SERMON SEEDS

R9 – THE WEEK OF MARCH 18, 2019

 

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 over 40 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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LUKE 22:24-38 – LOOKING AHEAD

A.M. 3/17/19 - THE STORY OF JESUS #57

Dottie has a possesses a quality that has blessed me and others. She knows how to look ahead.

Because she looks ahead, dinner is usually planned in advance and the table is usually set in advance.

Because she looks ahead food is prepared in advance for the fellowship lunches, breakfasts, socials, and CrossNet Ministries.

Because she looks ahead, she knows when the next big sale should be for items that are packed in shoeboxes. Easter is next!

Because she looks ahead, we have a budget.

It’s good to look ahead. Yesterday afternoon I looked ahead at the remaining potential messages in 1 John.

After initiating the Lord’s Table in the Upper Room, Jesus looked ahead in behalf of the Disciples and us and gave instructions for our good.

In spite of his imminent death, Jesus was still focusing on the needs of His followers.

 

A PRINCIPLE FOR LEADERSHIP – SERVICE

Luke 22:24-27, Galatians 5:13, John 13:12-17

 

A PROMISE OF REWARD – LATER!

Luke 22:28-30, Romans 8:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:12,

1 Corinthians 4:5

 

PREPARATION FOR PETER – FAILURE NOT FATAL

Luke 22:31-34,62, 2 Corinthians 7:10, John 21:15-17

 

PLAN FOR EVANGELISM – EQUIP TO SURVIVE

Luke 22:35-38, 3 John 1:5-8, Luke 22:51, Ephesians 6:10-17

 

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NEHEMIAH 2 – AM I PREPARED?

NEHEMIAH – GOD’S MAN IN TIME OF CRISES

Lesson #3 of 10 – Complete Lesson

• Can you remember a time when you or someone else was not prepared to do something that was supposed to be done?  What were the results?  How would being prepared have made the situation better?
• Why is preparation especially necessary when handling a crisis?

 

In this chapter Nehemiah shows us how to be prepared for a project God has called us to complete.

HE INVOKED THE KING’S SYMPATHY – Vss. 1-3

• Nehemiah was the King’s Cupbearer – According to Cyril Barber, "As a cupbearer, he is in a unique position. He holds the offices of prime minister and master of ceremonies rolled into one. Fear of intrigue and the constant threat of assassination caused a king to lead a relatively lonely life. It was, therefore, quite natural for him to gravitate toward a man of wisdom, discretion, and ability. A cupbearer who had his monarch's best interest at heart, and who stayed abreast of the times could frequently exert great influence upon his sovereign. Besides testing the king's wine, he was also responsible for guarding the king's sleeping quarters." Cyril Barber, Nehemiah and the Dynamics of Effect Leadership, (Neptune, New Jersey, Loizeaux Brothers Inc. 1976), p 14
• Vs. 1 – Nehemiah had been praying for four months.  Why did he wait so long before talking to the king? 
• Why is timing so important in what we do?  How do we know when we’ve reached the right time to do something?
• Although we are not to outwardly announce or display when we have a prayer burden (Matthew 6:6), it will often show.
• Vs. 2 – Why was Nehemiah afraid?
• Vs. 3 – Notice that Nehemiah’s answer showed that he was prepared for this moment.
• How does Nehemiah’s answer show tact?  Why is tact so important? 

HE CRIED TO GOD IN SUPPLICATION – Vs. 4

• This was an “emergency prayer”.  Why do you think he prayed it now and not when he was initially frightened?
• What emergency prayer has God answered for you?
• When are emergency prayers appropriate?  When are they inappropriate?

HE REQUESTED TO BE SENT – Vs. 5-6

• Vs. 5 - Why was Nehemiah’s request a great personal sacrifice?
• What are you willing to give up in order to get the Gospel out? (Answer God, not us!)
• I think it obvious that Nehemiah thought through and prayed through this request before he made it.  It is part of being prepared.
• Vs. 6 - Why was granting this request a great sacrifice on the part of the King? Why do you think the king wanted set times of departure and return. Notice that Nehemiah had thought and prayed through that question before it was asked.
• Why do you think the king was pleased to send Nehemiah?

HE ASKED FOR SIGNATURES AND SUPPLIES – Vss. 7-8

• Why did Nehemiah make requests for supplies and approvals right away?  Why didn’t he wait for another time?
• Why is it important to know what we need, even if it isn’t time to ask for it?
• Have you seen a project fail because proper supplies and permissions were not secured?
• If a person wants to do something for the church that is not already being done, what procedure should they follow?

HE RECEIVED A SUPPLEMENT – Vss. 9-10

• Nehemiah had been given a security force which he hadn’t asked for.  Was this a valuable supplement? Why?
• Have you ever received more than you’ve asked for?  What does this tell you about your God?

HE MADE A SURVEY – Vss. 11-16

• Vs. 11 - Why do you think Nehemiah wisely waited three days before doing or saying anything when he arrived in Jerusalem?
• Vs. 12-16 - Why did Nehemiah quietly make a survey of the walls and why was he so tight-lipped about it? 
• What does this teach us?

HE WAITED FOR THE RIGHT TIME TO SHARE – Vss. 17-18

• When Nehemiah presented his proposal to rebuild the wall, he first identified the problem.  The people needed to know that he knew what the problem was.  The people probably needed to be reminded of the severity of the problem.
• Next, Nehemiah proposed that they, as a team, build the wall.  What is the problem with one man projects?
• Nehemiah then told of all that happened previously and how God’s good hand had been upon them.  He gave evidence that God was in the rebuilding program.  After all, if God isn’t in it, why bother?
• Although it is not stated, I think there were probably questions and answers.  Nehemiah had already surveyed the walls and provided for the supplies and the permissions.  He could intelligently discuss the project.
• It was then that the people said, “Let us rise up and build”.  Why is it important to have people you are trying to lead behind you?

