SERMON SEEDS
R30 – THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 30, 2019
BEST WISHES FOR A BLESSED NEW YEAR!
Sermon Seeds is a generally weekly collection of Sermon and Bible Study Outlines and Full Lessons from the pen of Pastor Jack Peters. Pastor Jack has been pastoring for 44 years and enjoys sharing what he gleans from God’s Word. He currently serves as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of New Holland, PA.
Feel free to use his material but make it your own by adding your insights, illustrations, and application.
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PSALM 119:1-2 – SPELLING LESSON
It is ironic that I would give you a spelling lesson. I was not a good speller in school and have only improved through repetition and my two spell-checkers, Dottie and the Spell Check on my computer!
However, the spelling lesson that I’m giving you this morning is really an acrostic, each letter in a word standing for another word. Here’s what I want to teach you this morning.
TO BE HAPPY SPELL S.A.D.
Psalm 119:1-2 (KJV) - Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
The word blessed means “happy”. This is not a happiness that depends on happenings. That kind of happiness puts you on an emotional and Spiritual roller coaster! Up one moment and down the next!
The happiness that we are seeing here has to do with our relationship and interaction with God and His Word!
There is a basic premise on which all true happiness is based. One must be “undefiled”, blameless” in the way they live. That’s not an easy thing to be. Psalm 14:1-3, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Jeremiah 17:9
In order to be happy we must be blameless before God.
That’s why Jesus came to earth! He came to relieve you of blame, and have you declared “righteous” in God’s eyes!
1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:1, John 3:16
Being declared righteous in God’s eyes does not mean all your troubles or struggles with sin will cease. It does mean all turns out in the end, and you can equip yourself for a happy walk. But it is a process!
SATURATION - ….who walk in the law of the Lord
If you walk on or in something you are surrounded with it, immersed it, saturated with it.
Grass, sidewalk, carpet, wood floor
Sports, Hallmark Channel, News, music, radio, television, books,
Anger, love, jealousy, faithfulness, food, myself,
To be happy then we must be saturated in the Word of God. John 15:7, John 17:17, Colossians 3:16, Psalm 119:11
How do we saturate ourselves in God’s Word?
Deuteronomy 6:4-7, 2 Timothy 3:14-17
- READ WITH PURPOSE
- More than a cursory reading
- Systematic from different areas of Scripture
- Follow a plan – We have several (email pastorjackpeters@gmail.com if you would like to see the Scripture Reading plan suggestions.
- MEMORIZE
- Remember – 3x5 cards
- Repeat
- Review
- MEDITATE
- Psalm 1:1-3
- Mull it over. Chew the cud!
APPLICATION – Blessed are they that keep his testimonies…
It’s not enough just to know them, they must be obeyed, Matthew 7:21, James 1:22-25
DEVOTION – and that seek him with the whole heart
John 14:15, John 14:21, Psalm 119:97, John 15:1-7,
1 Chronicles 16:11, Psalm 27:8
- DETERMINATION AND DILIGENCE – 2 Peter 1:5-9
- DELIGHT – Psalm 1:2, Psalm 37:4
- DEPENDENCE – Zechariah 4:6, John 15:5, Colossians 3:17, Ephesians 1:17-23, 3:14-21
To Listen to a recording of this sermon, visit:
https://www.fbcnhremembers.com/spelling_lesson
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EXODUS 31:1-6 – NOT TRIVIAL
I have a Bible trivia question for you. Without looking at our text, who was Bezaleel?
You were probably stumped, because Bezaleel is probably one of the more obscure Bible characters. Although Bezaleel provides a great question for a Bible Trivia quiz, the importance of Bezaleel and the impact that he had were not trivial at all.
Bezaleel was responsible for the construction of all the things involved in the worship that took place in the tabernacle, including the ark, the mercy seat, the tabernacle furniture, candlesticks, the altar, and the high priest's garments. See Exodus 31:7-11. Bezaleel also shows us how God can use people who may feel obscure.
HE WAS SELECTED - Vss. 1-2
God had a plan for his life. He was selected "by name" for a very important task.
God has a specific plan for the life of each Christian.
God has something for each one of us to do. Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 5:15-17, 1 Peter 4:11
HE WAS SKILLED - Vss. 3-5
God had made this man skilled in a number of areas.
God has given at least one Spiritual Gift to each Christian. Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-7, Romans 12:3-8
HE WAS SUPPORTED - Vs. 6
There were other gifted people who were to work along with Bezaleel.
There was a partnership formed to get the job done.
