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"And take...the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
In this issue:
Do You Understand What
You Are Reading? (Chris J. Holp)
"But Where are the
Nine?" (Robert Wayne LaCoste)
Example (Author
Unknown)
Sermon Outlines:
Do You Understand What You Are Reading?
Chris J. Holp
“How can I, unless someone guides me?” was the reply to this question in
Acts 8:31. Understanding the Bible is essential for our salvation. Without
understanding, we cannot know the will of the Lord (Eph 5:17).
Proper guidance saves souls! We may save others’ souls when we give the
guidance (like Philip) or save our own when we seek and receive competent
instruction, like the eunuch (1 Tim 4:16). In Acts 18:24-28, Apollos gained
a “more accurate knowledge” of the way of God from Priscilla and Aquila. He
was then able to go into Achaia, where he furthered the cause of Christ.
Philip, Priscilla and Aquila proved to be competent guides in the Scriptures
because the instruction they gave was from God, not their own.
All too often, people fall under the tutelage of guides who do not
understand the Bible themselves (Mk 4:11, 12; Eph 4:17-19; 1 Tim 1:5-7; 1
Pet 3:16). They know not that they follow blind guides who make them
perpetuate their error (Matt 15:14, 23:15, 16). Sadly, some harden their
hearts and refuse to have God in their knowledge (Rom 1:28). Oh, they will
tell you that they have God in their knowledge, but like the Pharisees who
Jesus rebukes in Matthew 23, they fall under condemnation (Matt 7:21-23).
Yet hidden among the ranks of the erring are those who would turn aside
from that which they practice without authority. Look at the brethren in
your congregation: how many of them came from denominations? This is the
fruit that was yielded because someone took the time to plant the seed of
the Gospel in their hearts (Matt 13:8, 23).
Friends, the seed of the Gospel brings forth Christians – not Catholics,
not Baptists, not Mormons, etc. These purport that out of the same Gospel,
they receive instruction or authority for infant baptism, “faith only”
salvation and supplemental scripture. These are ones without understanding.
Some may know the Bible front to back, but such knowledge is vain without
the wisdom and spiritual discernment to properly obey and teach it (Col
1:9-10; Phil 1:9-10). These will face the same condemnation as the murderers
and homosexuals (Rom 1: 21-32).
Remember, only one is your teacher: Jesus Christ (Matt 23: 8)! He has
instructed godly men in the way of truth through the scriptures and through
the mouths of those who understood the scriptures (2 Tim 2:2). Let us heed
their good counsel, knowing by whom they’ve been taught (Heb 13:7).
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"But Where are the Nine?"
Robert Wayne LaCoste
What would
you say to a group of men who were cured of a terminal disease (as cancer or
AIDS) and didn’t pay their doctor’s bill? What would be your response to a
man whose life you had saved, and he didn’t appreciate it enough to stop and
even say, “Thank you?”
Luke
records in Luke 17:11-19 just such an incident. Ten men were cured of a
dreadful terminal disease known as leprosy. They were made white as snow
and their skin, as well as their health, returned as they had it as a
child. Nine of these ten men went their merry way and didn’t so much as
send word by another how thankful they were. None gave glory to God.
However, one of the ten men, when “he saw that he was healed, turned back
and with a loud voice glorified God” (Luke 17:15). When the inspired record
says that he “turned back” it is meant he went on his merry way at first,
but got to thinking about what had been done and decided to return to the
one responsible and thank Him. He fell down after giving glory to God at
the feet of Jesus. Of course, through such an action he glorified God
again, for when one honors the Son, he honors the Father who sent Him (John
5:23).
Jesus wanted to know about these other men who had been healed. He asked
this Samaritan, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” The
response was: “There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save
this stranger” (17:17-18).
Was
Jesus angry or hurt? Was the Savior of men disappointed or did He brush it
off as being simply the nature of men? We know not. The record tells us
very little about the Savior’s feelings on this occasion. HOWEVER, THE
SCRIPTURES IN MANY PLACES TELL US THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING THANKFUL AND HOW
GOD SMILES ON ONE WHO IS! How displeased He is with one who isn’t thankful!
Dear
reader, we may not possess a terminal disease, but if we are God’s children,
we have been cleansed of something far worse! The blood of the Christ has
“cleansed us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Sin to the soul of a man is as
leprosy to the body of a man, except sin has a more tragic end: eternal
death! These facts alone behoove us to be thankful. Each day of our lives
we should ask God for sins to be remitted, as we repent of them. Each day
we should turn to Him and thank God for what this precious blood does for
us.
