SERMON SEEDS
BIBLE OUTLINES FOR PASTORS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
T44 – FOR WEEK OF 11/1/21
First Baptist Church of New Holland PA - SERMON SEEDS (fbcnhremembers.com)
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WE ARE FAMILY!
TALKING CHURCH AS A FAMILY #1
We are family! A true church is a family.
WE ARE BORN AND ADOPTED
John 1:10-13, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 10:9-13
Galatians 4:3-7
Have you been born and adopted into the Family?
WE ARE ESTABLISHED AND COMMANDED
Matthew 16:13-19, 1 Corinthians 3:11, Ephesians 2:19-22, Psalm 118:22 (Universal church and Local Church)
Matthew 28:18-20 (The Family Business)
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE (One way or another)
We need to ask:
- Are we as a church and I as an individual carrying a Stretcher? Matthew 9:1-7
- Or are we as a church and I as an individual carrying a coffin? Luke 7:11-12 (If the local church is not winning people to Christ, it will eventually die!
- There is hope for us, as a church, and me, as an individual. Luke 7:13-16
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First Baptist Church of New Holland PA - Sermons (fbcnhremembers.com)
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STARTING PRIVATELY – Matthew 6:6
FAMILY PRAYERS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH #1
- Jesus was not opposed to the church praying together. He was opposed to saying our private prayers in public places in order to be seen. Matthew 6:5
- Group prayer was practiced and encouraged in the early church. Acts 1:12-14, Acts 2:41-42, Acts 4:23-31, Acts 12:5, 1 Timothy 2:1-8
- Before we pray as a group, we should learn to pray in the closet or privately. Why?
Matthew 6:6 - But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
OVERWHELMING PRIVACY - … enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door…
- What does Jesus mean by these words? What are some creative places for private prayer?
- How is praying privately a real test of our devotion?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of private prayer?
- How can we guard our prayer privacy?
OVERWHELMING PRESENCE - … pray to thy Father which is in secret;
- When we come to the Father in secret, we are coming to “the Throne of Grace”. Hebrews 4:14-16
- God is looking for those whose hearts are perfect toward Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
- The desire of our hearts should be to abide in God’s presence. Psalm 27:4
- There is no safer place to be than in the presence of God. Psalm 27:5, Psalm 91:1
OVERWHELMING POWER - and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
- Our motive in our private prayers is that God be glorified through Jesus. John 14:13-14
- Some Scriptures that assure us of God’s answers to prayer are Psalm 50:15, Jeremiah 33:3,
James 5:17-18, 1 John 5:14-15.
OVERWHELMING PETITIONS – ASKING GOD TO MAKE SPIRITUAL CHANGES
- Although we have all sorts of promises that God will answer prayer, why are we hesitant to pray for specific requests for Spiritual maturity that we know God wants us to pray for? Examples – Philippians 1:9-11 and Ephesians 3:14-21
- Why is praying for the specific Spiritual qualities of our church family vital for the growth of this church?
- There are specific prayer requests for Spiritual Maturity which we can pray for. Over the next few weeks, we are going to look at these requests and learn how to pray for them. As we learn to pray privately, we are also learning to pray with a group.
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DEUTERONOMY 1:19-46 – REFUSING GOD’S BEST
Very often our lives are miserable because we refuse to accept what God knows is best for our lives. This is exactly what the Children of Israel did as they were on the verge of entering The Promise Land. Moses reviews the sad story.
REQUIREMENT - Vss. 19-21
The children of Israel were required to go in and possess the land that God had given them. They were not to fear nor be discouraged.
RECONNAISSANCE - Vss. 22-25
At the peoples’ request spies were commissioned to go in and search the land.
REVOLT - Vss. 26-33
In spite of the goodness of the land, the people revolted against the plan of going into the land because of the report of the majority of spies. Their biggest problem is summed up in Deut. 1:32 - Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God,
REBUKE - Vss. 34-40
The generation that refused to believe God and possess the land never entered the Land with the exception of Caleb and Joshua. They were to continue to take their journey, one that lasted 40 years.
