A Hopeless Sin
Earn that, hear lest, eyes that see not. Luke 15:11-32 I: Jesus Confronted With it: 1. The self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees condemned him for association with sinners, but felt no need of healing for themselves. Luke 5:27-32 2. The prayer of the Pharisee. Luke 18: 3. The early Church — Peter and others. II: Self-Satisfied People: 1. The people who gave Jesus the most trouble were not sinners. 2. The most hopeless people were not Publicans and sinners. 3. The people that planned His crucifixion were not the outcast. III: Self-righteous Older Brother: 1. No concern when his brother left hoe. 2. He never spent an hour of agonizing prayer for his return. 3. He lost no sleep nor missed one’s hour of work over his lost brother. 4. Bad news of the...
A City Set On A Hill
Have you ever rejoiced to see a city at night from a distance? (Tulsa, 1933) Matt. 5:12-14 I: Influence of Christians. 1. Like salt, taste, and flavor to life and preserves from rot. a. Must not lose its taste. b. Natural salt is no good. We must have more than the appearance. c. Salt must penetrate our whole Christian life. 2. “Ye are the light.” a. Light is essential to life. b. Light keeps us from stumbling. c. Light rejoices the eyes of the lost man. II. A City Set On A Hill Shows In the Window. 1. The Christian should never object to being watched! 2. The weary traveler rejoiced to see the lights of the city. 3. A Christian set on a hill is like a city of refuge. 4. To fail to shine might cause some brother to miss the refuge and die. 5. Our...
Lost without Compassion
Nothing is more useless than salt that has lost it’s saltness. Luke 15:1 I: “The Pharisees and Scribes Murmured.” 1. Who murmured? 2. Pharisees, “Separated by special works. (150 BC).” a. Their influence was very great, ruling the Sanhedrin and all Jewish society except the slight opposition of Sadducees. b. An oath taken: “Not to eat of anything that had not been tithed.” c. Their social meals modeled after the passover supper. 3. There are 7 kinds of Pharisees. a. “Keep the law for what it will profit them.” b. “Tumblers: Always hanging down the head and dragging the feet.” c. Bleeders: Who to avoid looking at women shut their eyes, and see bumped their heads. d. Mortars: Wearing caps in the form...
Lost Individually
In this busy world we have almost lost sight of the individual. Visitation was a mark of Pantalets. Everybody prayed and witnessed. Human stood up and prayed. Luke 15:1-24 I: Jesus Never Lost Sight of Individuals. 1. Although he fed the multitude he used a boy’s lunch. 2. He wept over Jerusalem, but sought out the individual. 3. He unfolded the miracle of the New Birth to an individual. 4. The woman at the well had his personal attention. 5. The thief on the cross was dealt with as an individual. II: The Parable of Lost Things. 1. The lost sheep: a. This sheep had gone astray (stupidity). b. This Shepherd sought until he found him. c. There was rejoicing of the friends over the sheep that was found. 2. The lost coin: a. This coin was lost because of...
Lord I Believe
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is the title deed to the promises of God. Faith is as essential to the Christian life as blood to the body. I did not see God swing the world’s into space but I believe that He did. I was not there when he put the stars in the heavens, but I believe he did. I did not hear him say to the ocean, “thus far and no farther,” but I believe he did. I was not present when he commanded the light to shine, but I believe it. When he divided the day from the night, I was not there, but I believe. I did not watch Him when he fashioned man of the dust of the earth, but I believe. I was not present when he caused Adam to sleep and formed Eve from one of his...