Sunday Evening Sermon Outline - 11/27/11

Are There Any Guarantees?

John 3:1-19

I)                   Does A Christian Home Provide A Guarantee of Eternal Salvation?

a.       Samuel was as Godly a man as we see in the Bible

                                                              i.      He ministered (worshipped) unto the Lord (I Samuel 2:11)

                                                            ii.      He grew and was in favour with both the Lord and man (I Samuel 2:26)

                                                          iii.      This is said of Jesus in Luke 2:52

                                                          iv.      All Samuel’s words were meaningful and true (I Samuel 3:19)

                                                            v.      Samuel was a judge (I Samuel 7:6 & 15-17), a prophet (I Samuel 3:20) and even fulfilled the office of priest (I Samuel 7:9-10)

b.      Samuel’s sons received no guarantee of eternal salvation from their father’s piety

                                                              i.      Samuel’s sons were ungodly in behaviour (I Samuel 8:1-3)

                                                            ii.      Samuel’s sons were greedy of material gain (I Samuel 8:1-3)

c.       Living in a Christian home is a good thing but it is no guarantee of eternal salvation

II)                Does A Sinner Home Provide A Guarantee of Eternal Damnation?

a.       Ahaz was as wicked a man as we see in the Bible

                                                              i.      Ahaz did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God (II Kings 16:1-2)

                                                            ii.      Ahaz made his son pass through the fire (II Kings 16:3), which was a religious ritual of the false god Molech (Leviticus 28:21)

                                                          iii.      Not content to have his children pass through the fire, he actually had his children burned in the fires (II Chronicles 28:3-4)

b.      Hezekiah received no guarantee of eternal damnation from his father’s wickedness

                                                              i.      He did that which was right in the sight of God (II Kings 18:1-3)

                                                            ii.      He removed the high places of false worship and destroyed their images (II Kings 18:4)

                                                          iii.      He trusted the Lord and clave to the Lord and the Lord was with him (II Kings 18:5-7)

c.       Living in a sinner home is not a good thing but it is no guarantee of eternal damnation.

III)             Does Christ Provide A Guarantee of Either Salvation or Damnation?

a.       Jesus is the most Godly man (God/Man) that ever lived

                                                              i.      Jesus fulfilled God’s plan of eternal salvation (John 3:14)

                                                            ii.      Jesus alone can provide a guarantee of eternal salvation (John 3:15-16)

                                                          iii.      We are guaranteed eternal through our belief and confession of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9-10)

b.      Mankind are the most wicked of all

                                                              i.      Mankind is born lost and without hope (Psalm 51:5)

                                                            ii.      Mankind cannot perform that which is right in the sight of God (Romans 3:10)

                                                          iii.      Not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is the only guarantee of eternal damnation (John 3:18-19)

Adult Sunday School Lesson - 9:45am 12/04/11

Godly Thought Life

Philippians 4:8-9

Daily Bible Reading

Monday – Philippians 4:8-9, Psalm 73:1-3, 10-15, II Peter 1:1-11

Tuesday – Romans 12:9-21

Wednesday – John 14, John 17:17, Ephesians 6:14, I John 3:18

Thursday – I Peter 2:12, Proverbs 20:7, Titus 1:8, I Timothy 4:12, Proverbs 18:24

Friday – James 3:17, I John 3:1-3, I Peter 4:8, Acts 6:1-8

Saturday – I Thessalonians 5:22, II Peter 1:1-4, I Thessalonians 5:21, I John 4:1, Romans 12:1-2

I)                   Truth

a.       Paul instructs us to think on (give careful attention) to truth

b.      Who is truth? ___________ (John 14:16)

c.       What is truth? __________________________ (John 17:17)

d.      What is the significance of Paul’s use of the word “girt about” (fasten one’s belt)? ______________________________________________________________________________(Ephesians 6:14)

e.       What is the result of giving careful attention to truth? ________________________________________________________________(Romans 12:1-2)

II)                Honest

a.       Paul instructs us to think on things that are honest

b.      The word honest here means honourable or revered

c.       Give examples of things you think of that are not honourable or revered? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

d.      Give examples of things you think of that are honourable and revered?  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

III)             Just

a.       How should one define justice? ____________________________________________________

b.      Can there be true justice without absolute truth? ____________

c.       If a Christian would make an impression on his fellow-men favorable to religion, it is indispensable that he manifest uncorrupted integrity in his dealings.

IV)             Pure

a.       Paul instructs us to think of pure (clean) things.

b.      Examine the sources of information available to us today: books, magazines, newspapers, TV, internet.

c.       How carefully does one choose that models pure behaviour? In what ways could one make better choices? ______________________________________________________________________

V)                Lovely

a.       Paul instructs us to think on things that are lovely (friendly, amiable)

b.      What is the best way to gain friends? _____________________________________ (Proverbs 18:24)

c.       A Christian should not be sour, crabby, or irritable in his temper - for nothing almost tends so much to injure the cause of religion as a temper always chafed, an eye that is severe and unkind, and a disposition to find fault with everything.

