Deafening
Silence
Changing the DefinitionSermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
Spiritual
Alzheimer's
Deafening Silence
Joe R. Price
Sometimes the wisest response we can give a person who has chosen to reject
the truth is no response at all. This does not mean that we should not
answer error; we must “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3).
Neither should silence be our first response when someone asks about our
faith. The Spirit of God commands us to “sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a
reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet.
3:15). But as we shall see, the Lord teaches us to be wise in choosing the
kind of response we give – or do not give – to those who ignore, reject and
even fight against the truth.
Solomon advised not to answer a fool according to his folly. He said,
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him”
(Prov. 26:4). While there is a time when one must “answer a fool
according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes,” there comes a
moment when that is no longer advisable (Prov. 26:5). When can we know the
difference? When one stubbornly refuses to hear the truth and your responses
only serve the fool’s purpose it is time to “shake off the dust from your
feet” and move on (Matt. 13:13-15; cf. 10:14).
Jesus chose not to answer the chief priests and elders when he stood
accused before Pilate. “And while he was being accused by the chief
priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then Pilate said to him, ‘Do you
not hear how many things they testify against you?’ But he answered him not
one word, so that the governor marveled greatly” (Matt. 27:12-14). Why?
Jesus had repeatedly answered them yet in unbelief they refused his words
and his works (see Jno. 10:24-26). There comes a time when all that can be
said has been said.
Jesus chose not to say a word to Herod. “Then he questioned him
with many words, but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and
scribes stood and vehemently accused him” (Lk. 23:9-10). This murderous
man did not care about the truth; to him, Jesus was a mere spectacle (Lk.
23:8). Some love the excitement of the debate – not the truth that is made
known in debate. Such do not deserve an answer, but do deserve to be avoided
due to their factiousness (Titus 3:10-11).
Some say the person who will not respond when he is challenged must be a
coward. Perhaps. But, that can also be an easy accusation made by those who
have evil hearts. It may be that every effort to speak the truth has been
met with contempt, thus leading one to simply be silent. Remember, Jesus was
not a coward when he said nothing to Herod.
So, speak the truth (Eph. 4:25). Give an answer for your hope from the word
of God (1 Pet. 3:15). Be forbearing in an effort to win souls (2 Tim.
2:24-25). Commit yourself to truth above all else (Prov. 23:23). Rely on
God’s word and not yourself (Psa. 119:97-104). Then, when those who
stubbornly reject and oppose the truth try to prod you into useless
conflict, chose silence instead (2 Tim. 2:23-24).
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Changing the Definition
Joe R. Price
This election cycle
refocused interest on a number of social and moral issues, including
abortion, same-sex marriage and physician-assisted suicide. Three states
voted to ban same-sex marriage, opting for marriage between a male and a
female. South Dakota defeated a proposition that would have banned abortion,
and the state of Washington passed an initiative approving
physician-assisted suicide.
A similarity emerges between each of these issues. Advocates of abortion,
euthanasia and same-sex marriage must redefine terms – in this case, life,
death and marriage – in order to justify their immoral behavior. Their
redefinitions may satisfy their consciences but they do not satisfy the God
of heaven. Neither should they satisfy us. Isaiah described such efforts by
pronouncing “woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put
darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and
sweet for bitter!” (Isa. 5:20)
Consider the following redefinitions that are taking place:
1) Abortion advocates redefine when human life begins. One objects in
vain that new and distinct life does not begin at conception. New,
identifiable life that is unique from its parents (although living in one of
its parent for a time) begins at conception. Whether inside or outside of
the womb, that new life is a baby (Lk. 1:41, 44; 2:12).
2) Assisted suicide redefines murder, telling us it is moral to take the
life of another human being (or assist one in ending his own life). Life
is given to each person by God: “He gives to all life, breath, and all
things” (Acts 17:25). How presumptuous it is of man to believe that life
and death are within his right to take as he sees fit while ignoring the
will of the Giver of life! To take life from another person is an act of
murder; men’s pleas of “mercy” and “death with dignity” notwithstanding.
(When Jesus knew he was going to die should his apostles have assisted him
in killing himself to escape the agony of the cross?)
3) Same-sex marriage redefines the nature and purpose of marriage given
it by God. God presented woman to man to complete him and to be his
companion in life. In God-defined marriage life is multiplied, society is
anchored, love is expressed and God is honored (Gen. 2:18-25; 1:27-28; Heb.
13:4; 1 Cor. 7:1-2). Conversely, homosexuality is “against nature”
and those choosing it bring upon themselves “the penalty of their error
which was due” (Rom. 1:26-27). Selfish lust is redefined as love while
God-defined and God-designed marriage is held up to ridicule and scorn.
There are other “redefinitions” people make in the spiritual realm. For
example:
1) Many people have redefined the beginning of spiritual life. Jesus
said a new birth must occur to enter the kingdom of heaven (Jno. 3:3-5).
Some say that birth occurs when one believes, yet the Bible says new life
begins only when the believer has been baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3-4).
“Faith only” advocates redefine the beginning of spiritual life like the
abortion advocates redefine the beginning of human life.
2) Many people try to redefine spiritual death by saying it cannot happen
to the Christian. They say a Christian cannot commit spiritual suicide
by sinning against Christ. They are wrong (Gal. 5:4; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
Spiritual life is a gift from God that must be nurtured not negated through
disobedient living (Eph. 2:8-10).
3) Some try to redefine God-approved marriage. Some say all marriages
are acceptable to God regardless of prior divorce and subsequent remarriage.
