I. The opportunity and responsibility to spread the gospel (Luke 10:2)
A. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)
B. The perpetual commission (1 Timothy 4:12,16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 4:3-4; 2:2; Titus 2:1,3-5)
II. Many will reject God
A. Jesus predicted such (Matthew 7:21-23)
B. Jesus’ instruction to the seventy (Luke 10:10-11)
C. We must not waste time (Matthew 7:6), but do not doubt the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16)
III. Rejecting God puts one in an eternally dangerous position
A. Sodom (Luke 10:12; Genesis 13:13; 18:32)
B. Tyre and Sidon (Luke 10:13-15; Acts 21:3-4; 27:3)
IV. Rejection is hurtful and disappointing (Luke 10:16)
A. Our success is measured in faithfulness
B. Remember what God told Samuel (1 Samuel 8:4-7)
A. “Worthy of praise is Christ our Redeemer” (Titus 2:11-14)
B. “Worthy of praise…glory, honor, and power” (Hebrews 13:15)
C. “Worthy of all our soul’s adoration” (Psalm 103:1-5)
II. Second verse
A. “Lift up the voice in praise and devotion, saints of all earth before Him should bow (Colossians 3:16)
B. “Angels in heaven worship Him saying, Worthy art Thou!” (Hebrews 1:6; 2:7; Joshua 5:13-15)
III. Third verse
A. “Lord may we come before Thee with singing, filled with Thy Spirit, wisdom and power” (Ephesians 5:17-21; 2 Timothy 1:7; Acts 17:2,17; 18:4,19; 19:8-9; 24:24-25)
B. “May we ascribe Thee glory and honor, worthy art Thou!” (Hebrews 11:6)
A. “I’m excited about what you’re doing! Can I call you Lord?” (Luke 9:57)
B. Jesus said, “Yes, but…” (Luke 9:58; 9:51-53; 14:28-30; 8:13; John 15:18-20; 2 Timothy 3:10-12)
II. The procrastinator
A. This man said, “Yes, I will follow, but…” (Luke 9:59)
B. There are things more important than family (Luke 9:60; 14:26; 1 Corinthians 7:12-15; Romans 12:18)
III. The one who looked back
A. This man said, “Yes, I will follow, but…” (Luke 9:61)
B. Jesus said, “Don’t look back!” (Luke 9:62; Hebrews 10:24-25; John 6:66; James 3:1-2; Ephesians 4:15; Galatians 2:11-13)
A. “Help my unbelief” (Luke 9:41; Mark 9:22-24; Luke 17:5)
B. We must be a positive influence for righteousness (Matthew 5:16; 13:33)
II. The power of prayer
A. Prayerlessness and powerlessness go hand-in-hand (Luke 9:1, 42; Mark 9:28-29)
B. The providence of God (Esther 4:13-14)
C. Pray for opportunities (Ephesians 6:18-20)
III. The pitfalls of popularity
A. The Lord’s purpose (Luke 9:43-44; 5:32; 19:10)
B. We will face opposition (Luke 6:22-23)
C. We will be treated unfairly, like the Lord (1 Peter 2:18-24; 4:1-2)
A. Started in Jerusalem, then expanded to the whole world (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8; 8:1,4)
B. “Church” is used in a universal sense (Matthew 16:18; Act 2:47) and a local sense (Romans 16:1,5)
C. Division and teaching things contrary to Scripture is condemned (1 Corinthians 1:10; Galatians 1:6-9)
II. The church is the collection of the saved
A. The Lord adds to His one body, the church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23; 1:22-23; 4:4)
B. The church is a body of unity (Ephesians 4:1-6; John 17:20-21)
C. Only the faithful will be saved (Hebrews 5:8-9; Revelation 2:10; Matthew 16:24)
III. How does one become a member of the Lord’s church?
A. Or, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 2:38-41)
B. How does one get into Christ? (Romans 6:3-7; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:26-27)
C. How does one get into the church? (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:47)
A. Moses [“the Law”] and Elijah [“the Prophets”] (Luke 9:30; cf. Matthew 7:12; 22:37-39; Luke 16:16; Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:44)
B. The topic: “His decease” [Greek exodos] (Luke 9:31; Hebrews 2:14-15)
II. The disciples’ reaction
A. They woke up! (Luke 9:32)
B. Peter had good intentions, but didn’t think through to the consequences of his suggestion (Luke 9:33)
III. The command of God
A. The cloud (Luke 9:34; cf. Exodus 14:19; 1 Kings 8:10-11)
B. “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Luke 9:35)
1. God spoke from heaven on other occasions (Luke 3:22; John 12:28-30)
2. Final authority rests with Jesus (John 12:48; Matthew 7:24-27; 28:18; Ephesians 1:22-23)
A. Repay the mercy that was shown to you (Psalm 41:1a)
B. Six manifestations of the Lord’s mercy (Psalm 41:1b-3)
II. Enemies will mistreat you
A. A penitent prayer for mercy (Psalm 41:4)
B. Our enemy’s unwillingness to forgive (Psalm 41:5-8)
C. A betrayal of close friends (Psalm 41:9; cf. 2 Samuel 15:1-12; John 13:18)
III. Men can be fickle, but God is faithful
A. God’s justice will be served (Psalm 41:10-11)
B. Integrity based on repentance (Psalm 41:12)
C. Praise the One who shows compassion on His creation (Psalm 41:13)
A. “My life, my joy, my all” (Luke 9:23; Matthew 5:10-12; Mark 12:29-30)
B. “He is my strength…” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
C. “When I am sad to Him I go” (2 Corinthians 7:4; Philippians 4:4)
II. The continual friendship and blessing of being in Christ
A. “My Friend in trials sore” (Romans 8:35-39)
B. “I go to Him for blessings” (3 John 2; James 4:3; Ephesians 1:3; Luke 9:25; Acts 14:17)
III. Jesus is our guide and protector
A. “He’s so true to me” (2 Thessalonians 3:3; John 14:15; 1 Peter 5:8)
B. “Following Him I know I’m right” (Matthew 7:13-14)
IV. Christ is our trustworthy Friend
A. “I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when life’s fleeting days shall end” (Ephesians 1:11-12; Hebrews 6:13-18)
B. “Eternal life, eternal joy” (Matthew 10:29; 2 Timothy 2:11-13)
A. God appeared to Abraham and spoke to him (Genesis 12:1-4,6-7; 15; 17; 18; 22; etc.)
B. Our faith must be based on God’s revelation (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 10:17; John 20:30-31)
II. Abraham’s faith resulted in obedience
A. He knew there was something greater waiting for him (Hebrews 11:8-10: Acts 7:4-5; Matthew 8:11)
B. Abraham would not withhold anything from the Almighty (Hebrews 11:17-19)
C. Our faith is known through obedience (Romans 1:8; 16:19; James 2:20-24)
D. Our faith should be sacrificial (2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 8:1-5,10-12)
III. Abraham’s faith continued to grow throughout his life
A. Abraham was not perfect (Romans 3:23; Genesis 12:10-13; 20:1-2; 15:1-3; 17:15-19) but he grew (Hebrews 11:17-19)
B. We must also grow… like the apostles (Matthew 8:26; Acts 4:13) and like the early church (2 Thessalonians 1:3)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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