REFUSAL (TO ACCEPT GOD'S JUDGMENT) - Vss. 41-46
The people tried to enter the land instead of accepting God’s judgment. The effort was a failure.
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PROVERBS 2:1-5 – THE ROAD TO WISDOM
ACCEPT - Vs. 1
For a man to become wise, he must accept God’s Word readily and actually keep them with him in his heart. Psalm 119:11
APPLY - Vs. 2
Not only are we to accept God’s word, but we are to apply our ears unto wisdom and our hearts unto knowledge so that we actually do what God’s Word teaches.
ASK - Vs. 3
Wise people ask questions. We are wisest when we ask God for knowledge and understanding.
ATTEMPT - Vs. 4
There is active effort needed in the search for knowledge and understanding.
ATTAIN - Vs. 5
When we practice verses 1-4, we are blessed with the results of Vs. 5. We will “understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
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MARK 10:17-27 – THE WISE FOOL
The rich young ruler was:
WISE TO SEEK JESUS – Vss. 12-17
WISE TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS – Vss. 18-20
WISE TO KNOW HIS NEED – Vs. 20, Matthew 19:20
FOOLISH TO LOVE MONEY – Vss. 21-22
FOOLISH TO WALK AWAY – Vss. 23-27
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JOHN 1:10-14 – WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH JESUS?
Everyone who has heard the Gospel will do something with Jesus.
Here are three possibilities.
THERE ARE REJECTERS - Vss. 10-11
Some will refuse to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
A person who makes no decision concerning Christ has actually decided not to believe in Christ.
THERE ARE RECEIVERS - Vss. 12-13
Every person who believes in Christ becomes a child of God and has been born of God. See John 3:1-8
THERE ARE REFLECTORS - Vs. 14
John saw Christ's glory and believed on Him. After that he reflected that glory through His words and his actions. We who have seen Christ's glory through salvation are to do the same. Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Peter 3:15
Are you a rejecter, or are you and a receiver and a reflector?
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A WELL-ADJUSTED FAMILY THAT’S APPRECIATIVE – PHILIPPIANS 1:1-11
FAMILY TALKS IN PHILIPPIANS #1 of 7
- How is a local church a family?
- Over the years, what are some of the good and bad (functional and dysfunctional) family qualities that you’ve seen in the local church?
- We like to see our families grow and mature in time. That takes individual effort and cooperation. We want our families to become well-adjusted.
- God wants His family to grow and mature in time. He provides His Spirit and His Word to help accomplish this. This also requires individual effort and cooperation. God wants His family to be well-adjusted!
The church in Philippi was a good, loyal church. However, like any individual or family, they had things to work on to become more well-adjusted. In his letter to the Philippians (a letter written from Prison) Paul is addressing and modeling qualities that would help them, and us, to become more well-adjusted. He begins by showing us that a well-adjusted family is an appreciative family.
IN APPRECIATION, WE SERVE. Philippians 1:1
- Although Paul and Timothy were children of God (John 1:12-13), they also considered themselves slaves. In 1 Timothy 4:12-14 Paul tells us why.
- Believers (saints) and leaders (bishops and deacons) should also serve in appreciation of the Lord’s work in their lives. Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
IN APPRECIATION, WE BLESS. Philippians 1:2
- When we truly appreciate what God has done in the life of another believer, we will wish for them God’s best.
- What makes God’s grace and peace so special?
IN APPRECIATION, WE GIVE THANKS. Philippians 1:3-6
- Vs. 3 – When Paul thought of the Philippians, he gave thanks for them! Developing this discipline will help us please God. Colossians 3:15-17
- Vs. 4 – Paul prayed with joy regularly for the Philippians. We have the same privilege and responsibility. Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 5:18
- Vs. 5 – How were the Philippians partners with Paul in the Gospel?
