SERMON SEEDS
BIBLE OUTLINES FOR PASTORS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS
FOR WEEK OF 3/6/23
First Baptist Church of New Holland PA - SERMON SEEDS (fbcnhremembers.com)
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RECENTLY PREACHED OR TAUGHT:
1 Corinthians 11:23-32 - TOGETHER AT THE TABLE
According to listverse.com, 10 top things we take for granted.
· Bipedalism – Walking on twos not fours
· Fine motor skills
· Mathematics
· Language
· Nature
· Cooking
· Medicine
· Power
· Memory
· Imagination
If I were to think of the most important thing we as Christians take for granted, I would say that it is our salvation and what that salvation cost our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I believe that because our precious Lord knew that we would have a propensity towards taking salvation for granted, He instituted what we call Holy Communion, the Lord’s Table, or the Lord’s Supper, or the Last Supper.
The Lord instituted this in remembrance of Him. The problem is, we often treat the Lord’s Table as a “tack on” and don’t do the remembering that we should.
It will do us well sometimes to be reminded of the importance of the Lord’s Table and how to approach it.
Vss. 20-22 - There were some irregularities in the way the Corinthians were celebrating the Lord’s Table. The behavior of at least some was taking away from the spiritual importance of the Lord’s Table. So, Paul finds it necessary to review his teaching in this area.
We get the most At the Table when we take three looks:
THE BACKWARD LOOK – Vss. 23-25
The first thing that we are to do is to look backward to what Christ has done for us.
Vs. 23 – Paul had received his instruction from the Lord.
Paul takes us back to the same night that Jesus was betrayed.
The most tragic betrayal in all history, the Son of God betrayed by a disciple, took place that night. And yet Jesus looked beyond this terrible event and instituted the memorial we call “The Lord’s Table”, or “The Lord’s Supper”, or Communion.
The Lord Jesus took bread. It would have been unleavened bread, because it was the Passover.
Vs. 24 – Jesus was talking symbolically when he lifted up the bread and said “This is my body.”
- bread should prompt us to remember that Jesus’ body was broken that we might have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
We look backward and remember the body that was broken for us and:
Mark 15:15-37 – Reminds us of all that He suffered!
Vs. 25 – Jesus also took the cup in the same manner.
The blood is the new agreement, or covenant, or
testament in His blood.
Blood has always been God’s requirement for a sacrifice for sin. What was new was that this sacrifice paid in full for all sins and there was no more need for any more blood sacrifices. 1 Peter 1:18-19
- this partaking of the cup was to be “in remembrance” of Him.
The price is paid for our sin. Remembering in detail helps us look backward and to be thankful for what God through His Son has done for us.
THE FORWARD LOOK – Vs. 26
Vs. 26 – Please note the word “shew” means to proclaim or preach.
When you take of the bread and the cup you are preaching!
You are preaching your own faith in the sufficiency of the broken body of Christ and the shed blood of Christ to pay for you sins. You are making a statement of faith!
That’s why we say that if you are not sure that you have forgiveness of sins and eternal life based on faith in Christ alone, do not take of the Lord’s Table. Let the bread and the cup pass by. Ephesians 2:8-9
Every time you take of the bread and of the cup you are preaching his death.
How long are we to do this preaching?
We are to do it until He comes!
In fact Jesus made an interesting statement in Matthew 26:29 - But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Here is the forward look! As we take of the bread and the cup now, we look forward to partaking of the bread and the cup in the future when Jesus comes and establishes His Kingdom. That is a wonderful thing to look forward to.
In fact we are to eagerly look forward to his return for us as the church Titus 2:13
THE INWARD LOOK – Vss. 27-32
Vs. 27 – We are confronted with an extremely important challenge in these verses. It is possible to eat and drink unworthily.
Now, we are all unworthy. Not one of us deserves God’s grace or deserves that Jesus should die for them!
What is meant here is that we should not eat an unworthy manner. Eating in an unworthy manner as a believer would include:
· Not taking the Bread and the Cup seriously.
· Not actively thinking about what we are doing.
- Allowing sin in our lives as the Corinthians did. Some of them were guilty of gluttony and drunkenness.
