SERMON SEEDS
S8 – THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 24, 202O
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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1 PETER 3:13-16 – SHARING HOPE
HOLY LIVING IN A HOSTILE WORLD #12 – 1 Peter
We live in a society where more and more people lack hope. Many people are living lives of discouragement and defeat. Peter tells us how we, as Christians, can share hope.
BE CONFIDENT– …and do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. – Vss. 13-14 – Vs. 12
2 Timothy 3:12, Philippians 1:29, Hebrews 13:5-6, Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Corinthians 5:8-9, Luke 12:11-12
BE COMMITTED - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts... – Vs. 15
1 Peter 1:18-19, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 2:9-11, Luke 14:26-27, 33, Romans 12:1, Colossians 3:17, John 8:34-36
Am I sold out to the Lord Jesus in theory or practice?
BE CONVERSATIONAL – and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason, for the hope that is in you – Vs. 15
Acts 1:8, Acts 11:19-21, Romans 5:1-5
Answer in the Spirit. Answer from experience. Answer with Scripture
BE CONSIDERATE – with meekness and fear – Vs. 15
1 Corinthians 9:19-22, Colossians 4:5-6
Abdu Murray – “Don’t answer questions, answer people! Listen!” People want to be heard.
BE CLEAN - Having a good conscience... – Vs. 16
Ephesians 1:10, Matthew 5:14-16
Listen to This Sermon:
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JOSHUA 15:13-19 – GOD’S INCENTIVE PLAN
People use all sorts of incentives to get us to do things or buy things.
There is the "free gift" if you make a purchase.
There is the commission earned by sales people.
There the reward offered for information leading to the arrest of
criminals.
God also uses incentive plans. We should need no incentive to serve the
God that has saved us when we placed our faith in the finished work of
Christ. However, God has chosen to reward those who are faithful to Him.
The story of Caleb using an incentive plan to capture the city of Debir
is also a reminder of God's incentive plan.
Caleb had received from Joshua, the inheritance God had promised.
(Joshua 14:10-15)
GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN INVOLVES OTHERS Vss. 13-16
Caleb conquered Hebron.
Caleb was fully capable of conquering Debir by himself, but chose to
involve others. God is fully of capable of accomplishing His work, but
has chosen to involve Christians. See Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians
1:21, Matthew 5:16, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11
GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN INCLUDES REWARDS Vss. 16-17
Caleb offered his daughter as reward for a job well done. Othniel was
the one who earned the reward by taking Debir.
God offers rewards for jobs well done. They are called "crowns."
James 1:12, Revelation 2:10, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 1 Thessalonians
2:19-20, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 1 Peter 5:1-4
GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN INSPIRES PRAYER Vss. 18-19
Othniel is encouraged by his wife to ask Caleb for a field. After than
she is secure enough to ask of a loving father springs which would
water that field. She was given more than she asked.
Our Heavenly Father includes us in His work and rewards us. He also
encourages us to pray, so that we will be empowered to get the job
done. Matthew 7:7-11
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SELECTED PSALMS – THE BLESSED MAN
THE BLESSED MAN’S COUNSEL – THE WORD OF GOD – Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. [2] But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
THE BLESSED MAN’S CLEANSING – THE GRACE OF GOD – Psalm 32:1-2
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. [2] Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
THE BLESSED MAN’S CONFIDENCE – TRUST IN GOD – Psalm 34:8
O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
THE BLESSED MAN’S COMMUNION – FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD – Psalm 65:4
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
THE BLESSED MAN’S CORRECTION – INSTRUCTION FROM GOD – Psalm 94:12
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;
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EZEKEIL 28:13-19 – FALLEN ANGEL
LUCIFER WAS PRETTY – Vs. 13
LUCIFER WAS POWERFUL – Vs. 14
LUCIFER WAS PERFECT – Vs. 15
LUCIFER WAS PERVERTED (WITH PRIDE) – Vss. 15-18
LUCIFER WAS, IS, AND WILL BE PUNISHED – Vss. 16, 18-19
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LUKE 4:14-30 – HOMETOWN HERO
LIFE OF CHRIST #14
You can imagine the surprise of the local folks in Nazareth when the "boy" they watched grow up now presented himself as a religious teacher and as the Messiah, when Jesus came back for a visit to his hometown.