- Vs. 6 – We can be confident that what God begins, He will complete. Romans 12:28-39
IN APPRECIATION, WE VALUE. Philippians 1:7-8
- How can we in the local church partner with each other in each other’s “chains”, “defense and confirmation of the Gospel”?
- Vs. 8 – Out of love for the Lord Jesus, we should be concerned for each other. It’s been said, “Love begins at home.” 1Peter 1:21
IN APPRECIATION, WE PRAY. Philippians 1:9-11
Pray for your brothers and sisters that they will have:
- Abounding love – Verse 9
- Good judgment – Verse 10
- Inward and outward purity – Verse 10
- A good harvest through the power of Jesus Christ “to the glory and praise of God” – Verse 11
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1 JOHN 5:14-17 – PRAYING INTELLIGENTLY
REAL CHRISTIANITY #18 – STUDIES IN 1 JOHN (LAST IN THE SERIES)
We laugh at some of the unintelligent things people do.
But there are times when a lack of intelligence is wasteful, hurtful or downright dangerous.
Believe it or not, one of the times that a lack of intelligence can hurt us is when we pray. If we don’t know what to pray for and how when we pray, we will be wasting our own time and God’s time. God’s work and God’s will are accomplished in response to our prayers. God has ordained that Christians should pray and that He will accomplish His purposes in answer to our prayers.
1 John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: [15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Notice that we can come confidently or boldly to God.
We don’t need to be wimpy in the way we ask our requests.
Notice that our confidence is in Him, I believe it is referring to God the Son here, the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed Jesus promised that He would answer our prayers. John 14:13-14
When we ask something in Jesus’ name, we have to believe that it is, as it says in 1 John 5:14, according to his will.
If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
When God hears us, it is with the intent of answering our request. He will answer it.
That’s great. But it gets even better!
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
When we pray according to God’s will, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. It’s already accomplished before we see the answer!
This promise behooves us to pray two ways, obediently and intelligently.
We must first pray obediently, doing what God tells us to do, confessing sin, and serving Him.
1 John 3:22
We must also pray intelligently according to his will.
Every one of our requests must be yielded to God’s will instead of being our own selfish ambition.
Jesus taught us to pray thy kingdom come, thy will be done.
Although I am to yield myself in prayer to God’s will being done, I must realize that in many, many, cases, I already know what God’s will is, so I can ask for it confidently in the name of the Lord Jesus.
I would like to share with you six areas in which you can pray and mostly know what the will of God is before you ask.
When you pray intelligently, you should pray for:
SELF
If you know Jesus as your Savior, you’re a saved sinner, but you’re still a sinner! You have a new nature and a new want to serve God, but you still have a tendency to sin and to have spiritual difficulties.
So how do you pray for yourself?
Praying for yourself is easy when you remember that you can’t do anything without God’s help!
You can’t think right without God’s help.
You can’t live righteously without God’s help.
You can’t speak or teach about God without God’s help.
You can’t witness without God’s help.
You can’t successfully raise a family without God’s help.
You can’t assist others without God’s help.
You can’t resist temptation and Satan without God’s help.
John 15:5 - I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
God has provided you with a wonderful gift that you can ask for at anytime. Whenever you need it, you can ask for it. It is the same gift that helped save you. That gift in his grace!
You were saved by grace, his unmerited enabling favor! Ephesians 2:8-9
You can obey any command by His grace.
You can forgive by His grace.
You can witness by His grace.
You can endure hardship by His grace.
You can flee temptation by His grace.
You can live righteously by His grace.
You can witness by His grace.
2 Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Hebrews 12:28 - Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Whatever it is that you know that God wants you to do, you should consistently ask God for the grace to accomplish it.
If you read Scripture and are convicted that you’re doing something wrong or need to do something right, ask Him for the grace to do it.