Some Christians come to the table with unforgiving and bitter hearts. Allowing unconfessed sin in the life during communion is an affront to the one who paid for that sin!
How serious is this eating and drinking in an unworthy manner? We become guilty of the body and blood of Christ!
- 29 – When we eat and drink in an unworthy manner we are inviting God to discipline us. The word “damnation” means judgment or chastisement.
God judges and disciplines us, so we will not be condemned with those who are not saved. See verse 32.
Vs. 30 – God judges some with weakness and sickness and even death. God’s is not cruel, but holy and righteous.
Vs. 31 – The better alternative is for us to judge ourselves when we come to the Lord’s Table.
Vs. 28 – So we are to examine ourselves when we come to the Lord’s Table. We are to look inward. I suggest that we:
· Examine our MANNERS. Are we thinking about the Lord Jesus and the sacrifice he made, is our mind wandering?
· Examine our MOTIVES. Is our heart pure from all bitterness or any other sinful attitude?
1 Thessalonians 5:19
· Examine our METHODS. Is the anything in our behavior that is displeasing to God? Ephesians 4:30-32, Psalm 32:5
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR HOW PASTOR JACK PREACHED THIS MESSAGE, VISIT
https://www.fbcnhremembers.com/together_at_the_table
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FROM THE SERMON SEEDS ARCHIVES:
Psalm 136 – CELEBRATING THE MERCY OF GOD
Here is a psalm that appears difficult to outline however there is a definite pattern of thought.
The chorus after each thought is “…for his mercy endureth forever.”
God’s mercy is certainly the focal point of this Psalm.
THE MERCY OF THE GOD IN CONTROL – Vss. 1-4
He is the “LORD” (Jehovah).
He is “God of gods.”
He is “Lord of lords.”
THE MERCY OF THE GOD OF CREATION – Vss. 5-9
THE MERCY OF THE GOD IN COMBAT – Vss. 10-20
Egypt – Vss. 10-15
The Wilderness – Vs. 16 – Israel acted as a rebellious, and God had to deal with them.
Taking the Land – Vss. 17-20
Notice that God’s combat was on behalf of his people (Psalm 34:7)
THE MERCY OF THE GOD OF COMPASSION – Vss. 21-26
God gave the land. Vss. 21-22
God remembered Israel in its “low estate” and redeemed her from her enemies. Vss. 23-24
God gives food to all. Vs. 25
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Malachi 3:16-17 – GOD’S JEWELS
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: And the Lord hearkened, and heard it, And a book of remembrance was written before him For them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
When we want to pay someone a compliment we might say, “That person is a real jewel!”
We mean the person is precious or valuable to us because of positive qualities the person possesses. God has his “jewels”, as verse 17 states. They are those who are precious to God because they have responded properly to Him. According to verse 16, God’s jewels:
FEAR HIM – This would include fearing Him enough to trust Christ as Savior. See Luke 12:4-7 and Ephesians 2:8-9.
FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS – The people in this verse talked often to each other, indicating their agreement about the things of God. They would have encouraged each other.
We are to fellowship with each other as Christians. See Acts 2:42, Hebrews 3:12-13, and Hebrews 10:24-25.
FOCUS ON HIM – These people “…thought upon his name.” See John 15:1-7, Psalm 1:2-3 and Isaiah 26:3.
It is interesting to note that permanent record is made in Heaven …for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
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Luke 16:19-31 – TALE OF THE TWOS
TWO PEOPLE – Vss. 19-21
- The Rich Man
- Lazarus
TWO PASSINGS – Vs. 22
- Lazarus Passed Away – Nothing said of burial
- The Rich Man Passed Away – He was buried
TWO PLACES – Vss. 22-24
- Lazarus in Heaven – At rest.
- Rich Man In Hell – In torment
TWO PROBLEMS – Vss. 24-31
- There Is No Relief in Hell – Vss. 24-26
- There Is No Returning to Evangelize – Vss. 27-31
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John 17:4-8 – FOUR GREAT GIFTS
There are four things that Jesus mentions here that were terrific gifts to the Disciples.