I think that many people in America consider Jesus as “a hometown hero”. After all we’ve heard about him all our lives. We are familiar in many ways with his life, miracles, and teachings. And usually we are even glad to hear others mention Him in a favorable light.
However we need to be careful that we don’t end up treating the Lord Jesus in some of the same ways they did in His hometown. It is very easy to become like the hometown folk of Nazareth that ended up treating Jesus with unbelief, disrespect, and resentment.
It was at this time that Jesus decided to pay a visit to the old hometown. There are lessons to be learned from this visit, not the least of which is that we should not treat the Lord Jesus the way the hometown folks treated him.
JESUS' CUSTOM - TO ATTEND CHURCH - Vs. 16
Vs. 16 – Let me ask you a question.
Was Jesus God when He came to earth?
Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
John 1:1-2 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God.
Of course, Jesus was and is God!
This verse tells us that Jesus attended synagogue, which is the Jewish equivalent of church! Services were held in Jewish synagogues both in and out of Israel on the Sabbath Day.
How often did Jesus attend church? It was His custom! He went to synagogue whether He was preaching or not!
Now let’s get this straight.
Jesus is God!
God went to church regularly.
Some of you find it very easy to find something more important to do on a Sunday Morning, but God the Son attended church regularly!
JESUS' COMMUNICATION - THE WORD OF GOD - Vss. 17-19
I believe that the synagogue was packed that day!
The hometown boy was there.
The leader of the synagogue would have asked him, as a guest teacher, to read the Word of God.
When Jesus shared the Word of God, He did it for a purpose.
His purpose was to communicate truth.
Vs. 17 – Jesus was given the Book of Isaiah, a book of prophecy. Jesus found a specific spot in the Book, Isaiah 61:1-2, and read it.
This prophecy was about himself as the Messiah.
Vss. 18-19 - READ
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, - Of course the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit was upon the Lord Jesus. Whatever He did, He did in the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke 3:21-22, 4:1, 4:14
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; - The Gospel is the Good News.
The Good News has always been for the poor, the poor in Spirit, whether someone is rich or poor physically.
Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
A person who is poor in Spirit acknowledges his or sin and grieves over it.
A person who is poor in spirit realizes that he is not good enough to enter into Heaven.
A person who is poor in spirit humbles himself, and comes to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life.
The Good News that Jesus preached can be summed up with the words of a very familiar Scripture verse. John 3:16
he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, - Jesus healed the brokenhearted on many an occasion.
· He healed those who were brokenhearted by illness and death.
· He healed those who were brokenhearted by sorrow.
· He healed those who were brokenhearted by sin.
Brokenhearted people that Jesus healed included:
· Mary and Martha who were brokenhearted by the death of their Brother Lazarus
· Bartimaeus who was brokenhearted by his blindness.
· The man sick of the palsy brought to Jesus by four friends – He was brokenhearted by His sins.
· The Apostles who were brokenhearted by the death of the Lord Jesus.
Jesus heals brokenhearted people today!
· He heals those brokenhearted by sickness and death.
· He heals those brokenhearted by offenses committed against them. He teaches them to forgive.
· He heals those brokenhearted by sin.
Matthew 11:28-30
to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Only the Lord Jesus can set free those who are held captive by Satan, by their sins, and by their own unforgiving heart.
Only the Lord Jesus can give sight to those who have been spiritually blinded by Satan.
Only the Lord Jesus can set at liberty those who have been bruised by the events of their past.
[19] To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
This was the “Year of Jubilee” which occurred every 50 years. This was a time when the land had a year of freedom, the Jewish slaves were set free, and the land was returned to its original owners.
My friend, the Lord Jesus has come to set you free! Please let Him do so!