But, one who divorces for a cause other than fornication and remarries
commits adultery (Matt. 19:9; Rom. 7:2-3). To be saved, those committing
adultery in sinful remarriages must repent and cease the sinful relationship
(Acts 2:38, 41; 26:20).
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
There is Born to You a Savior (Luke 2)
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-14
-Savior (“deliverer, preserver”) who is…
a.
Christ: Anointed One, Messiah (Psa. 2:1-2) – King.
b. Lord:
Ruler, Master (Psa. 110:1-2).
I.
WE ALL NEED A SAVIOR, Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Mic. 5:2 (Rom. 3:23).
A.
Some Expect a Savior to Save From All Kinds of This World Distresses, cf.
Jas. 1:9-11; Matt. 22:17-21; Mk. 14:7; Jas. 4:13-17.
B. We all
Need Salvation from our Sins (Rom. 3:23; 6:23); Eph. 2:1-5.
II. MAKE ROOM FOR THE SAVIOR, Lk. 2:7.
A.
Many Hearts have no Room for a Savior Due to Sin, Matt. 13:14-15; Jno. 9:41;
Mk. 4:19; Lk. 18:9-14.
B. Room for
a Savior Requires, Matt. 11:25-26; Matt. 7:21-23 (Rev. 17:14).
III. JESUS IS THE SAVIOR, Lk. 2:6-7, 11; Jno. 4:42.
A.
Repentance and Forgiveness, Acts 5:31.
B. Sent by
the Father, 1 Jno. 4:14 (Isa. 9:6-7; 7:14; Heb. 1:8-9; Jer. 23:5-6).
C. He Alone
has the Power to Save: Lord and Christ, Acts 2:36-38.
D. No Other
Savior (Acts 4:12); Acts 13:23.
E. He Saves
His Kingdom (church), Ep 5:23
IV. TELL ABOUT THE SAVIOR, Lk. 2:8-20.
A.
The Savior and His Gospel is for All, 1 Tim. 4:10; 2 Tim. 2:2.
B. The
Savior Our Hope, Tit. 2:13; Phil. 3:20
V. GIVE YOURSELF TO THE SAVIOR, Matt. 2:11 (Josh. 24:15).
A.
Only then is Jesus Your Savior, (1 Tim. 4:10) Matt. 11:28-30; Acts 2:36-38.
B. New
Creature in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:17-24.
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
The Messiah's Mercy (Matthew 12)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:9-14
1.
Jesus was charged with being evil while He went about doing good. He faced
the injustices of men with candor, caring and consistency.
2. Matt. 12:1-14: He was merciful when people around Him were not.
3. Our challenge is to walk in His steps (1 Jno. 2:5-6).
I.
GOD EXPECTS MEN TO BE MERCIFUL, Matt. 12:1-8; Hosea 6:4-6.
A.
To be Merciful We must First Recognize Our Need for and Our Reception of
Mercy, 12:1-2; cf. Deut. 23:25.
B. Do Not
Fight against the Mercy of God, Matt. 12:2-7.
C. Mercy is
not in Conflict with Obeying the Truth, 12:7, 12, 10-13 (Psa. 89:14; Matt.
23:23).
II. BE MERCIFUL…ALWAYS, Matt. 12:9-14.
A.
Characteristics of Mercy:
1. Being
merciful grows out of a merciful heart, Matt. 18:33-35; Lk. 10:36-37; Col.
3:12.
2. Mercy
is not and cannot be given grudgingly, Rom. 12:8.
3. Mercy
is an expression of wisdom, Jas. 3:17.
4. Being
merciful will be rewarded, Matt. 5:7; Jas. 2:13.
B. Reasons
why we are not always Merciful toward Others, Matt. 18:32-33; Lk. 18:9-11;
10:31-32; Phil. 2:3-4; Matt. 6:14-15; 2 Cor. 7:2.
Conclusion
1.
Psa. 89:1-2: We cannot praise God’s mercy while being unmerciful.
2. Accept God’s mercy in Christ by faithful obedience to Him.
3. Be merciful to others by always doing them good. (Matt. 5:7)
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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Spiritual Alzheimer's
Joe R. Price
Alzheimer’s is
such a heartbreaking disease. How sad to watch as the once vibrant and
active person slowly recedes into the fog of forgetfulness, social
withdrawal and the inability to plan and complete complex tasks. The brain
ceases to function normally; simple tasks become difficult and familiar
faces become foreign.
Alzheimer’s
occurs through no fault of the person affected by it. The same is not true
of what we shall call “spiritual Alzheimer’s” – the forgetfulness that comes
from choosing not to grow spiritually nor remain faithful to Christ in one’s
life. This type of forgetfulness is sin (Jas. 4:17).
The apostle Peter wrote of such
forgetfulness: “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be
neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For
he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has
forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren,
be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do
these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to
you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ” (2 Pet. 1:8-11).
Christians who
forget they have been cleansed of their past sins invariably return to it
(see 2 Pet. 2:20-22). So, in order to prevent spiritual Alzheimer’s
Christians must:
1) Constantly
remember that having been cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus we must
now live holy lives and no longer be driven by our former, sinful lusts (1
Pet. 1:13-16).
2) Continually be diligent to grow in
personal faith (2 Pet. 1:5-7). This was Peter’s point. By failing to grow we
forget our conversion and become “barren and unfruitful”. Do not be a
“forgetful hearer” but a “doer of the work” (Jas. 1:24-25).
3) Do not forget the nature and purposes of
God (read 2 Pet. 3:8, 5). God will keep his word, so “do not forget to
good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb.
13:16).
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Created by Chuck Sibbing.
11/17/2008
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