We can give these same four gifts back to God in appreciation for what He has done for us.
- GLORIFY GOD – Vs. 4a – Everything we do should bring glory to Him. Colossians 3:17
- COMPLETE GOD’S WORK – Vs. 4b – 2 Timothy 4:7-8
- MANIFEST GOD’S NAME – Vs. 6 – Matthew 28:19-20
- SHARE GOD’S WORD – Vs. 8 – 2 Timothy 4:2
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THE DAILY WALK – 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-22
(A complete lesson)
- Scripture tells us that both Enoch and Noah walked with God (Genesis 5:24, 6:9). What do you think it means to walk with God?
- Can you think of any New Testament characters that obviously walked with God?
- Is there anything Jesus said that indicates that we should walk with God (John 15:4-5)?
- In what ways is walking in the Spirit walking with God (Galatians 5:16)?
- Why should we as Christians want to walk with God?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 is a conclusion to Paul’s first letter to the church is Thessalonica.
I feel that in this passage Paul shows us a pattern of behavior that will insure that we as Christians walk with God.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 – Rejoice Evermore
- What is joy?
- List some reasons that Christians should be joyful.
- What robs people of joy?
- How can we be joyful in spite of bad circumstances?
- Consider these verses about joy:
Nehemiah 8:10 – Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Psalm 5:11 – But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
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.
Luke 2:10-11 – And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Galatians 5:22 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
James 1:2 – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.
- What are some of the different types of prayer we can pray?
- What do you think it means to pray without ceasing?
- What are some of the things that will happen to us when we pray without ceasing?
- Consider these verses about prayer:
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.
Matthew 6:9-13 – 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. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Luke 11:13 – If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
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.
Ephesians 6:18 – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
James 5:16-18 – Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. [17] Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. [18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
- Why is it difficult to always be thankful?
- How will believing Romans 8:28 help us to be thankful?
- Who gets thanked when we give thanks in everything?
Hebrews 13:15 – By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 – Quench not the Spirit.
- What does it mean to “quench”?
- Why would we not want to “quench” the Holy Spirit?
- How can we quench the Holy Spirit?
1 Thessalonians 5:20 – Despise not prophesyings.
- Why is the Word of God significant in the life of the Christian?
- How can a Christian despise the Word of God?
2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Peter 1:20-21 – Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 – Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
- What is the responsibility of the Christian to the preaching of the Word of God?
- What must a Christian be discriminating when the Word of God is preached?
1 Thessalonians 5:22 – Abstain from all appearance of evil.
- Why should a Christian be sensitive to evil?
- How will a hatred for evil help a person walk with God? 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
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Hebrews 1:1-3 – SOMETHING BETTER
We are constantly looking and striving for something better.
- A better job
- A better home
- A better grade
- A better behavior from our children
- A better relationship with our spouses, children, family and friends
- A better sound system, computer, or car
There are times when it would do us well to be content with what we have. 1 Timothy 6:6, Hebrews 13:5
There are other times however, when it is good to seek something better. Philippians 3:13-14
- should be striving for a better knowledge of God, a better understanding of God’s Word, a closer walk with God, and better fruitfulness in the service of God.
The Book of Hebrews is a book that is constantly showing us something better. The Word better is used thirteen times in this book. It is a book written to Jewish Christians who were tempted to bail out on Christianity and go back to Judaism. In this book we find lessons that show us that because Jesus Christ is better, there is a better way for us to live now.
You might even be like the Hebrews to whom this letter was written. You may be considering bailing out on your traditional faith and going back to something you once knew, or leaving your traditional faith for something more modern or trendy. You shouldn’t do this, because Christ is better and the true Christian life is better than anything anyone else can offer. The Book of Hebrews shows us this.
According to these first three verses:
WE HAVE A BETTER MESSAGE
WE HAVE A BETTER MESSENGER
Because we have a better messenger and a better message, we have a better life and a better hope.
WE HAVE A BETTER MESSAGE
Since the first word of Scripture was written down there has always been a good message.
We had a good message because God has spoken!
God spoke in the Old Testament. Hebrews 1:1
- did not speak his message all at once in the Old Testament. His message came over the course of hundreds of years through 39 Old Testament books. From time to time he spoke.
