SERMON SEEDS
BIBLE OUTLINES FOR PASTORS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
U9 – FOR WEEK OF 3/21/22
First Baptist Church of New Holland PA - SERMON SEEDS (fbcnhremembers.com)
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TWO WORDS! – Hebrews 11:1-8
Much can be communicated in two-word phrases. Let me give you some examples.
- That’s great!
- Oh, no!
- Forgive me.
- Let’s eat!
- You bet!
- You didn’t!
- I guess!
- Not now!
- No way!
- You’re fired! I quit!
- Good job!
- I’m sorry!
- Love you!
- Bless you!
- That’s all! The end!
When God uses two words several times, we need to take notice, especially in these challenging days of pandemics, inflation, moral decline, wars, and rumors of war! We need help that comes from God! Did you notice the two words in our text? “BY FAITH”!
Let’s put this in context. Hebrews 10:35-39
Now comes what is commonly know as the “Faith Chapter”, or God’s Hall of Faith. In these verses we find encouragement, and real-life examples of those who lived by faith!
“Faith is confidence in God, a firm conviction that what He says is true and what He promises He will do.” Chuck Swindoll
BY FAITH WE HAVE CONFIDENCE – Vss. 1-2
- Not blind faith! General and Special Revelation. Vs. 6
- It is the “substance”, “assurance” (ESV), or “certainty” (NASB) of things hoped for.
- It is the “evidence”, “conviction” (ESV) or “proof” (NASB) of what we can’t see! Example – 1 John 5:13-14
- Chapter is about people with good testimonies! Vs. 2
BY FAITH WE HAVE A CREATOR – Vs. 3
- Worlds = ages – He made something out of nothing!
Psalm 33:6-9, Colossians 1:16,
BY FAITH WE HAVE A COVERING – Vs. 4
- Genesis 4:4 – By faith a blood sacrifice. Hebrews 9:22, 27-28, 10:19, Romans 5:1
BY FAITH WE HAVE A COMPANION – Vss. 5-6
- Genesis 5:22-24
- Vs. 6 – How Enoch pleased God.
- Amos 3:3 – I must agree to meet with God. John 15:4-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
BY FAITH WE HAVE A COMMITMENT – Vss. 7-8
- By Faith Noah obeyed!
- By Faith Abraham obeyed!
- Faith without obedience is not faith at all!
Galatians 5:16-26
TO HEAR THIS MESSAGE PREACHED BY PASTOR JACK CLICK HERE:
First Baptist Church of New Holland PA - Sermons (fbcnhremembers.com)
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MATTHEW 26:36-75 – STOPS ALONG THE WAY
LEAD ME TO CALVARY #2
We continue to prepare our hearts for Good Friday and Easter by examining Matthew 26-27 and some related passages of Scripture. Today we are looking at two Stops Along the Way, as Jesus moves closer to Calvary. Let’s review a little first from last week.
Memorial Meal – Matthew 26:26-30, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
- What about this account makes you want to be more sensitive to the Lord’s Table?
Startling Statements – Matthew 26:31-35, Luke 22:31-34
- When do we tend to think of ourselves as more committed to Christ than we are?
- How do Jesus’ words in Luke 22:31-34 encourage you?
STOP AT GETHSEMANE – Matthew 26:36-55
- Surrender – Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:40-46
- Vss. 37-38 – What was causing Jesus’ sorrow? Have friends ever stood by you in a time of extreme sorrow?
- Vs. 39 – What does Jesus’ attitude teach us?
- Vss. 40-41 – Why was Peter singled out? Why is watching and praying important when we and our friends are going through trials?
- How confident was Jesus after his time of prayer?
- Betrayal – Matthew 26:47-56, Luke 22:47-51, John 18:10-11
- Why can we be brave like Peter in one minute and cowardly like Peter the next?
- What do we learn here about the identity of Jesus and the authority of Scripture?
- Abandonment – Matthew 26:56, John 18:4-9
- Why was Jesus protecting His disciples?
