Sunday Evening Sermon Outline - 1/8/12

Three Responses to Jesus

I)                   Sorrowful Response (Matthew 19:16)

a.       There was a rich young ruler who asked Jesus How to receive eternal life. (Matthew 19:16)

                                                              i.      He called Jesus “Good Master” (Matthew 19:16)

                                                            ii.      He came running to and knelt before Jesus (Mark 10:17)

                                                          iii.      He called Jesus “Good Master” (Luke 18:18)

b.      Jesus told him how to receive eternal life. Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Matthew 19:21)

c.       What was the response of the rich young ruler to Jesus?

                                                              i.      He went away sorrowful {grieved} (Matthew 19:22) 

                                                            ii.      He went away grieved {sorrowful} (Mark 10:22)

                                                          iii.      He went away very sorrowful {grieved all round} (Luke 18:23)

                                                          iv.      Faced with worldly riches or eternal riches the young ruler sorrowfully walked away from eternal riches.

d.      How would you respond?

II)                Cynical Response (John 5:1-18)

a.       There was a man at the Pool of Bethesda who had been infirm for 38 years. (John 5:5)

                                                              i.      Jesus came to him and offered him a new {healed} life. (John 5:6-8)

                                                            ii.      The man quickly did as Jesus told him to do; “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”

b.      What was the response of the Jews?

                                                              i.      They demanded to know why he was carrying his bed in defiance of the law (John 5:10)

                                                            ii.      They demanded to know who had commanded him to carry his bed (John 5:12)

                                                          iii.      They persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him (John 5:15-18)

                                                          iv.      Faced with the healing touch of Jesus the Jews cynically sought to destroy the healer

c.       How would you respond?

III)             Sincere Response (John 4:1-42)

a.       There was a Samaritan women at the well in search of water (John 4:7)

                                                              i.      The women is surprised that Jesus, a Jew, would request anything of her (John 4:9)

                                                            ii.      The women comes to realise that Jesus is at least a prophet (John 4:19)

                                                          iii.      Jesus confronts her with her sin and offers her living water that she may never thirst again (John 4:13-18)

                                                          iv.      Jesus declares that He is “I AM” (John 4:26)

b.      What was the response of the adulterous Samaritan women?

                                                              i.      The women believed (John 4: 27-29)

                                                            ii.      The women told others about Jesus (John 4:27-29)

                                                          iii.      The women’s testimony and the words of Jesus caused others to believe in Him as well (John 4:39-42)

                                                          iv.      The Samaritans did not sorrowfully depart, they did not persecute, they begged Jesus to stay (John 4:40)

                  c.   How would you respond?