Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

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Day 87/260: Read Galatians 3

Does faith require obedience? There are many who claim the necessity of obedience negates God’s grace, thus one does not need to obey anything. Is this what Paul says in this chapter?

Abraham lived before the Law of Moses; he lived under what is commonly called “the Patriarchal Age.” Paul’s main point is that obedience for the sake of obedience is not what matters, but action based on faith. “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’”

Did you catch that? If you do what God says simply because God said it, then you’re missing something. We must live by faith! Faith directs us in the way live! We do what God says because we believe in Him (that is, we trust Him). We know what He has revealed is the truth, and that He will reward or punish according to our actions.

If you claim to believe in Jesus and expect to be counted among the saved, but refuse to do what He says, do you really believe in Him? Jesus is very clear that there will be some saved, and some lost. Paul says that those who have been “baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Their faith motivated them to obey His clear command (Mark 16:16). Have you obeyed?

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

Galatians 2:20. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Pray

Pray for a stronger faith that directs the way you live.

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

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Day 86/260: Read Galatians 2

Say one thing, do the opposite. That is the very height of hypocrisy, and even the apostle Peter failed in this regard. It should come as no surprise that hypocrisy is one of the leading reasons people give for not attending religious services.

Instead of browbeating those who neglect the grace of God, can we examine ourselves for a minute? Are we preventing other people from developing a proper relationship with Jesus because of our actions?

Look at what happened in this chapter: Peter, Paul, and Barnabas were in Antioch, fellowshipping with Gentile Christians. Then some Jews came to town, and Peter separated himself from the Gentiles. Not only that, Barnabas, the great encourager, stopped eating with the Gentiles as well. Peter sinned in his actions, and he influenced others to sin as well.

Our influence is so important. Our Lord said, “But however causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).

Let’s do our very best to live a life that positively influences others and draws them to Christ, rather than being the reason for people to reject the gospel.

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

Galatians 2:20. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Pray

Pray to be a better example for those around you.

Sermon Outlines

Temptation (Luke 4:1-13)

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Temptation of Jesus

I. Who was tempted?

    A. Jesus Christ Himself (Luke 4:1-2a)
    B. He had the ability, but it would have been against God’s will (Luke 4:2b; Romans 1:9-10)
    C. Overcame using Scripture (Luke 4:4,8,12)

II. Who is the tempter?

    A. “That serpent of old” (Revelation 20:2; Genesis 3:1)
    B. “A roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8)
    C. “An angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

III. The pinnacle (Luke 4:9)

    A. “On top of the world”
    B. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” (1 Timothy 3:6-7; Galatians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 10:12)

IV. Resist!

    A. If we fall, we will fall hard (Luke 4:11; James 1:15)
    B. Satan will flee (James 4:7), but not forever (Luke 4:13)
    C. God gives us the power to resist through His Word (James 1:12; 4:8)
Sermon Outlines

Heaven Holds All To Me

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Heaven Holds All To Me

I. “Earth holds no treasures but perish with using…”

    A. Where is your treasure? (Matthew 6:19; 13:22; Luke 12:15-21)
    B. A greater citizenship than “American” (Philippians 3:17-21)

II. “Out on the hills of that wonderful country…”

    A. Happy (Matthew 5:3-12)
    B. Contented (1 Timothy 6:6-8; Hebrews 13:5)
    C. Free (John 8:32-36)
    D. “Loved ones are waiting and watching my coming…” (1 Thess. 2:19)

III. “Why should I long for the world with its sorrows…”

    A. Sin is pleasurable, but the consequences are destructive (Hebrews 11:24-26; Luke 16:19-24)
    B. No sorrow in heaven (Revelation 21:4) but singing (Revelation 15:3-4; James 5:13b)

IV. “Heaven holds all to me”

    A. “Brighter its glory will be” (Hebrews 10:34; 11:16)
    B. “Joy without measure will be my treasure” (Mathew 13:44)

[Lesson developed from hymn by Tillit S. Teddlie]

Sermon Outlines

Is Jesus With You? (Luke 2:41-52)

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Is Jesus With You

I. Many assume that He is

    A. Deceived (Matthew 7:15, 21-23, 24-27)
    B. The churches of Asia (Revelation 2:2-5, 13-16; 3:19)

II. Where do we look?

    A. America? (Mormons 1830, 7th Day Adventist 1830, Christian Sceintist 1866, Jehovah’s Witnesses 1872)
    B. Earlier? (Methodist 18th century, Baptist 17th century, Presbyterian and Lutheran 16th century; Catholic authority is not Christ but the Pope)
    C. Jerusalem in the first century