Jesus used the word of God to communicate a message from God. Make sure that you have accepted His message and applied it to your own life.
JESUS' COMMENTARY - THE WORD HAS BEEN FULFILLED - Vss. 20-21
Vss. 20-21 - Jesus had quoted from Isaiah 61:1-2a. It is interesting that he stopped reading in mid-sentence of verse 2. The first part of Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled at his first coming. The rest will be fulfilled at His Second Coming.
Jesus was making an announcement.
This was a privileged people.
This prophecy was fulfilled before their eyes.
They were looking at the fulfillment of that prophecy, the Lord Jesus Christ.
They were presented with God’s truth.
It was there for the accepting.
It was there for the taking.
Each time you hear a Biblical sermon or Sunday School lesson, or Bible Study, you are presented with God’s truth.
It is there for you to accept.
It is there for to you take as your own.
It is there for you to apply to your own life.
JESUS’ CHARGE – HE WAS A PROPHET WITHOUT HONOR – Vss. 22-27
Vs. 22 – At first the people of Nazareth were impressed. Jesus sounded so good!
But the feeling didn’t last long.
Right away they remembered that this was Jesus, the son (as they thought) of Joseph.
He had grown up around them.
He had attended their synagogue as a boy.
He had been their carpenter.
Why he couldn’t suddenly become their Messiah!
They resented Him instead of believing on Him.
Most of you have grown up with the Lord Jesus.
You’ve heard about Him for a long time, most of you for all your life.
You are very familiar with the Lord Jesus.
You either believe Him and do what He says or you resent Him, by not believing Him and not doing what He says.
Some of you believe on Him for salvation but do not believe Him enough to obey Him by the way you live. Whether you accept this truth or not if you don’t obey Him, you resent Him. Matthew 6:24
Vs. 23 – Jesus quoted a parable. He is reading their minds.
They wanted Jesus to do the miracles He had done elsewhere in front of them. They wanted Him to entertain them, to prove Himself.
Why didn’t Jesus do this?
Vs. 24 – He, as a prophet, was not accepted in His own country. He would not do miracles because they did not believe. Matthew 13:48
In verses 23-27 Jesus gave two examples miracles that took place among the Gentiles.
A gentile widow had the privilege of a bottomless barrel of meal and a bottomless container of oil during a drought and famine in Israel during the days of Elijah the Prophet. There were many Israeli widows in the land at the time.
A gentile soldier was healed of leprosy although there were many Israelites that had leprosy in the days of Elisha the prophet.
During those days Israel was in a general state of unbelief.
God did not bless them with those special miracles.
I fear to say that we in our Christian churches today are by and large in that same state of unbelief.
Jesus is a prophet without honor right here in America, and often in this church!
JESUS' CONFLICT - THE PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE SAID - Vss. 28-30
Vss. 28-29 - The people didn’t like what Jesus said.
They rebelled against Him.
They tried to kill Him and couldn’t!
So much for being a hometown hero!
Very often we will run into the same problem. We don’t like what the Lord Jesus says through the preacher and we rebel!
We might ignore the Word. Or we might even reject the preacher as being far too radical or as being wrong.
The rebellion of the people of Nazareth did not change the truth. Your rebellion against the Word of God will also not change the truth.
The people of Nazareth needed to have a change of heart about the Lord Jesus. They need to repent.
Perhaps you need to have a change of heart about the Lord Jesus as a Christian and make sure He is Lord of your life.
Perhaps you need to have a change of heart about the Lord Jesus and become a Christian.
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JOHN 5:19-29 – VERILY, VERILY!
In the Gospel of John, Jesus often quoted as saying "Verily, verily". When Jesus used those words, it meant He had something important to announce. In our text Jesus used the words "Verily, verily" three times.
THE VERILY OF RELATIONSHIP - Vss. 19-23
Jesus is talking about His own personal relationship with God the Father.
THE VERILY OF RESPONSE - Vs. 24
The proper response to Jesus' words is belief!
