Sermon Outlines

“Lord, Will You At This Time Restore The Kingdom To Israel?”

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Acts 1:1-8

I. PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE KINGDOM

    A. Daniel 2:31-44
    B. Isaiah 2:2-3 (cf. Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 3:15)
    C. Joel 2:28-32

II. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM

    A. Acts 2:1-21 (cf. Acts 11:15)
    B. When they asked the question, the apostles didn’t fully understand the nature of the kingdom (John 16:12-13; 18:36; 1 Samuel 8:1-7)

III. MANY STILL MISUNDERSTAND TODAY: THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF PREMILLENNIALISM

    A. Recommended reading: God’s Prophetic Word by Foy E. Wallace Jr.
    B. Premillennialism “means that the second coming of the Lord will occur before the millennium begins…upon his return Christ will inaugurate the earthly kingdom referred to as the millennial reign” (Wallace 346)
    C. Consequences of premillennialism

      1. Makes God false to His promises (Mark 1:14-15; Deuteronomy 18:18, 22)
      2. Alternates Judaism and Christianity (Hebrews 8:13)
      3. Demotes Christ from His place at the right hand of God in heaven to the earth (Hebrews 1:3; 8:1)

Watch a video of this lesson.

Sermon Outlines

“But Lord, What About This Man?”

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John 21:15-21

I. DISTRACTIONS

    A. Peter’s distraction in this context (John 18:15-18,25-27; 21:21-22)
    B. The distractions in the parable of the sower (Luke 8:5-15)
    C. Peter’s earlier distractions

      1. When Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14:26-30)
      2. At the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-7)

II. OUR FOCUS MUST BE ON FOLLOWING THE LORD

    A. God must be first (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:1-2,5; Matthew 6:19-21; Hebrews 11:6)
    B. Barclay: “Let a man serve Christ where Christ has set him” (John 21:15-22; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-22)
    C. Where is your focus? (Philippians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Matthew 7:3-5; Galatians 6:1; Romans 12:1-2)
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Setbacks

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          I experienced a bit of a setback this past week. Five and a half weeks after my back surgery, some of the pain started to come back. Emotionally discouraged and physically exhausted, my hope was that the pain was temporary and I took a little comfort in knowing that I was not completely healed but the pain should again decrease in the coming weeks as the mending continued.
          Can this happen to us spiritually? Of course it can. The “fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16) will come at us from every direction. Are we going to give in to that temptation from time to time? Yes, sadly, we will. John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). We will suffer spiritual setbacks. Just as physical pain can discourage us, spiritual weakness can lead to deep disappointment.
          Thank God we have an Advocate, a High Priest who understands temptation and who is on our side! Thank God that He is full of grace and desires our fellowship and has given us an avenue by which we can be restored! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
          “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). How grand is the grace of God! How tremendous is His mercy!
          This month especially, as we count our blessings and give thanks, may we daily remember His love for us and seek ways to show our love for Him.

Sermon Outlines

“Are You Going There Again?”

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John 11:1-10

I. THE CONTEXT

    A. The Jews sought to stone and seize Him (John 10:22-39)
    B. “Let us go to Judea again” (John 11:7)
    C. Do we take the Father’s commands as seriously as the Messiah did? (John 11:9-10; James 4:13-17)

II. IS THERE ANY EXCUSE TO DISOBEY GOD OR AVOID HIS WILL?

    A. The apostles feared for their lives and for the life of their Master, but that was no excuse (Mark 8:34-37; John 11:16)
    B. Do we look for a way of escape from obedience?

      1. “I don’t feel the need to do that” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25; Jeremiah 10:23; Acts 23:1; 1 Timothy 1:12-13)
      2. “I’ve done too many bad things” (1 Timothy 1:12-13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
      3. “God just wants me to be happy, no matter what!” (Matthew 5:3-10; Romans 12:1-2)
      4. “I’m not ready for that level of commitment; I’ll worry about it later” (Acts 24:23-25)
      5. “I’m a good person and I love Jesus, but I don’t need organized religion”

        a. Romans 3:23
        b. John 14:15
        c. Acts 20:28; Colossians 1:24; Ephesians 5:23; Ephesians 4:4; Acts 2:47

Watch a video of this lesson.

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Are We “All on the Same Team”?

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          I asked on Facebook, “What are some excuses you have heard (or used) for ignoring or disobeying the will of God?”           One of the many excellent responses came from brother Steve Davis, who replied, “We’re all on the same team.” This may be said many different ways, such as, “Go to the church of your choice,” or, “We’re all headed to heaven, just taking different roads to get there.” Is this a Biblical concept?
          If we are on the same team, shouldn’t we be using the same playbook? When the quarterback calls a play, doesn’t he expect the wide receiver to run a certain route? The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the SAME thing, and that there be NO DIVISIONS among you, but that you be perfectly joined TOGETHER in the SAME mind and in the SAME judgment.” Can this be said about all the denominational confusion in the religious world?
          Instead of the “church of your choice,” wouldn’t it be wiser to worship with the church of God’s choice (Acts 20:28), in the many that He decrees (John 4:24)? There are not “different roads to heaven,” there is only the “narrow gate…which leads to life” (Matthew 7:13-14).
          God’s will is revealed in His Word. The only way to know His will is to study His Word. James 1:25 encourages us to seek the truth and live according to it: “But he who LOOKS into the perfect law of liberty and CONTINUES in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a DOER of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
          Denominationalism leads people away from God. Only the Word points to the Lord. May we all love the Lord and His revelation (John 14:15), and study, learn, and obey the things contained therein (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

