2 2:10, and Psalm 19:1-14 I: No poor vision made for presumtuous sins. Numbers 15: 1. Every sin was covered except presumptuous sins. 2. Four things make a sin presumptuous: a. Sinning against light and knowledge. b. Deliberate sin. c. Sin designed for sin. d. Sin committed by rash confidence in one’s own strength. II: Sin against light and knowledge. 1. God’s universe utters knowledge. 2. Nature cries out against sin. 3. We refuse to obey the light we have. 4. Sinning against a godly home and friends. III: Sin against God’s warnings. 1. The warning of death. 2. Sickness warns. 3. Danger warns. IV: Premeditated and Designed Sins: 1. Not in hast or moment unguarded, but sinning with thought and design. 2. Deliberately...
Religious but Lost
Luke 18:9-14, Matthew 23:, Romans 3:21-28, and 10:1-3 Men are quick to judge from outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart. “I just came to help the meeting.” David I: “Two men went up into the temple to pray.” 1. They may have walked to the temple together, but here in God’s house they separated. 2. The outward appearance of the Pharisee. a. He was of the “Separated ones.” b. He was a member of the strict religious group. c. He regarded himself better than others: “Blessed art thou, Lord, our God, King of the World, that thou hast not made me a stranger, (Gentile) … a servant … a woman.” d. He was honest in his business. e. He was faithful to his wife and children. f. He fasted twice in a...
Paying the Price
Samuel 2 24:24 I: Looking for a bargain, (Dr. Chapman). 1. Living without work. 2. The gambler. 3. The tramp. 4. A “give me,” comples. 5. Spanish gold hunters. II: Looking for a Spiritual Bargain: 1. Quality at a reduced price. 2. Spiritual dead beats. 3. We are willing to sit still while the wicked get our children. 4. We want our religion made easy. “Cheap relition ends in false religion.” (Jeroboma). III: Early Christians Paid the Price: 1. They stood the hardships. 2. They stoop persecution. 3. Life became sweet when everything was easy. IV: Sacrifice. 1. A partial sacrifice will bring a limited blessing. 2. God doesn’t want the blind, lame, halt, nor your green bread. 3. Will a man rob...