Another thing that you should ask for continually is the filling of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to control you through His Spirit. It is His will that you be filled with the Spirit, ask Him! Ephesians 5:18,
Luke 11:13
We fail so miserably in our Christian lives because we fail to pray for ourselves in total helplessness to a God who will enable us if we only ask!
SOVEREIGNS
1 Timothy 2:1-2 - I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; [2] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Romans 13:1 - Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Prayers need to be made for all, but governmental leaders especially need our prayers. We should pray for them, starting with the heads of state like presidents, prime ministers, and kings, and praying for all in authority over us. They have great responsibilities and need our prayers.
The goal of our prayers is that we might lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. When we are able to live in peace with others it is easier to spread the Gospel in peace.
SOULS
We are to pray for all men according to verse 1.
The great majority of those men are unsaved people who need to hear the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In 1 Timothy 2:3-4 Paul tells us God’s opinion of prayer for all men, especially rulers.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 - For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
- I believe that this means we should be praying for those we know who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.
- I believe that this means we should pray in general for those in our neighborhood, city, state and country who don’t know Christ as Savior
- I believe this means that we should pray asking God to send missionaries to all areas of the world, especially those we know to be in need.
Luke 10:2 - Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
- I believe this means that we should be praying for our missionaries that their outreach will be effective.
God is burdened for the souls of men and women.
As His children, we should have the same burden.
That burden is first reflected in prayer, then giving to missions, and then going ourselves.
We should pray for:
SELF
SOVEREIGNS
SOULS
SAINTS
One of the great responsibilities we have as Christians is to pray for each other.
Ephesians 6:18 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Most of the time all we know to pray for is those who are sick. This, of course, is an important prayer and Biblical.
However, there is more to prayer and the Bible shows us several ways we should pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. One way to do this is to pray a “blessing” upon fellow believers.
Numbers 6:24-26 - The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: [25] The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: [26] The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Another way to pray for the saints is to pray the way Paul prayed for them in Ephesians 1:17-21, Ephesians 3:16-21, Philippians 1:-11, and Colossians 1:9-14.
There is another way to pray for the saints found right here in 1 John.
1 John 5:16 - If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
This is a very controversial verse, and there are many opinions out there as to what it means. This is how I understand it.
Notice that the one who is sinning is a “brother”.
We are talking about a fellow born-again Christian here.
So, the sin unto death can not be Spiritual death in hell, but physical death.
The “sin unto death” is evidently not a specific sin that causes physical death, but can be any sin. The sin unto death seems to be an ongoing sin habit or a great sin that causes shame to the cause of Christ. If the person refuses to repent, he or she could be removed and taken to Heaven “prematurely”.
Ananias and Sapphira are examples of this in Acts 5.
Another example are those found in 1 Corinthians 11:29-31.
John’s main concern however, is not for those who have gone to extremes in their rebellion against God.
John is talking about praying for those Christians we know and we see sin in their lives. It might be as simple as a lack of church attendance, or a bad attitude towards someone. It might be that they are being a poor testimony in some way.
All Christians will have times when sin is in our lives, simply because we are human.
1 John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
John is saying that we should pray for these people. We should ask God to speak to them, to work in their lives to bring them to repentance. Their sins don’t seem to be extreme, and God will give them “life”, as we pray.
We should pray for that brother or sister because we love them and want them to have abundant life that comes from getting right with God.
There are going to be times when God will use you as the answer to the prayer. Galatians 6:1-2
SITUATIONS
When there is a situation that concerns us, we can pray for it, believing God will work.
Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
SUPPLIES
Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day out daily bread.”
I believe that “bread” covers all our basic needs.
We have a legitimate need we should pray, believing that God will supply it.
The one who is living for the Lord and giving sacrificially himself can expect God’s provision.
Philippians 4:18-19
So let’s pray intelligently for:
SELF
SOVEREIGNS
SOULS
SAINTS
SITUATIONS
SUPPLIES
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