First Baptist Church of New Holland PA

SERMON SEEDS

BIBLE OUTLINES FOR PASTORS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

U4 – FOR WEEK OF 2/14/22

First Baptist Church of New Holland PA - SERMON SEEDS (fbcnhremembers.com)

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1 JOHN 4:8 etc. - YOU ARE LOVED!

Lloyd Ogilvie was Chaplain in the U.S. Senate.  He grew up with this attitude towards himself: do and you'll receive, perform and you'll be loved.

"When (he) got good grades, achieved, and was a success (he) felt acceptance from his parents."  His dad taught him to fish and hunt and worked hard to provide for his family, but he rarely said, "Lloyd, I love you." His dad tried to show love by his actions and sometimes there was a twinkle of affirmation in his dad's eyes. But Lloyd still felt empty.

When Ogilvie became a Christian, he immediately got so involved in discipleship activities, that he says, "I did not experience the profound healing of the grace I talked about theoretically..."

Eventually Ogilvie became a post-graduate student at the University of Edinburgh.  Because of financial pressures, he took a double course load all at once. This was very demanding, and he was exhausted by the constant feeling of never quite measuring up. No matter how good his grades were, he thought they should be better.  He was not experiencing the very grace and joy that he was studying about.

Then one day, one of his professors, a short energetic man named Dr. James Stewart, confronted him in a corridor.  Stewart knew exactly what Lloyd Ogilvie's problem was.  He looked Ogilvie in the eye intensely. He smiled warmly, grabbed Ogilvie's coat lapels, drew him down to within a few inches of his own face and said, "Dear Boy, you are loved now!" ( Craig Bryan Larson, Contemporary Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers, Copyright 1996 by the author, Published by Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan, page 132)

And I say to you this morning, "YOU ARE LOVED NOW!"

• You are loved by family.
• You are loved by friends.
• You are loved by me.
• But most of all, YOU ARE LOVED BY GOD!

Oh how much happier you would be if you realized that no matter what happens in your life today, God still loves you!

• No matter what losses you experience, God still loves you.
• No matter how badly you fail, God still loves you.
• No matter how badly you feel, emotionally, Spiritually, or physically, God still loves you.

GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU IS AUTHENTIC - 1 John 4:8

Not all love is true love.

• “I Love Pizza”
• Reaction to good news, “I love you man!”
• Many a guy has told many a girl that he loves her, when it’s nothing but physical attraction.

1 John 4:8 - God's love is the real deal. It is authentic.

• God has various attributes or qualities that are part of His nature.
• One of those qualities is love.
• Notice from 1 John 4:8 that one can not know real love unless they know God.  It is God who is the source and originator of true love.

GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU IS ATONING - 1 John 4:10

We said that God's love is an attribute or quality of God.

But it is not the only attribute of God.

God has many attributes.

• Holy – Separate from Sin – Psalm 99:3,5, Isaiah 40:25-26
• Righteous – Demands justice for sin. Psalm 11:7
• God's holiness and righteousness holds you accountable for your sin. Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23
• God in His love sent His sinless Son to earth.  Jesus could have condemned us all!  John 3:17

So what did Jesus do to save the world?

God in His justice demanded that someone pay for our sins.

God in His love sent the sinless Lord Jesus to die in our place. That is God's atoning love! Man could not pay for or atone for his own sins. He needed help. And God in His love sent the Lord Jesus. 1 John 4:10

GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU IS AVAILABLE

• Jesus has died for your sins.
• Jesus has risen from the dead.
• As God, Jesus is present now.
• And through His Spirit He says, "Come".
• "Come and accept my forgiveness."
• "Come and put your trust in me."
• "Come and accept my love."
• Jesus did all that was necessary for you to be forgiven of your sins.  There is only one thing he wants from you, and he will not do this for you.

• All the Lord Jesus wants is for you to place your faith in Him. Romans 3:20-27
• God's love for you is available, but it is you who must decide. John 3:16-18,36

Most of you have received God’s love and have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.