- In what ways could we abandon Jesus?
STOP WITH CAIAPHAS – Matthew 26:57-75
- Accusations – Matthew 26:57-61, Mark 14:55-59
- Finding reliable false witnesses was impossible. What does this say to you?
- Confession – Matthew 26:62-64
- Why was it important that Jesus be required to make this declaration of His identity?
- Condemnation – Matthew 26:65-68
- What evidence was the Sanhedrin ignoring when they accused Jesus of blasphemy?
- Jesus suffered abuse at the hands of the Sanhedrin and their officers. In what ways can we abuse Jesus?
- Denial – Matthew 26:69-75
- How can we deny that we know Jesus today? Is there hope for us?
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DEUTERONOMY 10:12-21 - REMINDERS
Some people tie a string around their finger. Others write themselves a note. Others say to someone else "Remind me to..." God gives us reminders in His Word. Our text contains three such reminders.
We are to remember:
THE GRACE OF GOD - Vss. 14-15
God chose Israel above all nations. God has chosen you and I above all people, if we are born again Christians. It is us who are the children of God (John 1:12). We did nothing to deserve this. It is all God's grace, unmerited favor.
GOODNESS FOR GOD - Vss. 12-13, 16
Because Israel belonged to God, she, as a nation was to act accordingly. As Christians we are to act as the children of God. We should live out these verses in our lives today.
THE GREATNESS OF GOD - Vss. 17-21
Israel had experienced God's greatness. As a result, Israel was to be motivated to behave as God would have her to behave. Because of God's greatness to us, we too, should motivated to behave like His children.
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JUDGES 6-8 – FROM BLUES TO BLESSING
It is very easy to start "singing the blues", that is, to be depressed or discouraged.
Look at the state of the economy and you can become discouraged.
Look at the state of your own finances and you can become discouraged.
Look at world events, especially in the Middle East, and you can become discouraged.
Look at the behavior of most unbelievers and you will become discouraged.
Look at the behavior of many believers and you can become discouraged.
Look at the sickness, pain and suffering experienced by you, your family, and friends and you can become discouraged.
Are you "singing the blues"? Are you discouraged? Learn a lesson from Gideon and the Children of Israel.
6:1-6 - The Midianites were nomads who dwelled in the dessert. At the time of Harvest, they would show up and steal what was in the land.
6:11-13 - In the midst of this problem, an Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon.
Gideon is called a "man of valor" by the Angel of the Lord and told him that the Lord was with him. Gideon asked two questions that showed his discouragement.
"Why us?"
"Where's God?"
We often ask the same two questions.
In the case of Gideon, God took him from being defeated to being victorious.
He took him from blues to blessing!
In this story about Gideon we can find some guidelines for handling discouragement.
ACKNOWLEDGE THE REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT
There are reasons for discouragement. It behooves us to analyze and ask, "What exactly has me discouraged?" We can't look at just surface reasons, but need to dig deep. There are many reasons for discouragement. Allow me to share just four:
- An Unpleasant Condition
This is the most obvious. Gideon and the children of Israel were discouraged by the unpleasant conditions that they needed to face.
Life is full of unpleasant conditions. (You can share your own list.)
- An Uncommitted Burden
If you are a Christian, there is a procedure we need to follow when we start to feel overwhelmed and discouraged.
We need to commit our burdens to the Lord in prayer. All too often we try to handle our own problems instead of giving them to the Lord. 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 37:5, Psalm 81:10, Philippians 4:6-7
- An Unconfessed/ Unforsaken Sin
Many times we will blame other things or people for our discouragement, when in reality, the problem is ourselves! It is very easy to say, "I'm discouraged by the sins of other Christians" when in reality we are discouraged by our own sins. This was Israel's problem in Judges 6. They had failed God. They were worshipping false Gods. Therefore they were under God's hand of discipline so that they would confess and forsake their sins and return to Him. Proverbs 3:12-13, Isaiah 55:6-7
D. An Unchecked Physical Problem
Sometimes folks are discouraged or depressed simply because there is something physically wrong. When a person can say, "It's not circumstances that has me discouraged. It's not an uncommitted burden or a sin that has me discouraged" perhaps it's time to see the doctor.