Let
it never be said of any of us we are an ungrateful people. One thing is for
certain: we can’t be the people of God and not glorify our heavenly Father.
Saying thank you is only one way we can and must and should.
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Example
Author Unknown
‘Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away,
In the parable Jesus told;
A grown-up sheep that had gone astray
From the ninety and nine in the fold.
Out on the hillside, out in the cold,
‘Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought,
And back to the flock, safe to the fold,
'’was a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.
And why for the sheep should we earnestly long,
And as earnestly hope and pray?
Because there is danger, If they go wrong,
They will lead the lambs astray.
For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Wherever the sheep may stray;
When the sheep go wrong, it will not be long
‘Till the lambs are as wrong as they.
And so with the sheep we earnestly plead,
For the sake of the lambs, today;
If the sheep are lost, what a terrible cost
Some lambs will have to pay!
-Author
unknown
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You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
John the Baptist
Scripture Reading: Matthew
11:1-19 1. Matt. 3:1-6 – John’s work
anticipated & announced Messiah (Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1; 4:5-6).
2. Matt. 11:1-19 – John is now in prison for his faith & work (Matt.
14:3-4).
I. JOHN: THE MAN.
A. A Man of Faith when Tested – Matt. 11: 2-6; Jno.
1:29-34; 3:25-30 (Rom. 9:32-33; Jno. 5:35-36; Isa. 35:5-6; 42:7; 61:1-3; 1
Pet. 1:5-9)
B. A Man of Conviction not Convenience – Matt. 11:7 (Matt. 3:7-8; 11:2;
14:3-4); Phil. 1:27-28; 2 Tim. 1:7.
C. A Man of Sacrifice not Comfort – Matt. 11:8 (3:4); 10:37-39; Rom.
12:1-2; Lk. 1:15; Phil. 3:8.
D. A Man of Truth – Matt. 11:9 (Lk. 3:2-3; cf. Mk. 6:18); Jno. 8:31-32; 2
Tim. 4:2-5.
E. John Taught People to Press into the Kingdom – Matt. 11:11-15; Lk.
16:16; 7:29-30; 3:7-8.
II. REACTIONS TO JOHN.
A. Some Saw John as a Curiosity – 11:7-8.
B. Some Considered John to a Prophet – 11:9-11; cf. Lk. 7:29. He was
more than that.
C. Most Rejected John – 11:16-18; Lk. 7:30; Jno. 5:35 (Jesus, Jno. 6:60,
66; Matt. 23:37); 2 Tim. 4:3-5; 2 Cor. 12:15; Gal. 4:16.
Conclusion
1. Matt. 11:19 – Wisdom is justified of her children.
2. The kingdom that John anticipated has now come (Matt. 9:1). You can
enter it by obeying the gospel now (Col. 1:13).
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Water Baptism: Its Authority
and Action (Part 1)
Scripture Reading:
Acts 8:35-39
Mk. 16:16 – Jesus taught baptism is essential for salvation. There is as
much confusion & controversy over baptism as perhaps any other Bible
subject. (1 Cor. 14:33; Jno. 8:32; Eph. 3:3-4)
I. DIVINE AUTHORITY FOR PRACTICING WATER BAPTISM
– cf. Matt. 21:23-27.
A. The Authority of Jesus Christ – Matt. 28:18-19
(Col. 3:17); Gal. 3:27; 2 Cor. 5:17; Acts 19:2-5. Not a “church
ordinance”.
B. The Authority of Christ in Baptism is applied through His Word – Acts
2:41; 1 Cor. 1:13-17.
C. Baptism “in the Name of Christ” is Water Baptism (element) – Acts
2:38, 41; 8:12-17; 10:47-48.
II. DEFINITIONS WHICH BEAR UPON THE ACTION OF
WATER BAPTISM.
A. The Physical Action of Baptism.
-Sprinkling, pouring or immersion?
1. The word: Family of words from bapto – “To dip, dip in,
immerse...Jno. 13:26,” (Thayer)
2. The lexicons.
3. Contextual usage - Matt. 3:16; Jno. 3:23; Acts 8:38-39.
4. Baptism is a burial – Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:4-5.
5. What about sprinkling?
Conclusion
1. Water baptism is immersion:
a. Not a church ordinance.
b. Does not require special formula to validate
c. Does not require special person to do it.
2. Comply with it to be saved from your sins by Jesus – Mk. 16:16; Rom.
6:4-7; 1 Pet. 3:21.
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