• God's love was available to you for salvation.
• God's love is available for you now!
• God’s love is available to you on a daily basis.
• He loves you still and wants you to avail yourself of that love.

There was a great Old Testament saint by the name of Enoch.

It is said of Enoch that he walked with God.

Enoch talked to God all day. Enoch listened to God all day.

As he talked to God and listened to God he made himself available to the love of God.

• Christian, God wants you to feel His love.
• Christian, God wants you to enjoy His love.
• Christian, God wants you to accept His love daily.

Christian, God's love is available to you.

• When you hurt, come to Him. Matthew 11:28
• When you have sinned, come to Him. 1 John 1:9
• When you need peace, come to Him. John 14:27
• When you don't know which way to turn, turn to Him. Psalm 32:8
• When you need a friend, come to Him. - He's the friend that sticks closer than a brother.
• When you are disappointed come to Him. 1 Peter 5:7

GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU IS ABIDING

Christian, God does not stop loving you.

To me, one of the greatest verses in all Scripture is Ephesians 1:6 - If you are a born again Christian, you are accepted by God. What more can you ask for.

• Friends and Family might not always accept you.
• Your enemies will not accept you.
• Your government, your employer and perhaps even your church may not always accept you.
• But you are always accepted in Christ!

Oh God does not accept your sin. You need to confess that.

But God does accept you as His child in Christ.

And this kind of love is an abiding love. Psalm 121

YOU ARE LOVED BY GOD!

God’s Love for You Is Authentic

God’s Love for You is Atoning

God’s Love for You is Available

God’s Love for You is Abiding

 

TO HEAR THIS MESSAGE PREACHED BY PASTOR JACK CLICK HERE:

First Baptist Church of New Holland PA - Sermons (fbcnhremembers.com)

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1 SAMUEL 3 – LEARNING FROM SAMUEL

BE AVAILABLE - Vss. 1-10

Samuel thought that he heard Eli calling.

When Eli perceived that Samuel was being called by the Lord he gave some great advice.

Eli Samuel to say "Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth."

We must be available to hear from God through prayer, Bible reading, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

BE ATTENTIVE - Vss. 11-14

God gave Samuel specific information. Samuel had to pay attention so that he would get the message straight. As we pay attention as we read God's word, pray, and hear God's Word preached and taught, we will have our own message from God straight.

BE AN ANNOUNCER - Vss. 15-18

Samuel was encouraged by Eli to tell all him all that God had said.

We should be willing to announce what God has taught us.

BE ACCURATE - Vss. 19-21

Samuel's information was always reliable because he shared exactly what God had told him. May the words we share from God be equally as accurate.

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PSALM 11 3 – LET THERE BE PRAISE!

• PRAISE IS TO BE DIRECTED TO GOD - VS. 1
• PRAISE IS TO BE PRACTICED BY GOD'S SERVANTS - VS. 1
• PRAISE IS TO BE CONTINUOUS - VSS. 2-3
• PRAISE IS JUSTIFIED - Vss. 4-9

1. By God's Position - Vss. 4-5
2. By God's Humility - Vs. 6
3. By God's Actions - Vss. 7-9
4. By God's Position - Vss. 4-5

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LUKE 5:1-11 – LIKE PETER’S BOAT

During his ministry,

• Jesus used 5 loaves and 2 fishes to feed the 5,000.
• Jesus used thirst as an opening to talk to the woman at the well.
• Jesus used spit to make clay to heal a blind man in John 9:6.
• Jesus used a withered fig tree to teach prayer and faith.
• Jesus used a manger as a place of humble beginnings.
• Jesus used a sower and four kinds of soils to illustrate different ways of responding to the Word of God.
• Jesus used a donkey on which to ride into Jerusalem, indicating that He is the Messiah.
• Jesus used bread and wine as a memorial of his broken body and shed blood.
• Jesus used a couple of pieces of wood on which to die for our sins and make eternal life possible.
• Jesus used a borrowed tomb from which to rise and declare victory over death.
• This morning Jesus wants to use Peter’s boat to teach you some important spiritual lessons.