Also God’s message came in various ways.
As good as the Old Testament is there is a problem.
It is an incomplete message.
God had more to say to us.
The Old Testament speaks of promises which were yet to be fulfilled.
That’s why there is a New Testament besides the Old Testament.
God spoke in past times to the “fathers”, the Jewish ancestors. Today He has spoken to us through His Son. We now have a completed message with the addition of the New Testament.
We now have the “Good News” of Christ in the Gospels.
We now have the theology of Christ in the Epistles.
And we have a description of Christ’s culmination of all things in the future in the Book of Revelation.
We now we have a completed Scriptures. Revelation 22:18-19
WE HAVE A BETTER MESSENGER
Hebrews 1:1 – God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
In the Old Testament, God spoke through good men, His servants, the prophets. Men like Moses, Ezra, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel received messages from God and wrote them down. 2 Peter 1:21
These were good, godly men who under the direction of the Holy Spirit wrote. And in the New Testament, good and godly men also wrote down the Word of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
What is the difference? Hebrews 1:2 – God has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
God sent a special envoy from Heaven to speak to us. This is who the New Testament writers speak of. This special envoy is the better messenger that the Old Testament did not have.
HE IS A BETTER MESSENGER BECAUSE OF HIS PERSON
Who is Jesus Christ? He is the eternal Son of God. Mark 1:1, John 1:1-2
Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.
When God chose to save a sinful, rebellious world…
When God chose to communicate what He is like…
When God chose to show us Himself…
He sent His Son!
One of the great prophecies of Christmas is Isaiah 9:6.
In this verse God shows us just how great the person is whom He sent to us. Isaiah 9:6
HE IS A BETTER MESSENGER BECAUSE OF HIS PERFORMANCE
The Lord Jesus has done more than any prophet or any other person.
In Hebrews 11:2 we are told that it is by the Lord Jesus that God made the worlds. I owe my existence to the Son of God.
It says here that He created the worlds and the word here means “the ages”.
That is quite a performance, but there is more!
Hebrews 11:3 tells us that He is upholding all things by the word of His power.
Colossians 1:17 – And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
You and I can count on order in the natural world around us simply because Lord Jesus holds it together!
Creating everything and holding them together are certainly great performances. But there is one more thing that He did that is absolutely amazing. Hebrews 11:3 tells us that He has by Himself purged our sins.
Our sins are dirty. Isaiah 64:6
Our sins are dirty, so Jesus purged or purified them. He washed them. And He did it by Himself.
- is the only one that would ever qualify to wash away our sins because he is the only one that was sinless Himself.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Peter 1:18-19 – Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
So Jesus died to purge our sins, to wash us clean. So how do we take that bath? How do we make sure that His blood has washed our sins away?
How do we apply His blood to our account?
Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- faith tell Jesus that you are apply His blood to your account if you haven’t already. Trust Him as your Savior.
HE IS A BETTER MESSENGER BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION
Look at Vs. 2 – God has appointed Jesus “heir of all things”.
God has appointed Jesus as his Heir. Not that God is going to die, but that God has appointed that all that is rightfully His belongs to Christ, His Son.
Being heir will include on day inheriting the nations of the earth to rule over them. See Psalm 2.
Being heir will mean that every single person that ever lived will bow the knee to the Son of God. See Philippians 2:9-11
Being heir will include living and reigning with God for all eternity in the new Heaven and new earth.
See 1 Corinthians 15:25-28
Being heir will include us as being joint-heirs with Christ. See Romans 8:16-17
As heir where is Jesus?
Hebrews 1:3 tells us that He …sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Right now Jesus sits in a place of honor, authority, and power. He is just waiting until the Father says that it is time to act. Then He will return. Psalm 110:1
So there should be no doubt in your mind.
WE HAVE A BETTER MESSAGE
WE HAVE A BETTER MESSENGER
HE IS A BETTER MESSENGER BECAUSE OF HIS PERSON
HE IS A BETTER MESSENGER BECAUSE OF HIS PERFORMANCE
HE IS A BETTER MESSENGER BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION
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