The church is viewed as a body. For a body to work well, each part of the body needs to function. Pastors and missionaries need other gifted people to work along with them in order for the church to reach its full potential. 1 Corinthians 12:13-27
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PSALM 49 – IT’S ABOUT THE HEART, NOT THE WALLET (MONEY)
This Psalm may be a good message at the beginning of a new year. This contrasts the wicked rich with the righteous. This Psalm shows that the condition of one’s heart is more important than the condition of one’s wallet, wealth, or bank account.
THE CALL FOR LISTENERS – Vss. 1-4
THE CONDITION OF THE WICKED RICH – Vss. 5-14
THE CONFIDENCE OF THE RIGHTEOUS – Vss. 15
THE CONDEMNATION OF THE WICKED RICH – Vss. 16-20
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MATTHEW 4:1-11 – HE DID IT!
LIFE OF CHRIST #6 of 60
To me, one of the most remarkable things that Jesus did was live a sinless life. And as we continue our study in the Life of Christ, we move from the ministry of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus to the temptation of Christ. In this true story we see the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ over the temptation of the Devil.
I have entitled this message, HE DID IT! I mean He did what you and I can’t do. He had total victory over sin. And I want us to think of the significance of that.
HE DID IT! – BUT WE HAVE SINNED
Before we talk about the temptation of our Lord, let’s put things in perspective by talking about ourselves.
The Bible is very clear that all of us are sinners.
We have all failed God.
We have all missed the mark.
We have all wandered away from doing the truth. Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10-12, 23
Our sins actually fall into three categories, according to
1 John 2:15-16 - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
In this verse the word “world” does not refer to the earth, nor does it refer to the people on the earth. It refers to the “world system” or the world’s evil way of doing things.
The three categories of sin found in the world, are
- The lust of the flesh
- The lust of the eyes
- The pride of life
Lust is desire. Not all desire is wrong. If we didn’t desire food we wouldn’t eat.
If husbands and wives don’t desire each other there would be no children. If we didn’t desire rest we wouldn’t sleep. If we didn’t desire liquid we wouldn’t drink.
The “lust of the flesh” is when these desires get out of hand.
The one who lusts after food is a glutton.
The one who lusts after sex is a fornicator, an adulterer, or worse!
The one who lusts after rest is lazy!
The one who lusts after the wrong kind of liquid is an alcoholic!
Whenever I allow my own physical desires to get out of hand, I am guilty of “lust of the flesh”.
The “lust of the eyes” is when I desire to please my eyes more than I try to please God.
Most of us would not argue that pornography is wrong! It is when I allow my eyes to feast on things that are sensual.
But anytime we look at a member of the opposite sex with the wrong motives, we are guilty of the lust of the eyes. Matthew 5:27-28
Lust of the eyes often allows us to enter a fantasy world of entertainment that distracts us from the love of God.
Americans love their sports entertainment, their video entertainment, their television entertainment and their World Wide Web entertainment. And when these fill us with visions and thoughts contrary to God’s holiness or rob us of time that should be devoted to God, they are wrong!
Another way the “lust of the eyes” affects us is through our wanting what other people have. We want to “keep up with the Jones”. We want the car, the house, the gun, the dress that we really don’t need, but we want it more than we want to please God!
When these things rob us of our commitment, love and loyalty to God, they are wrong!
“Lust of the flesh”, “Lust of the eyes” and “the pride of life”.
There is nothing wrong with taking pride in your work or in your appearance.
Pride is wrong when you think yourself better than others and even say so!
Pride is what often keeps us from admitting we are wrong, or apologizing, or asking for forgiveness.
Pride is wrong when it tries to make oneself more important than God.
These three categories of sin have been around since the Garden of Eden. When Satan tempted Eve, the temptation covered three areas – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Genesis 3:6 - And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Lust of the flesh - good for food
Lust of the eyes - pleasant to the eyes
Pride of life - a tree to be desired to make one wise
Mankind has struggled with these areas of sin ever since.
HE DID IT! – AND SHOWED HIMSELF SUPERIOR
Vs. 1 – Notice when Jesus was tempted it was after a great act of blessing and obedience. He had just been baptized and had heard His Heavenly Father’s approval This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Why was Jesus tempted by the devil, just as Eve was in the garden?
As the Union Pacific Railroad was being constructed, an elaborate trestle bridge was built across a large canyon in the West. Wanting to test the bridge, the builder loaded a train with enough extra cars and equipment to double its normal payload. The train was then driven to the middle of the bridge, where it stayed an entire day. One worker asked, “Are you trying to break this bridge?” “No,” the builder replied, “I’m trying to prove that the bridge won’t break.” In the same way, the temptations Jesus faced weren’t designed to see if He would sin, but to prove that He couldn’t.