ADJUST YOUR VISION
All too often people are looking in the wrong places for solutions to their problems.
Some look to circumstances and wish for them to get better.
Some look to others and depend on them to solve the problems.
Some look to themselves as the solution to their problems.
Our vision needs to be adjusted so that we look to God as the solution of our problems.
In Judges 6:6, the Children of Israel did the right thing when they cried to God for help.
When Gideon started looking to the Lord there was victory.
Two interesting things about the call of Gideon:
- God says "I have sent thee" in verse 14. Problems are solved and there is peace in the soul when we are following God's leading.
- There is peace in the soul when God goes with us.
Let's get our vision adjusted so that we look to God for the solution to our problems.
ALIGN YOURSELF PUBLICLY WITH GOD
6:33-35 - Notice that God's Spirit came upon Gideon and he was not the same. He rallied the people around God. He publicly took his stand for the Lord. That is exactly what we should do. Especially when there is a problem, people should know that you are aligning yourself with God! Psalm 34:1-4
ALLOW GOD TO WORK THROUGH A REMNANT (YOU!)
You will lose your discouragement, when you realize that usually God works through individuals and small groups instead of large crowds. 1 Samuel 14:6
Notice Judges 6:12. God calls Gideon "a mighty man of valor". Gideon was anything but!
God saw the potential Gideon had and He sees our potential. All we have to do is allow God to work through us.
God reduced Gideon's initial fighting force to 300 in Judges 7.
God is only hindered by numbers when we fail to let Him work through us.
ASCRIBE ALL GLORY TO GOD
When God delivers you give Him the credit. Psalm 98:1, Psalm 29:2
When God gives the victory make sure that He is praised and thanked!
A sad aftermath to Gideon's victory was the failure of Israel to remember that God gave them the victory and to thank Him. Judges 8:34
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ISAIAH 36 – WHAT WILL THE ENEMY DO?
1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Satan, your enemy, will do everything he can to defeat you!
When Hezekiah was king of Judah the King of Assyria sent Rabshakeh, his servant, with a great army to fight against Jerusalem. The tactics and words of Rabshakeh show us what our enemy Satan will do to us.
HE WILL ENCROACH ON YOUR TERRITORY - Vss. 1-2
HE WILL MOCK YOUR ALLIES - Vss. 3-6
HE WILL BELITTLE YOUR STRENGTH - Vss. 7-9
HE WILL LIE TO YOU - Vs. 10
He is the "father of lies".
HE WILL INTIMIDATE YOU - Vss. 11-17
HE WILL DEMEAN YOUR FAITH - Vss. 18-20
HE WILL DEPRESS YOU - Vss. 21-22
The good news is that in God we have victory! Isaiah 40:28, 41:10, 1 Corinthians 10:13
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JOHN 9:4 – ON TIME
We all have the same amount of time each day.
As Christians we should use it wisely by serving Christ.
We should follow the example of Jesus.
YOU HAVE A JOB - OBLIGATION
"I must work the works of him that sent me."
Walking - Ephesians 4:1-3, Ephesians 5:2, John 13:34-35
Working - Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 2:10
Witnessing - Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Peter 3:15
DAY IS HERE - OPPORTUNITY
"...while it is day."
Now is the time that we have to work for Christ.
We need to labor for him while we are still able. Ephesians 5:15-17
NIGHT IS COMING - OUTLOOK
"the night cometh when no man can work."
Each of us have a certain amount of time.
There will be a day when it will be all over and every Christian will stand accountable to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10
Every unbeliever will also stand accountable to God. Revelation 20:11-15
"Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."