THE VERILY OF RESURRECTION - Vss. 25-29
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ROMANS 5:1-9 – ALL THROUGH JESUS
Everything that we need for Spiritual success is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
ACCEPTANCE THROUGH CHRIST - Vs. 1
Peace with God or God accepting us is through our faith in Christ.
ACCESS THROUGH CHRIST - Vs. 2
We come into God's presence through Christ.
ATTAINMENT THROUGH CHRIST - Vss. 3-5
We attain Spiritual maturity through the process described here. As Christ lives His life through us, we will mature through tribulation. Galatians 2:20
ATONEMENT THROUGH CHRIST - Vss. 6-9
The finished work of Christ paid for our sins!
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MATTHEW 6:9-13 – PRAYER FOCUS
COMMUNICATIONS CLINIC #2 – JESUS TEACHES ON PRAYER
COMPLETE LESSON, BUT ADAPT TO SUIT THE NEEDS OF YOUR LISTENERS
- Why is it important that our prayers please God?
- What are some of the challenges that we face when we try to pray to God for any length of time?
- How do you decide what to pray for?
- In your opinion, what are the things on God’s heart that He wants you to talk to Him about?
- How can we guard against the Lord’s Prayer becoming a “vain repetition”? Matthew 6:7-8
As we continue our “Communications Clinic”, we find Jesus giving us a pattern of prayer that teaches how to focus on some of the things that God wants us to bring to Him. If our prayer focus is right, our prayers are more likely to be effective before God and pleasing to God.
FOCUS ON FATHER
Matthew 6:9-10 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
- Prayer to “our Father” assumes a relationship between father and child. The only way we can legitimately pray to “our Father” is through being born into his family. John 1:12-13
- How does addressing “our Father” help us focus our prayers?
- How does remembering that “our Father” is in Heaven encourage us?
- As we focus on our Father, we are to worship Him as “Hallowed be thy name” indicates. Why is worship a key ingredient in our prayers? Psalm 47:6-7, 103:1-2
- As we pray “Thy Kingdom come”, we can certainly ask the Lord to return soon, looking forward to His Millennial Kingdom.
- I also see submission in this phrase. I should want God to reign in every part of my life, submitting specific habits and issues to Him. Romans 6:11-13, 12:1
- I can also pray “Thy Kingdom come” as I pray that God’s reign will come to the lives of unbelievers and disobedient believers.
- In areas where we are not sure of God’s will, or where we know God’s will and are struggling, we should pray “Thy will be done.” Remember the example of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 26:39.
- Why should our submission to God be a priority to us as Christians?
- How is the will of God carried out in Heaven? It should be our desire that it is done the same way here on earth.
FOCUS ON FOOD
Matthew 6:11 - Give us this day our daily bread.
- Why do most people not take this request too seriously?
- How does this verse and Matthew 6:25-26 compliment each other?
- Do you think this verse covers more than food?
FOCUS ON FORGIVENESS
Matthew 6:12 - And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:14-15 – For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- 1 John 1:9 indicates that we should name the specific sins that we are confessing. Why are they called “debts”?
- If we are to name our sins before God, it is logical that we should name those we are forgiving before God.
- When we forgive we are forgiving the “debt” they have to us because they have wronged us.
- Why is our forgiveness by God tied in to our forgiveness of others?
- Consider the parable in Matthew 18:22-35. It is certainly reason for us to consider how forgiving we are.
FOCUS ON FREEDOM
Matthew 6:13a - And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
- Are people ever tempted because they want to be?
- How does desire to avoid temptation glorify God?
- To be delivered from evil is to be delivered from the “evil one”.
- Should we be afraid of Satan’s power, Satan’s influence, or both? Why?
- We should constantly be looking for deliverance from the power of Satan in our lives. 1 Peter 5:8-9 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
FOCUS ON FAITH
Matthew 6:13b - For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
- How is this statement a statement of faith?
- What is the significance of this statement?
- God will answer prayers that are offered by faith, in Christ’s name, and for His glory. Mark 11:24 - Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
John 14:13-14 - And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
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