In Luke 5:1-11Peter’s boat was the scene of the miracle of a miraculous catch of fish.

This was not the first time that Peter had met Jesus.

There are at least two other previous instances of Peter meeting Jesus.

Peter’s brother, Andrew, was a disciple of John the Baptist.

Andrew was present when John the Baptist identified Jesus as “the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”. John 1:40-42

The original call of Jesus to Peter, Andrew, James and John as disciples is mentioned in Matthew 4:18-20.    

The disciples appeared to follow Jesus on a part time basis, and then went back to their fishing. It is at the end of a long night of fishing that Peter’s boat comes into focus, and we see some lessons we should learn from Peter’s boat.

LIKE PETER’S BOAT, YOUR HEART SHOULD BE A CHAPEL

Vss. 1-3 – Jesus was teaching by the Sea of Galilee.

The crowds were very large and pressing upon him.

Nearby Peter, Andrew, James, and John were doing what fishermen did after a long night of fishing. They were washing out their nets and then setting them into the sun to dry.

Jesus requested use of the boat. So Peter thrust out a little from land and Jesus sat in the boat and taught the people. The hills surrounding the lake helped make the area a natural amphitheatre.

The minute Jesus entered that boat it was not the same.

Jesus entered the boat and the boat became a chapel.

It was the residence, at least temporarily of God the Son.

If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, the minute Jesus entered your life when you were saved you were no longer the same. 2 Corinthians 5:17

You became new in many ways when you trusted Jesus as Savior.  A key way is that your heart became a chapel or a temple.  It is a place where God dwells. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20  

Because God dwells inside of you your body should be a place where He is worshipped.  God should receive your reverence, your praise, your thanksgiving and your prayers. Psalm 89:1, 7,    Psalm 103:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

When someone is present it is rude to ignore him.

How rude are we to God when we, as Christians, go about ignoring His presence hours or days on end?    You can be assured that when Jesus was in the boat, Peter did not ignore him!

Our hearts are His chapel!  Oh how much happier we would be if we practiced what we sing:

Jesus invites you to fellowship with Him and to reap great results. John 15:4-7

LIKE PETER’S BOAT, YOUR HEART SHOULD BE A CLASSROOM

Vs. 3 – Jesus taught the people.

The Teacher was present.  Class was in session!

Did you know that like Peter’s boat, you have a resident teacher? It is God, the Holy Spirit. John 16:12-14

How does God teach us?

First of all, He uses his Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Secondly God teaches us through the preaching of His Word. 2 Timothy 4:2

Thirdly God uses us to teach each other.

We teach others when we share Scripture.

We teach others when we share our experiences.

Finally, God teaches us through experience.

We learn to trust God and mature through our trials.

We learn to do what is right when God chooses to correct us for what we have done wrong.   

Have you ever tried to teach someone who didn’t want to learn?  It’s almost impossible, isn’t it? We, as Christians should be those who want to learn. 2 Timothy 2:15,

That doesn’t mean that you will be a pastor if you learn, but you will mature so that you will be useable!    

YOUR LIFE SHOULD HAVE A CAPTAIN

Vs. 4 – Did you ever have someone who knew nothing about your job, tell you how to do your job?  Recently I had a retired steel worker tell me how easy my job is!

Peter would have thought that Jesus knew nothing about fishing.  Jesus was a carpenter.

Jesus wanted Peter to go fishing when they had labored all night and caught nothing. The fish were not around.

Jesus wanted Peter to go fishing in the broad daylight, when nighttime would have been better. Jesus wanted Peter to fish out in the deep, when it was customary to fish along the shore.

Peter would have had to load the big, heavy, wet nets back into his boat and go out for fish after having fished all night. He was probably very tired, if not exhausted!

Luke 5:5 - Did Peter feel like fishing? No.

Did Peter think it was wise to fish?  No.

Was Peter afraid at being laughed at for fishing at such an unusual time and place? Perhaps he was! Did Peter understand what Jesus was doing? No.   