 

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PSALM 139 – GOD KNOWS

 

GOD KNOWS HOW WE ARE - Vss. 1-6

 

GOD KNOWS WHERE WE ARE - Vss. 7-12

 

GOD KNOWS WHAT WE ARE - Vss. 13-18

 

GOD KNOWS WHAT WE SHOULD BE - Vss. 19-24

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JONAH 1 – RUNNING FROM GOD

#1 of 4 – PROPHET ON THE RUN – JONAH  

 

There are many people who has been called of God to do something and have obeyed. There are many people who have been called of God to do something, and ran from Him, instead of doing His will.

Jonah was one who ran.

 

REQUIREMENT OF GOD Vss. 1-2

Jonah the prophet was called by God to go and preach against Ninevah.

 

REBELLION OF JONAH Vs. 3

He ran instead of obeying.

 

RESULTS OF DISOBEDIENCE Vss. 4-17

When we run from God, as Jonah did:

 

1. It affects others. - Vss. 4-5 - The passengers, the cargo, and the ship itself were all affected by God's judgment of Jonah's sin.

 

2. It affects our testimony. - Vss. 6-10 - Jonah, the prophet of God, had to identify himself, and admit his own sin.

 

3. It affects ourselves. Vs. 5, 11-16

Spiritually Jonah was out of fellowship with God. He slept when he should have been praying. Psalm 66:18

Physically Jonah experienced God's judgment. That's how he ended up in the belly of the great fish. 1 Corinthians 11:26-32, 1 John 5:16

 

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MATTHEW 3:13-17 – BAPTISM

 

A SPECIAL REQUEST - Vs. 13

Jesus wanted to be baptized.

 

A STEADY RESISTANCE - Vs. 14

Knowing the identity of Jesus, John realized that Jesus should be baptizing him.

 

A SUBSTANTIAL REASON - Vs. 15

Jesus said that He must be baptized to fulfill all righteousness.

 

A SUPERNATURAL RESPONSE - Vss. 16-17

God, the Spirit, descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. Vs. 16

God, the Father, spoke from Heaven, giving His approval. Vs. 17

 

A SENSIBLE REQUIREMENT

• Jesus was baptized when He knew what He was doing. We should be baptized after we have been saved. Matthew 28:19
• Jesus commanded that His Disciples be baptized. Matthew 28:19
• It is evident that baptism is by immersion. Jesus came up out of the water. Matthew 3:16 Romans 6:1-4 is a picture describing 

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COLOSSIANS 4:7-18 – THE CHRISTIAN I WANT TO BE

Scattered around the countryside, and across the seas I have a very precious commodity. These are my fiends. No two are alike. No one is expendable.  Each one is a blessing for a particular reason.    

In  the pastorate, I would have lost my sanity years ago, if it wasn't for my friends. My very best human friend is my wife, Dottie

 

You can tell a lot about a person by his friends. A person who has quality friends, is generally a quality person.  For the most part, a man who had quality friends was the Apostle Paul. We come to a passage which is generally overlooked, but shouldn't be. because here we have some very good lessons from people who were the friends of Paul;.

 

THE FAITHFUL

Tychius - Vss. 7-8

Aristachus Vs. 10

Justus Vs.11

Luke Vs. 14

 

THE FORGIVEN

Onesimus - Vs. 9 - See Philemon 1:11-18

Mark - Vs. 10 - See Acts 13:13, 15:36-41

(After Mark's failure, he was forgiven by Paul and restored to service.)

 

THE FERVENT - Epaphras - Vss. 12-13 - He was probably the evangelist who won these people to Christ.

 

THE FICKLE - Demas - Vs. 14 - See 2 Timothy 4:10

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2 PETER 1:5-7 – MORALLY EXCELLENT! - VIRTUE

CHRISTIAN CHARACTER CLINIC #3

 

2 Peter 1:5-7 - And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;

 

• In what areas do you strive for excellence and why?
• How do you know when you are striving for moral excellence?
• Why should moral excellence be an issue for the Christian?

 

The bedrock quality for Christian character is faith.  Out of our faith should flow virtue or “moral excellence”.  According to Peter, we are to give diligence to add moral excellence to our faith.

WHAT? – What is Moral Excellence?

Matthew 22:37-40 - Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

 

Exodus 20:1-8, 12-17 - And God spake all these words, saying, [2] I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me. [4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; [6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. [7] Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. …Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. [13] Thou shalt not kill. [14] Thou shalt not commit adultery. [15] Thou shalt not steal. [16] Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. [17] Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

WHY? – Why should I pursue moral excellence?

add to your faith virtue;

Galatians 3:22 - But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Galatians 3:24 - Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 5:17 - For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Romans 8:4 - That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

WHO? – Who are examples of moral excellence?

Daniel 1:8 - But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel 6:3-4 - Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. [4] Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

Luke 1:6 - And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Luke 2:25 - And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

HOW? – How can I achieve moral excellence?

Romans 8:3-4 - For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the 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.

Galatians 5:16 - This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:24-25 - And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

I achieve moral excellence by applying two principles to my life:

 

DEATH TO SELF!

DEPENDENCE ON GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT!

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