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Faulty Memories

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          I had an idea for a bulletin article earlier in the week but didn’t write it down immediately, and when it came time to submit an article, I had forgotten all about the idea. That’s not the first time it has happened.
          Maybe mankind’s faulty memory is why God instituted so many memorials. Going all the way back to the flood when God instituted the rainbow as a memorial, not for the people, but for Himself. In Genesis 8:16, God said, “The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” At times, I get frustrated at the appropriation of the rainbow by the homosexual community, but maybe it is by God’s providential design. That rainbow represents a promise that no matter how wicked the world becomes, the Almighty will not destroy it again by flood.
          Other memorials God instituted in the Old Testament include the Passover(Exodus 12:24-27), the jar of manna (Exodus 16:32-33), the twelve stones (Joshua 4:5-7), and even the Sabbath day itself (Exodus 20:8-11).
          Still today, under the new covenant, we observe a memorial on the first day of every week. Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper just prior to His death on the cross. He said of the unleavened bread, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). Christ’s human life was not taken from Him; He gave it for us. What an amazing gift! He followed this with the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). There is power in that blood, power to cleanse us of our sins so we might stand blameless before God.
          I am thankful God gave us the Lord’s Supper so that we can continually, week by week, remember the awesome gift of His Son and the power of His blood.

Sermon Outlines

“Up To Seven Times?”

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Matthew 18:21-35

I. PETER’S PERCEIVED GENEROSITY

    A. “Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21; Amos 1:3,6,9,11,13; Job 33:29-30)
    B. Context (Matthew 18:15-17)
    C. The spirit of forgiveness is rooted in love (1 Corinthians 13:5)

      1. Love “thinks no evil” (NKJV)
      2. Love “does not take into account a wrong suffered” (NASB)
      3. Love “keeps no records of wrongs” (NIV)

II. GOD’S ENORMOUS GRACE

    A. The first part of the parable (Matthew 18:23-27)
    B. The compassion and grace that God offers (Psalm 103:8-13; Exodus 34:6-7; Ephesians 1:7-8; Colossians 1:13-14)

III. OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD EACH OTHER

    A. Keep forgiving as long as you have something to forgive (Matthew 18:22)
    B. God’s forgiveness is conditional (Matthew 18:28-35; Matthew 6:14-15)
    C. Imitate the Lord (Colossians 3:12-13)
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Blessed in Christ

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          Have you ever read something in the Scriptures that made you scratch your head? Jesus says in His famed sermon on the mount, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). How often have you felt “blessed” while mourning? Isn’t this a paradox?
          Throughout the Scriptures, we see what we would consider negative events lead to positive results. Consider the inspired words of Romans 5:3-4 (tribulation –> perseverance –> hope), Hebrews 12:11 (chastening –> peaceable fruit of righteousness), 2 Corinthians 7:10 (godly sorrow –> repentance leading to salvation), and James 1:2-3 (trials/testing of faith –> patience). In each instance, we start with something negative, but the end result is something positive.
          The mourning under consideration in Matthew 5 does not refer to everyday sorrows, as Paul tells us that “the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). J.W. McGarvey writes in his commentary on Matthew and Mark that this is “those who mourn in reference to sin. ‘They shall be comforted’ because now there is an ample provision made for pardon.”
          “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11)
          We no longer have to mourn over our hopelessness, but “rejoice” that “through (Christ) we have now received the reconciliation.” Truly we are blessed!

Sermon Outlines

“Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?”

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Lord To Whom Shall We Go

John 6:66-69

I. WHAT OPTIONS DOES MAN HAVE?

    A. Corrupted Judaism (Matthew 15:8-9)
    B. Corrupted Christianity (1 Corinthians 1:10; John 17:20-21)
    C. Man-made religion (Buddhism, Islam, Scientology, Atheism)

II. ONLY JESUS HAS THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE

    A. Perversions of the gospel are not another gospel (Galatians 1:6-8)
    B. Affirmed by Jesus (John 12:48; Matthew 7:24-27)
    C. The example of Peter and John (Acts 4:8-20)

III. JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD

    A. We must not ignore His revealed will in favor of our own desires
    B. Living in such a way that shows your faith (James 2:14-24)
    C. Obedience is prompted by faith (Hebrews 11)

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Exhort One Another

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          “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
          How blessed are we to have so many opportunities to gather together and encourage each other? From Sunday morning Bible class and worship to Sunday evening, our mid-week studies, gospel meetings and seminars, we have many occasions in which we can receive sound spiritual nourishment.
          When we come together, God commands us to exhort or encourage each other. One way to do this is by taking notice of the good things our brothers and sisters are doing, and thanking them.
          Have you thanked any of the teachers from Vacation Bible School? Or those who helped prepare the snacks each day? How about those who led the singing, or those who helped with decorations, props, and bulletin boards? Many people were involved, and should be recognized.
          Have you thanked the men and women who are taking care of our teenagers, organizing activities and driving them to youth rallies and camps? Or those who teach the children on Sunday morning and Wednesday night?
          Have you thanked the parents who bring their children to learn more about God? There are many secular activities that can distract them from spiritual matters, and they need to be encouraged for attending as many services as possible.
          I hope that everyone is praying for the elders and deacons, but have you told them that you are praying for them? Have you asked them if there is anything specific you can include in your supplications to the Almighty? James says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Let us seek to live righteously and pray fervently for our overseers and servants.
          Look for opportunities to encourage each other, and thank each other. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

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)