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COLOSSIANS 3:16 ETC. – WORSHIP IN MUSIC
I’m not sure if I’m brave or stupid. Speaking on music in the church is one way to get people angry in a hurry! However, the Bible speaks about music as a part of worship, and I feel we need to cover it. It is God who has given us the ability to perform and enjoy music. It is God who wants us to enjoy, play, and sing music for his sake.
One of the problems we have when we start talking about music is that we all have personal preferences. It is very easy for us older people to shun the music styles of the young, and it is very easy for you younger people to shun the music of us who are older.
According to Don Wyrtzen there have been five different movements in church music.
- The New England School – Mostly European, classical in nature and stressed quality and excellence.
- The African-American Spiritual, which are folk songs coming from oral tradition.
- Southern Gospel – the white counter part to African American.
- Romantic Gospel Music – Most of the hymns we sing come from this genre and include the music of Fanny Crosby, George Beverly Shea, and John W. Peterson.
- And finally there is Contemporary Christian Music. The choruses we sing fall into this category.
Christian Music is big business. Again, according to Don Wyrtzen, Christian Music is the #5 top selling type of music.
It is a $1 billion a year business. And major secular companies have bought up the Christian recording companies. Information from Don Wyrtzen came from a seminar on Worship that he gave in Jonestown PA at the Jonestown Bible Church on October 11, 2003.
Most of us like music. And being human, when we come to church, we like to hear the type music that we like. But let me give you some thoughts:
- The primary purpose for using music is for worship, not for entertainment.
- Different types of music should help us experience different aspects of worship.
- A type of music that helps you worship may not be as helpful to someone else. A type of music that helps someone else worship may not be as helpful to you.
- You are a part of a family, the family of God. In this family we should be considerate of the needs of others in their worship experience.
- You may only like hymns, but worship choruses add something to the service.
- You may only like worship choruses, but hymns add something to the service.
- I repeat the primary purpose for using music is for worship, not for entertainment.
I want us to considerate what God has to say about music in worship. After all, when all is said and done it is God who needs to be pleased by our music.
MUSIC AND THE WORD
Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The Word of Christ here refers to the Scriptures.
Here is an important truth. The Word and worship are connected. It is the Word of God that will lead you to the worship of God.
According to John MacArthur, the word “dwell” means ‘to live in’ or ‘to be at home’. John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Colossians and Philemon, (Moody Press, Chicago, 1992), p. 159
And the word “richly” means “abundantly”.
So, for effective worship, God’s Word needs to be at home in my heart! Often, we sing but there is no music in our hearts. That is because the Word of God is not dwelling there.
How will the Word God dwell richly in my heart?
The Word of God will dwell richly in my heart, when I love the Word enough to read it and try to digest it by reflecting on it. Jeremiah 15:16, 2 Timothy 2:15,
And the Word of God will dwell richly in my heart when I love the Word enough to hear it preached and taught to me, and to digest it, and follow it. Preaching of God’s Word is to be profitable. 2 Timothy 4:2
And the Word of God will dwell richly in my heart when I memorize and meditate upon Scripture. Psalm 119:15-16
So what happens when the Word of Christ dwells in me richly? I will be able to share with others through teaching and admonishing. That doesn’t mean I have to preach a sermon or teach a Sunday School class. I will, however, be able to share what God’s Word says with someone else and gently warm them, if need be. So often, we can’t help other Christians, because the Word of Christ is not dwelling in us.
Now look at what it says next,
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
If I am filled with the Word of God, I will sing to God. There will be “psalms, and hymns, and Spiritual Songs.” There is also to be grace or thankfulness when I sing.The more I am filled with the Word of God, the more gratitude I will show to God.
So, for there to be music in your heart and thus true worship, the Word of God must dwell in you.
MUSIC AND THE SPIRIT
Ephesians 5:18-20 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; [20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
When a person is “drunk with wine”, he is controlled by wine. Many of you have met people who were very nice people, when they were sober. When they were not sober, they were very different people, and often nasty.
In contrast, Paul tells us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is God. To be filled with the Spirit is to be controlled by the Spirit.