VI)             Good Report

a.       Why is it important to be of good report? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(Acts 6:1-8)

b.      How can we ensure that we are of good report or well spoken of? _____________________________________________________ (I Thessalonians 5:22)

VII)          Virtue and Praise

a.       Paul then instructs us to think on any virtuous or praiseworthy thing.

b.      Why is it important to be virtuous? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(II Peter 1:11)

c.       What things are worthy of our praise? _______________________________________________

How is God challenging you today to change your thought life? What steps will you take in order to meet this challenge?

Sunday Evening Sermon - 11/27/11

Are There Any Guarantees?

Sunday Evening Sermon Outline - 11/20/11

Why We Pray

Psalm 116

Prologue

We do not pray because we have no confidence that God is listening. We have no confidence because we have no experience with God in prayer. We have no experience because we have not, by faith, taken advantage of God’s manifest presence on a regular basis. (Romans 5:1-5)

I)                   We Pray Because God Listens

a.       The psalmist loved the Lord because the Lord heard his voice. This sounds improper until we realise the truth of I John 4:19 which tells us that we only love God because God first loved us.

                                                              i.      Our entire relationship with God is not one of initiating but responding. (John 6:44)

                                                            ii.      Verse 2 says that God had to incline (bend way down) His ear to the psalmist.

b.      The fact that God hears one of our prayers should compel us to pray to Him for as long as we live (Psalm 116:2)

                                                              i.      We should pray morning, noon and night (Psalm 55:16-17)

                                                            ii.      We should call upon the Lord when in trouble (Psalm 86:6-7)

                                  iii.      We should pray always (Luke 18:1) without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17)

II)                We Pray Because We Need Answers

a.       The psalmist needed an answer for he was greatly distressed (Psalm 116:3) and afflicted (Psalm 116:10)

                                                              i.      He was in no small trouble. He describes his situation as being compassed with death and the grave (Psalm 116:3)

                                                            ii.      We often despair at this point because we have forgotten that God has inclined his ear to us.

b.      The psalmist never forgets and never loses hope. In the midst of a great sorrow and affliction the psalmist remembers God’s inclined ear. (Psalm 116:4)

                                                              i.      He cries out in faith remembering the person and goodness of the Lord (Psalm 116:5-6)

                                                            ii.      His soul was at rest for God had honoured his prayer of faith and had dealt bountifully with him delivering him from death (Psalm 116:7-8)

                                                          iii.      In his haste he declares all men are liars and cannot be counted upon in time of need (Psalm 116:11)

III)             We Pray Because It Glorifies God

a.       The psalmist glorified God by walking before the Lord in the land of the living. He walked before the Lord as a result of knelling before the Lord (Psalm 116:9)

b.      The psalmist wishes to repay the Lord for the favour God had showed him (Psalm 116:12)

                                                              i.      Are we willing to render unto God our time?

                                                            ii.      Are we willing to render unto God our talent (ability)?

                                                          iii.      Are we willing to render unto God our talents (money)?

                                                          iv.      Are we willing to render unto God all? (Psalm 116:16)

c.       The psalmist was willing to pay his vows to God in the presence of all the people (Psalm 116:14 & 18-19)

d.      The psalmist glorified God by realising he was just a servant and having a thankful heart toward the master (Psalm 116:16-17)

Sunday Evening Service (6:30pm 11/20/11)

Sunday Evening Sermon:

"Why We Pray"

Adult Sunday School Lesson - 9:45am 11/27/11

Overcoming Anxiety Biblically

Philippians 4:4-7

Daily Bible Reading:

Monday - Philippians 4:4-7; I Thessalonians 5:16-18; Psalm 73:21-25

Tuesday - Psalm 75-1; Psalm 92:1-2; Psalm 91

Wednesday - Psalm 106; Hebrews 13:5-6

Thursday - Psalm 108:4

Friday - Psalm 143; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 5:20

I)                   Praise

a.       How often should we rejoice in the Lord? ________________(Philippians 4:4) (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

b.      The psalmist tells us to praise God for His loving kindness and faithfulness day and night. (Psalm 92:1-2). How might our attitude towards other people circumstances change if we framed our days with praise unto the Lord? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

c.       What are three are of the foremost things we can praise God for? (Psalm 106:1 & Psalm 108:4)

                                                              i.      _________________________________________

                                                            ii.      _________________________________________

                                                          iii.      _________________________________________

d.      The wonder of praising the Lord is that He becomes elevated in our hearts and minds. Our fear and worry disappear as our confidence in God grows.

II)                Moderation

a.       Putting up with affronts and injuries, and bearing them with patience; and interpreting things in the best sense, and putting the best constructions on words and actions they will bear. (Philippians 4:5)

                                                              i.      Do you treat others with moderation and gentleness? _______________________

                                                            ii.      If not, what would be the advantages gained by having a more moderate, gentle approach to life? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b.      God promised never to leave nor forsake us. He promised to be our helper. This promise was given so that we might be content and without fear. (Hebrews 13:5-6)

III)             Prayers Voiced with Thanksgiving

a.       We are to bring our prayers to God with a thankful heart. (Philippians 4:6)

b.      What are we to give God thanks for? ___________________________(I Thessalonians 5:16-18) (Ephesians 5:20)

c.       In what ways does voicing our thanks and appreciation change our attitude and make us more aware of the Lord’s presence? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

d.      How is it possible to give God thanks in everything? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

e.       Psalm 75:1 admonishes us to thank God for all His wondrous works. Is it possible to cease identifying all His wondrous works? _____________