Why did Peter concede to do it?

The moment that Jesus entered Peter’s boat, Jesus became captain.

Peter recognized him as Master and did as He was told.

My friend Jesus wants to be more than a guest in your life.

He wants to be Lord of your life!

He wants to call the shots!

He wants to tell you what to do.

There had to be someone who would lead and make the decisions. Democracy did not work.  He was kind, but he was in charge.

My friend Jesus wants to run a benevolent dictatorship in your life.

He wants to tell you what to do and when to do it.

He wants your obedience.

He wants your submission to His authority.

He wants to be boss.

He wants to be “Lord of all”.  And, as someone has said, “If Jesus isn’t Lord of all, He isn’t Lord at all!”

John 13:13 - Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

• God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him. - Andrew Murray
• Jesus Christ is not valued at all until He is valued above all. - Augustine
• “A wife who is 85% faithful to her husband is not faithful at all. There is no such thing as part-time loyalty to Jesus Christ.” - Vance Havner

Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

If Jesus is the captain of your ship your life is to be a living sacrifice. You should be able to say, “Lord Jesus, I’ll go where you want me to go. I’ll do what you want me to do. I’ll be what you want me to be.”

LIKE PETER’S BOAT, YOUR LIFE SHOULD BE A CHANNEL

Vss. 6-7 – Peter’s boat became the channel or means of a great miracle.

Vs. 8 – Peter was amazed and convicted.  He realized what a sinner he was and that he did not deserve to be in Jesus’ presence.

When God works miracles in our lives, we will be equally astonished and will realize how much we don’t deserve them. For we, too are sinful men and women.

Vs. 9-10 – Jesus now tells Peter something phenomenal and wonderful!  From that point on Peter would not fish for fish.

He would fish for men.

And I understand that the wording here means to catch them alive. It is like capturing animals for a circus or zoo. Peter, Andrew, James and John would all be those who would become the channel through which God would work to bring thousands of men and women to Himself and to lead them to life in His Son!

And so it is today.  We are God’s channels who are to bring men and women to Jesus.  We are the ones who are to tell the Good News of Jesus’ death burial and resurrection. Mark 16:15

YOUR LIFE SHOULD BE A CAST-OFF

Luke 5:11 - And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

The boat was left behind. They cast the boat away! Peter and the others left all to follow Jesus.

In their case the fishing boats needed to be forsaken.

You may not have to leave your job in order to follow Jesus.

But your life is to be such that you are willing to leave behind whatever is necessary in order to follow Jesus. Luke 9:23-24 Luke 14:26-27

If anything or anybody is more important to you than doing the will of the Lord Jesus, than it needs to be cast off just like Peter’s boat.

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1 TIMOTHY 3:8-13 – THE DEACON

If the work of God is going to get done there must be willing workers. Each and every Christian has that responsibility. Titus 3:8, 1 Peter 4:10, Galatians 5:13

God has given a special group of servants to the church.

These special servants are known as "deacons".

In the early church these men were "servants" who assisted the elders or overseers (bishops) of the church.  These were men who knew how to serve and how to serve well.

In the 20^th century we need men who follow in the footsteps of the original deacons.

THE WORK OF THE DEACON - Acts 6:1-7

Vs. 1 - The deacons were appointed when the work became too large

Vs. 2 - The deacons were appointed when the word of God could have been neglected.

Vs. 3 - The deacons were appointed when Godly men were available.

Vs. 4 - The deacons were appointed when leaders had their priorities straight.

Vss. 5-7 - The deacons were appointed and the church grew.

THE WAY OF THE DEACON - Vss. 8-12

The deacon is to be:

1. A man of good behavior - Vs. 8, 10b
2. A man of pure conscience - Vs. 9
3. A man who has been proved - Vs. 10a
4. A man who has a Godly wife - Vs. 11
5. A man who has his household in order - Vs. 12

THE WAGES OF THE DEACON - Vs. 13

The one who is a good deacon earns a good degree or "rank".