When a person is controlled by the Spirit, he is controlled by God. And when a person is controlled by God, his behavior will be Godly. Galatians 5:22-23
When you are controlled by the Spirit, look at what happens.
There are psalms, hymns, and Spiritual Songs and there is a thankful heart! That’s exactly what it says will happen when we are filled with the Word as we saw in Colossians 1:16.
So, there is a connection between being filled with the Spirit and being filled with the Word. The more I am filled with the Word of God, doing as the Word tells me, the more I will be filled with the Spirit of God. The more I am filled with the Spirit of God, the more I will desire and allow the Word of God to control me.
Music is to be a result of God’s control in my life. The Spirit of God using the Word of God to control me.
The results are Psalms, hymns and Spiritual songs.
Psalms of course is the Book of Psalms.
And some of the songs we sing come right out of the Psalms.
Hymns are directed directly to God ascribing to Him glory and praise.
Spiritual Songs talk about our own personal experiences with God, and is our witness for God. Today’s choruses would fall into this category.
When believers gather, the worship in music should be the result of people filled with the Word and filled with the Spirit expressing their gratitude to God.
We already told you how to be filled with the Word through reading, listening to, memorizing and meditating upon the Word of God. To be filled with the Spirit, we must confess all known sin, yield to the teachings of God’s Word and ask God to have control over us by His Spirit.
Music is the result. If worship with music is the result of the control of the Word of God and the Spirit of God, you should be preparing for public worship with your brothers and sisters in Christ, by practicing private worship during the week.
If you read, memorize and meditate during the week…
If you are attentive to the Word of God when you hear it preached…
If you strive to obey the teachings of God’s Word…
If you seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit daily…
Then you will be ready to worship on Sunday Morning with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs.
If you come filled with the Spirit and ready to worship on Sunday, even though you prefer hymns, you will be able to worship when we sing choruses.
If you come filled with the Spirit and the Word and ready to worship on Sunday, even though you prefer choruses, you will be able to worship when we sing hymns.
MUSIC AND THE VOICE
You may say, “I don’t have a good singing voice.”
You may say, “I’m no singer”.
You may say, “I can’t carry a tune in a bucket”.
But God tells us to sing anyway.
Who better to sing the praises of God and too God then they who have been washed in the blood of the lamb?
Psalm 30:4 - Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Sing to God because He is holy.
Psalm 47:6-7 - Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. [7] For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
Sing to God because He is king.
Psalm 66:1-2 - Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: [2] Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
From the depths of my heart I am to make God’s praise glorious.
Psalm 71:23 - My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
I should sing to the Lord because He has redeemed me.
Psalm 98:1 - O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
What marvelous things has God done for you! Sing from the depths of your heart!
Psalm 100:1-2 - Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. [2] Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Singing should be a habit in your life, not just a Sunday morning thing.
MUSIC AND THE BAND
Psalm 150:3-6 - Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. [4] Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. [5] Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. [6] Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
What instruments should be used in a worship service is largely a matter of personal taste.
There are those who have no instruments in there worship services.
There are others who stick with piano/and/or organ.
There are others who would add flutes, violins, trumpets and other traditional classical instruments.
And today there are many others going the route of drums, keyboards, and all sorts of guitars.
What I see in Psalm 150 is that God is open to the use of all sorts of instruments to praise Him.
I think the key to discerning how instruments should be used and what type of music should be sung is summed up in a few verses.
Psalm 150:6 - Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
The purpose of music in church is to praise the Lord.
If the music is played and sung by people because they are truly praising the Lord and not trying to bring glory to themselves, then that is good.
1 Peter 1:15-16 - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
God is a holy God.
The music that is performed for him is to be totally set apart for him, and not be an imitation of an unsaved world.
Colossians 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Whatever I do in worship, whatever type of music I play in worship should be done in the name of Jesus. If Jesus wouldn’t approve, then I shouldn’t do it.
Colossians 3:23 -And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Whatever the style of worship, it should be done to the glory of God.
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