"The Works of God Might Be Displayed in Him": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, October 2, 2011

“The Works of God Might Be Displayed in Him”

John 9:6-12

Proposition:  Jesus Christ is the only one who is able to give spiritual sight to those who are spiritually blind.

Transition:  This great truth is illustrated by the healing of the blind man so we consider this truth by looking at 3 aspects of our text. 

I.  Consider the Men Involved.

 A.  Look at the Sovereign One.

1.  Recall His Claim. (8:58)

2.  Recall His Actions. (9:1)

3.  Recall His Mission. (9:4-5)

4.  Recall His Plan. (9:3)

 B.  Look at the Sightless One.

     1.  He is Blind. (9:1)

2.  He is a Beggar. (9:8)

3.  He looks for help, not for sight.

II.  Consider the Means Employed.

 A.  The Master Uses Means.

1.  His Means are Simple.

2.  His Means are Strange.

3.  His Means are Sickening.

4.  His Means are Contradictory.

5.  His Means are Personal.

6.  His Means include Commands.

  B.  The Man Responds to the Means.

     1.  He went.

2.  He went immediately.

3.  He went to the pool.

4.  He washed.

III.  Consider the Manifestations Revealed.

 A.  Note the Changes with the Man.

1.  He Sees.

2.  He Sees Now.

3.  He Knows He Sees.

4.  He Forever Sees.

5.  He Testifies of His Sight.

  a.  His Testimony is Personal. (9)

  b.  His Testimony is Precise. (11)

  c.  His Testimony is of Christ. (11)

  d.  His Testimony recognizes Limited

       Knowledge.  (12)

  B.  Note the Interest of the Neighbors.

1.  They Recognize a Change.

2.  They want to know the Cause.

3.  They want to meet the Christ.

"Work": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, September 18, 2011

“Work”

John 9:4-5

Proposition:  All followers of Christ are to be busy doing the works of God.

Transition:  The incident with the man born blind provides us with an exhortation to do the works of God as well as an example from Jesus. 

I.  Listen to the Exhortation of Christ (4).

 A.  There is a Need to Work (4a).

1.  There is work to do.

2.  It is necessary we work.

 B.  There are Works to Work (4b).

            1.  It is important work since it comes from God.

            2.  It is important work because of the needs of others.

            3.  It is important work because it is given to us.

 C.  There is a Time to Work (4c).

II.  Look at the Example of Christ (5).

 A.  He is the Light of the World.

            1.  He provides spiritual illumination to those in darkness.

            2.  He provides spiritual heat to those needing change.

            3.  He provides spiritual light for those on the path to glory.

 B.  We, too, are to be Lights of the World.

"Who Sinned?": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, September 11, 2011

“Who Sinned?”

John 9:1-3

Proposition:  In every situation, good or bad, God has a purpose and that ultimate purpose is that He be glorified.

Transition:  Christ explains this truth to us in 3 phases, of our text. 

I.  There is an Encounter (1).

 A.  It was a Sad Encounter.

1.  He was a Man.

2.  He was a Blind Man.

3.  He was a Responsible Man.

4.  He was a Dependent Man.

5.  He was a Well-Known Man.

6.  He was an Ignored Man.

 B.  It was a Providential Encounter.

 C.  It was an Opportunistic Encounter.

 D.  It was a Bold Encounter.

II.  The Disciples have an Enquiry (2).

 A.  They Correctly Understood Suffering is the Result of Sin.

 B.  They Incorrectly Searched for the Cause of the Suffering.

1.  They wonder if the cause is the man.

2.  They wonder if the cause is the parents.

III.  Jesus Provides an Explanation (3).

 A.  The Specific Cause of a Particular Sin is not always Revealed.

 B.  The Specific Purpose of Suffering is Clearly Revealed.

"Two Persons, Two Destinies": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, September 4, 2011

“Two Persons, Two Destinies”

Psalm 1:1-6

Proposition:  Everyone belongs to one of only two classes of humanity and the destinies of those two classes differ radically.

Transition:  This morning we consider these 2 classes, character and destiny. 