Today in the Word, March 14, 1991 http://www.bible.org/illus.asp?topic_id=1542
Vss. 2-3 – Jesus was weak. Jesus was hungry.
The Devil comes in this moment of physical weakness and encourages the Lord Jesus to prove Himself the Son of God by taking matters into his own hands and making some stones into bread.
Why would this have been wrong?
- God did not tell Jesus to do this.
- Jesus taking matters into his own hands would have indicated impatience with and lack of trust in God.
- Jesus would have been accepting the leadership of God’s enemy, Satan, instead of God Himself.
Vs. 4 – Jesus answer is brief, to the point, and directly from the Word of God. This a quote from Deuteronomy 8:3.
Man does not survive simply by food, but by the directions and provision of God at the speaking of His Word.
Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was good for food and succumbed to the lust of the flesh.
The Lord Jesus was tempted to make stones into bread to satisfy that same lust of the flesh. He refused and proved Himself superior.
Vss. 5-6 – Please note that Satan can quote Scripture and will. He is quoting Psalm 91:11-12. When Satan quotes it, he will quote it out of context or only part of a verse, so it will suit him in his efforts to tempt us to sin.
Satan wanted Jesus to tempt or test God by jumping off when God didn’t tell him to.
Satan would have us do things to test God, to presume that He will take care of us no matter how badly or foolishly we behave.
Vs. 7 – Jesus answers Satan’s Scripture quote with a better Scripture quote. “Don’t tempt the Lord thy God.” Deuteronomy 6:16
When Eve saw that the fruit of the tree would make her wise, she succumbed to the temptation of the pride of life.
When Jesus was tempted to jump and didn’t, He resisted the temptation to satisfy His own pride. Jesus again proved Himself superior.
Vss. 8-9 – What was Satan offering Jesus?
He was offering Him a kingdom without a cross.
Satan, as prince of this world could have fulfilled this promise temporarily.
All Jesus had to do was become a traitor. Instead of worshipping his Heavenly Father, he was to worship Satan.
Think of this – any time we make something more important to us than God, we are worshipping something else and have become traitors.
Vs. 10 – Jesus finally discharges Satan. Again, he quotes Scripture from Deuteronomy 6:13. God is to be worshipped, nobody else, and nothing else!
When Eve saw that the fruit was pleasant to the eyes she succumbed to the temptation of the lust of the eyes.
When Jesus saw the kingdoms that he could rule over if he worshipped Satan, he did not succumb to the temptation of the lust of the eyes.
In all three areas of temptation Jesus was victorious.
He showed Himself superior to Adam and Eve.
He showed Himself to be superior to you and me!
HE DID IT! – AND BECAME OUR SAVIOR
It is important that Jesus was tempted and did not sin.
It is important that Jesus did not sin, because that qualified Him to become our substitute for sin.
Someone has to pay for our sins. God is a righteous God who demands payment for sin. Logically speaking, we should be punished for our sins. Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23a
God, in His love sent to us a sinless substitute, His very own Son, who did not have to pay for His own sins. He had none. Instead, Jesus could and did die for our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21,
Romans 5:6-9
It is now possible for you to be rescued or saved from the wrath of God’s judgment.
Jesus died for your sins.
Forgiveness and everlasting life does not come through good works, baptism, going to church, keeping The Ten Commandments, or any other man made effort.
Forgiveness and everlasting life come from accepting by faith the death of Christ on the cross for your sins, by receiving Him as your Savior. Ephesians 2:8-9
HE DID IT! – AND GIVES US HIS STRENGTH
Some people have the wrong idea that all a person needs to do is trust Christ as Savior and then they can live any way they want.
This, of course, is not true.
Not only do we have Christ as our savior, but He is to be the very strength of our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live – When Christ died on the cross, because I have believed on Him, I died with Him.
Because He was buried, I was buried with Him.
Because He rose from the dead I rose with Him.
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me - The very Son of God lives inside me, and as I allow Him to, He will control my life.
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
It is through faith in Him that I will allow Him to control my life.
As I do this I will be able to have victory over temptation.
He is ever present to help and strengthen. Philippians 4:13
We have access to Christ’s help anytime we need it for anything, especially with help in dealing with temptation. Hebrews 4:15-16
Now that we have Christ in our lives, we can have victory over temptation. It is promised.
1 Corinthians 10:12-14
Because Christ is victorious over temptation, we can be too.
He did it! Jesus Christ was victorious over temptation.
Because He is victorious, we can have forgiveness and eternal life and victory in this life.