He is promoted in the eyes of God and Man and might go on to bigger and better things for God (Consider Stephen in Acts 6-7).

But even if he does not, his testimony for and his ultimate reward from the Master will be worth it.

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2 CORNINTHIANS 4:1-6 – FAITHFUL!

As faithful servants of Jesus Christ we are to be faithful! 1 Corinthians 4:2

Our text shows us ways to be faithful as Christ's servants.

FAITHFUL IN INTENSITY- Vs. 1

"We faint not." We are intense in our dedication to Christ. Galatians 2:20

FAITHFUL IN INTEGRITY - Vs. 2

Instead of being deceitful and dishonest we are to manifest the truth.

FAITHFUL IN IMPORTANCE - Vss. 3-4

We realize that a hidden Gospel is hidden to those who are lost.  We know how important it is to get the Gospel out.

FAITHFUL IN INTEREST - Vss. 5-6

We are so interested in people coming to Christ, that we are not to preach ourselves but Christ and to consider ourselves the servants of others for Jesus' sake.

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2 THESSALONIANS 1 – CLEAR THINKING ABOUT OUR CONDITION

CLEAR THINKING IN A CLOUDY WORLD #1 – 2 Thessalonians

• What things happening in our world make things “cloudy”, gloomy, or discouraging?
• What things in your life make things “cloudy”, gloomy, or discouraging? (Answer silently.)
• How does clear thinking help in both situations?

The Thessalonian Church founded by Paul and his coworkers (Acts 17:1-10) had been suffering under persecution and some false teachers were saying that they were already in the tribulation period. Paul wrote this letter to clear up their cloudy thinking. In Chapter 1 Paul wants the Thessalonians and us to think clearly about the conditions that we are in.

ENCOURAGEMENT – 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5

• Vs. 1 – We are in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are secure. John 10:27-30
• Vs. 2 – They are also the source of our grace (Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Peter 3:18) and our peace (Romans 5:1, John 14:27, Isaiah 26:3-4).
• Vs. 3 – Paul was thankful for them because their faith and love for each other was growing. Why is it important that our faith and love grow? Hebrews 11:6, Philippians 1:9
• Vs. 4 – As an “outsider looking in” Paul saw the progress the Thessalonians were making during their persecutions and trials. They were persevering and remaining faithful.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 2 Timothy 3:10-12

• Vs. 5 – Only faith in Christ makes us worthy of Heaven. Our proper reaction during persecutions proves we are worthy. James 1:2-5

EXPECTATION – 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10

• Vs. 6 – There will be retribution for the wicked.
• Vs. 7 – There will be rest for the righteous when Christ returns.
• Vs. 7 – Being referred to here is the return of Christ to the earth (Matthew 25:31, Zechariah 14:1-9), not the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
• Vss. 8-9 – This is not a pretty picture, but it does show that the unsaved are in danger of eternal punishment (Revelation 20:11-15). This should also be motivation for us to reach out to the unsaved. Luke 10:2, 1 Peter 3:15, 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
• Vs. 10 – When Jesus returns to earth to establish His Kingdom, we will return with Him and share in His glory. Revelation 20:6

EXALTATION – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

• Vs. 11 (ESV) – To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,
• We prove ourselves worthy when we do the things that please the Lord.
• Vs. 12 – The goal is that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified (exalted) in us and us in Him.

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JESUS IS COMING!

Jesus is coming!  We don't know when, but he's coming!

JESUS IS COMING! - BE COMFORTED

John 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

JESUS IS COMING! - BE COGNIZANT (AWARE)

Luke 12:40 - Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Mark 13:35-37 - Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

JESUS IS COMING! - BE CONVERSANT

1 Peter 4:7 - But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

JESUS IS COMING! - BE CLEAN

Titus 2:11-13 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 JESUS IS COMING! - BE CHALLENGED - Matthew 25:13-29, Romans 12:3-8

We don't know the day or the hour that Jesus will come, but God has given each of us talents and abilities that need to be used for his glory. We should be challenged to use what we have for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom.

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