      1. Prophesied in Isaiah 2:2-4
      2. Commanded in Luke 24:46-47
      3. Established in Acts 2:36-41)

III. Jesus is in the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15)

    A. Jesus’ opinion of the church (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; 2:47; Eph. 2:16)
    B. He is the Savior of the body (Eph. 5:23; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 6:17)
Sermon Outlines

Becoming a Soul Winner Like Jesus

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Becoming a Soul Winner Like Jesus

I. The value of “one”

    A. Sinners Jesus will receive (Luke 15:2; Romans 5:8)
    B. The lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7)
    C. The lost coin (Luke 15:8-10)
    D. The lost son (Luke 15:11-32)

II. Using circumstances

    A. The Samaritan woman (John 4:6-9, 13-14, 39-42)
    B. Avoid the temptation to blow off an opportunity because you don’t believe much good will come of it (David Lipscomb and J.W. Shepherd)

III. Deal with sin empathetically

    A. We must tear down walls, not build them up
    B. The Samaritan woman (John 4:16-18)
    C. Show empathy, but do not excuse sin (John 8:3-11)
Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

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Day 85/260: Read Galatians 1

“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” There is so much truth in that statement.

The apostle Paul marveled that his brethren were turning away from the truth of the gospel; he was astonished they were being fooled. Still today, folks are being fooled by false teachers who are teaching something that sounds like the truth, but they are leaving so much out.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). He didn’t shy away from the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (Acts 20:26). And he warned that those who refused to preach the same message—those who perverted the gospel—were in eternal danger. On top of that, they were causing others to turn away from the truth.

If a preacher tries to persuade you that the Bible doesn’t really say what the Bible says, or attempts to explain away clear commands (such as the command to be baptized), then he is not teaching the truth. No one has the authority to change what has been revealed—not the Pope, not Joseph Smith, not even “an angel from heaven.”

Accept the truth. Trust Jesus and obey Him. Reject those who try to draw you away from Christ “to a different gospel.”

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

Mark 16:16. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Pray

Pray for the wisdom to discern right from wrong, using the good sense God gave you to reject those who teach error.

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

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Day 84/260: Read Mark 16

How many times do you have to be told something before you will believe it? We like to think that we would believe the truth concerning spiritual things upon our first hearing, but is that always the case?

On three separate occasions, the Lord very explicitly described His death and resurrection (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34). When it happened just as He had said, Mary Magdalene told Christ’s disciples that He had risen from the dead, but “they did not believe.” Then He appeared to two others, and they told the rest of the disciples, but still, “they did not believe them either.”

Why are we so hesitant to believe what the Scriptures teach? Are we afraid of offending our friends and family members? Are we afraid we will have to sacrifice some pleasure on this earth? Both of those things are certainly possibilities when obedient faith is developed.

Jesus promises that those who leave behind the things of this world for Him will gain much more, including eternal life (Matthew 19:29). Consider the example of Moses, “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:25).

Where are you looking? Focus on eternity; focus on Jesus.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Mark 16:16. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Pray

Pray for strength to believe, choosing eternal blessings over the temporary pleasures of this life.

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

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Day 83/260: Read Mark 15

What was wrong with this crowd? How could they be so deceived that they chose to release a rebellious murderer rather than the King of kings and Lord of lords?

Certainly, we would never make such a poor decision, would we?

But when we speak ill of our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, and others who are made in the image of God, do we not do the same?

When we lie, cheat, and steal, are we not serving the adversary rather than the Anointed?

When we allow ourselves to be deceived by the wisdom of the world, are we not offering ourselves up to be devoured by the devil?

Are we not choosing Satan over God?

Let us take care that we do not judge others who made mistakes, because we too often make those same mistakes! Yes, the Jews chose Barabbas over Jesus; many times we make the same foolish choice today.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Mark 16:16. “He who believes ___________ is baptized will be ___________; but he who does not believe will be ___________.”

Pray

Pray for wisdom when making decisions, always seeking the guidance of God through His revealed Word.

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

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Day 82/260: Read Mark 14

When Jesus was arrested, His followers “all forsook Him and fled.” When Jesus gets us in trouble today, do we do the same?

Look at what is said about Peter in the rest of this chapter. “But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.”

Was it mere curiosity that kept Peter nearby? He continued following, but “at a distance.” No longer was he right at the Lord’s side; no longer was he rebuking the Savior (Mark 8:32). Remember, he is the one who declared, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matthew 26:35). But when the moment came, he “followed Him at a distance.”

How close are you to God? Do you “walk n the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7)? Or are you, like Peter, following “at a distance.” If you find yourself at a distance from the Lord, remember it is not He who moved.

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

Mark 16:16. “He who ___________ and is ___________ will be saved; but he who does not ___________ will be condemned.”

Pray

Pray for a closer walk with Jesus.

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)