HE DID IT! – BUT WE HAVE SINNED
HE DID IT! – AND SHOWED HIMSELF SUPERIOR
HE DID IT! – AND BECAME OUR SAVIOR
HE DID IT! – AND GIVES US HIS STRENGTH
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LUKE 14:1-5 – IN FRONT OF THE CRITICS
Jesus was on display in front of those who would find fault with Him.
A CRITICAL EYE – Vs. 1
Jesus’ enemies were watching with a view to find fault.
A CLASSIC CASE – Vs. 2
In front of Jesus was a man who was in desperate need of healing. It was a classic case of a man in need on the Sabbath day.
A COMPELLING QUESTION – Vs. 3
Jesus questioned the legality of healing on the Sabbath. Of course, he knew the answer to the question.
A CONVINCING MIRACLE – Vs. 4
The man was healed!
A CLEAR EXAMPLE – Vs. 5
Jesus pointed to the fact that everyone broke the Sabbath to rescue an animal in distress. The implication is that a sick man is more important than an animal and should be healed.
A CLOSED MOUTH – Vs. 6
Collectively, the opposition was silent.
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JAMES 3:13-18 – THREE KINDS OF WISDOM
THE WISDOM OF HUMILITY - HUMBLE WISDOM - Vs. 13
THE WISDOM OF HELL - HAUGHTY WISDOM - Vss. 14-16
THE WISDOM OF HEAVEN - HEAVENLY WISDOM - Vss. 17-18
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REAL MEN ARE CHANGED MEN – THE STORY OF PAUL
Real Men - Lesson #1 of 7 – Acts 9
(Here are the outline and questions I used to teach this men’s Bible Study.)
- What does it mean to be “real” or “authentic”?
- Why should Christian men be “real”?
- Who are some Bible Characters who were real?
- How can these Bible Characters help us?
We are starting a series on “Real Men” and will study the lives of men in the Bible who can help us because they were “real”.
- What changes do we look for when a person professes faith in Christ?
- Of all the people you have seen come to Christ, who changed the most?
- Why do we put such an emphasis on “change” for a Christian? 2 Corinthians 5:7
One of the most changed men who appear in the Scriptures is the Apostle Paul. The dramatic change in his life deserves examination.
PAUL THE TRADITIONALIST – Philippians 3:3-6
- What is a traditionalist?
- In what ways was Paul a traditionalist before he had his encounter with Christ?
- On what was Paul relying in order to have everlasting life?
- Why was Paul wrong?
PAUL, THE TERROR – Acts 7:58, 8:3, 9:1-2
- Stephen was stoned and Paul watched the coats. What does this mean?
- Why do you think Paul was so adamant against Christians?
- What does Acts 9:2 tell you about Paul’s attitude or mental state?
PAUL, THE TERRIFIED - Vss. 3-9
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- What was remarkable about the Lord’s appearance to Paul?
- Why was Paul so scared?
- Does God ever “scare” people today into a decision?
Should we ever use fear as a means to convince people that they need to trust Christ as Savior? Jude 1:22-23
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- Has God ever scared you into a decision?
- What indication is there in verses 6-7 that Paul had believed in Christ? Will the same indication of belief be present today?
PAUL, THE TRANSFORMED - Vss. 10-18, Philippians 3:7-9
- Why was Ananias hesitant to meet with Paul?
- What does the response of the Lord in Vss. 15-16 tell you about God’s intentions for new believers?
See Ephesians 2:10.
- What indication is there that Ananias believed that Paul was changed?
- What did Paul’s baptism indicate? Why is it important that believers be baptized?
- What is significant about Paul’s statement in Philippians 3:7-9?
PAUL, THE TAUGHT – Galatians 1:15-18
Matthew 28:20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…
- What was unique about the learning that Paul had after being saved? Why did God choose such a unique method for Paul?
- What should a new convert be hungry for? Why?
- How should we help new converts?
- What is a sad thing about believers as they get older?
2 Peter 3:18
PAUL, THE TESTIMONY - Vss. 18-22
- Why were people so amazed when Paul testified for Christ?
- Why was Paul’s public testimony necessary?
- Why is a testimony of a new believer important?
See Romans 10:9-10.
PAUL, THE TARGET - Vss. 23-28
Of the Jews - Vss. 23-25
- What makes Paul’s persecution so ironic?
- Is it possible that we will receive the same response?
2 Timothy 3:12
Of the Christians - Vss. 26-28
- Would you have been skeptical of Paul? Why?
- What does this tell us about our response to new Christians?
- How should we be like Barnabas?
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