I.  Let Us Consider the Righteous.

 A.  Consider the Character of the Righteous.

1.  He is a Man.

2.  He is a Man Who Does not Join with the Wicked.

     3.  He is a Man Who Loves the Word of God.

 B.  Consider the Condition of the Righteous.

     1.  He is a Tree Planted.

     2.  He Yields His Fruit.

     3.  He Does not Wither.

 C.  Consider the Destiny of the Righteous.

     1.  He Will Prosper.

     2.  He Will be in the Congregation of the Righteous.

     3.  He is Known by the Lord.

II.  Let Us Consider the Wicked.

 A.  Consider the Character of the Wicked.

     1.  Their Counsel is Depraved.

2.  They Live in Sin.

3.  The Scoff at the Things of God.

4.  They Disregard His Word.

 B.  Consider the Condition of the Wicked.

1.  They are Chaff.

2.  They are Unsettled.

 C.  Consider the Destiny of the Wicked.

1.  They will not stand at the judgment.

2.  They will be separated from the righteous.

3.  They will perish.

"The Ordinance of the Lord's Supper": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, August 28, 2011

“The Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper”

Matthew 26:26-29

Proposition:  Today we examine Matthew’s account of that first Lord’s Supper so we may better understand what it is and what it means.

Transition:  Our examination of the Lord’s Supper reviews 4 aspects of that God given meal. 

I.  Let Us Examine the Importance of the Supper.

 A.  It is Instituted by the Lord.

 B.  It is Commanded by the Lord.

II.  Let Us Examine the Implementation of the Supper.

 A.  It is Implemented at the Passover.

   1.  The Lord’s Supper is Connected to the Passover.

   2.  The Lord’s Supper is Distinct from the Passover.

 B.  It is Implemented using Two Elements.

   1.  Jesus takes the Bread.

   2.  Jesus takes the Cup.

III.  Let Us Examine Those Invited to the Supper.

 A.  They are Believers in the Lord.

 B.  They are Baptized Believers in the Lord.

 C.  They are Gathered Baptized Believers in the Lord.

IV.  Let Us Examine the Intent of the Supper.

 A.  The Supper is a Memorial.

 B.  The Supper is a Time for Thanksgiving.

 C.  The Supper is a Moment of Instruction.

 D.  The Supper is a Fellowship Meal.

 E.  The Supper is a Reminder of Unity.

 F.  The Supper is a Promise of Christ’s Return.

G.  The Supper is Assurance of Our Salvation.

"I AM": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, August 21, 2011

“I AM”

John 8:57-59

Proposition:  Jesus Christ is not simply a man but is truly God in the flesh.

Transition:  Let us consider this central and critical truth of our faith by reviewing the text in 3 steps. 

I.  See the Confusion of the Sinner. (57)

 A.  Note the Characteristics of Their Confusion.

  1.  They do not hear spiritually.

  2.  They do not see spiritually.

 B.  Note the Reasons for Their Confusion.

  1.  The sin.

  2.  They are in spiritual bondage.

  3.  They follow Satan.

II.  See the Claim of the Savior. (58)

 A.  It is a Decisive Claim.

 B.  It is a Distinguishing Claim.

 C.  It is a Divine Claim.

  1.  Christ is the Self-Existent One.

  2.  Christ is the Self-Aware One.

  3.  Christ is the Eternal One.

  4.  Christ is the Immutable One.

  5.  Christ is the Ever Present One.

  6.  Christ is the Only True God.

III.  See the Consequence of the Situation. (59)

 A.  The Sinner is Hardened.

 B.  The Savior is Triumphant.

"O Happy Day": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, August 14, 2011

O Happy Day!

John 8:52-56

Proposition:  We may share in the joy which Abraham had if we, like him, see Jesus’ Day!

Transition:  Today we ask  3 questions of our text to help us understand how we may share in Abraham’s joy. 

I.  What is Jesus’ Day?

 A.  First, It is the Day of His Humiliation.

  1.  It is the Day He Left Glory.

  2.  It is the Day He Became a Man.

  3.  It is the Day He Learned Obedience.

  4.  It is the Day He Died.

 B.  Second, It is also the Day of His

      Exaltation.

  1.  It is the Day of His Resurrection!

  2.  It is the Day of His Ascension!

  3.  It is the Day of His Seating!

  4.  It is the Day of His Return!

II.  How may We See Jesus’ Day?

 A.  We Must See the Day by Faith. 

 B.  We Must See the Day in the Word of God. 

 C.  We Must See the Day in the Works of God.

  1.  Melchizedek

  2.  Isaac’s Birth

  3.  Isaac’s Sacrifice

III.  What is Our Response to Seeing Jesus’ Day?

 A.  We Rejoice at the Thought of Seeing the Day.

 B.  We Will Be Glad When We See the Day.