"Thinking on Thanksgiving": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, November 20, 2011

“Thinking on Thanksgiving”

Ezra 3:10-13

Proposition:  On this Sunday before our national Thanksgiving holiday, we direct our attention to the subject of Thanksgiving.

Transition:  From the laying of the foundation of the 2^nd Temple, I want to share with you 3 thoughts on Thanksgiving.

I.  Think About the Object of our Thanksgiving.  (v. 11a)  

II.  Think About the Character of Thanksgiving. (v. 11)

A.  Thanksgiving includes confession.

B.  Thanksgiving includes gratitude.

C.  Thanksgiving includes Praise.

III.  Think About the Reasons for Thanksgiving.  (vv. 10-13)

A.  We Thank God Because of Who He Is. (v. 11)

  1.  Think on Some of His Attributes.

     a.  He is Omnipotent.

     b.  He is Omniscient.

     c.  He is Omnipresent.

     d.  He is Eternal.

  2.  Think on Two Specific Attributes. (v. 11)

     a.  The Goodness of God.

     b.  The Love of God.

B.  We Thank God Because of What He Has Done. (vv. 10-13)

  1.  He has Forgiven Them.

  2.  He has Delivered Them.

  3.  He has Been Faithful to Them.

  4.  He has Blessed Them.

"The Good Shepherd - Part 3": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, November 13, 2011

“The Good Shepherd – Part 3”

John 10:14-18

Proposition:  We persist in the work of missions because Christ’s work demands it.

Transition:  This morning we examine 6 aspects of this work of the Good Shepherd:  missions.

I.  Note the Reason for Missions. (v. 16a)  

A.  They are Sheep of Other Backgrounds.

B.  They are Sheep of Other Locations.

C.  They are Sheep of Other Times.

II.  Note the Foundation for Missions.  (vv. 15, 17)

III.  Note the Hope of Missions.  (v. 16a)

IV.  Note the Necessity for Missions.  (v. 16b)

V.  Note the Approach to Missions.  (v. 16c)

A.  Christ will call to them.

B.  The sheep will obey.

VI.  Note the Results of Missions.  (v. 16d)

"The Good Shepherd - Part 2": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, November 6, 2011

“The Good Shepherd – Part 2”

John 10:11-18

Proposition:  Our Good Shepherd so loves and cares for His sheep that He lays down His life for them.

Transition:  Today we examine 6 characteristics of this act based on our text.

I.  It is a Committed Act. (v. 11)  

II.  It is a Sacrificial Act. (v. 11)

 A.  A Sacrifice was needed because of sin.

 B.  A Sacrifice was needed because of wrath. 

III.  It is a Substitutionary Act. (vv. 11,15)

IV.  It is a Definitive Act. (vv. 11,15)

V.  It is a Voluntary Act. (v. 18)

VI.  It is a Commanded Act. (v. 18)

"The Good Shepherd - Part 1": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, October 30,2011

“The Good Shepherd – Part 1”

John 10:1-18

Proposition:  Jesus is our Good Shepherd.

Transition:  I give to you 2 reasons why Jesus is our Good Shepherd.

I.  He is Our Good Shepherd because of the Calling Involved. (vv. 1-5)  

 A.  It is an Explicit Calling. (3-4)

  1.  The Call is to Sheep.

  2.  The Call is to His Sheep.

  3.  The Call is a Personal Call.

 B.  It is an Effectual Calling. (3-4)

  1.  The Sheep Hear His Voice.

  2.  The Sheep Obey His Voice.

 C.  It is an Everlasting Calling. (4-5)

  1.  The Sheep Follow the Shepherd.

  2.  The Sheep Flee from Strangers.

II.  He is Our Good Shepherd because of the Character Involved.  (v. 11)

 A.  He is a Shepherd.

  1.  He Protects His Sheep.

  2.  He Provides for His Sheep.

  3.  He Prizes His Sheep.

 B.  He is the Good Shepherd.

  1.  He is the Good Shepherd: He is Perfect.

  2. He is the Good Shepherd: He is Blameless.

  3. He is the Good Shepherd: He is Praiseworthy.

  4. He is the Good Shepherd: He is Beautiful.

 C.  He is THE Good Shepherd.

  1.  He is the Supreme Shepherd.

  2.  He is the Sovereign Shepherd. 

"The Door": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, October 23, 2011

“The Door”

John 10:1-10

Proposition:  Jesus is the way into the presence of God.

Transition:  I want to share with you 4 thoughts about this door.

I.  Think About the Nature of the Door. (v. 7)  

 A.  A Door is Simple.

 B.  A Door is Required.

 C.  The Door is Singular.

 D.  The Door has Character.

 E.  The Door is Personal.

II.  Think About the Users of the Door.  (vv. 7,9)

 A.  The Door is for the Sheep. (v. 7)

 B.  The Door is for Anyone. (v. 9)

III.  Think About the Use of the Door. (v. 9)

 A.  Here are some ways NOT to use the Door.

   1.  Admire it.

   2.  Knock on it.

   3.  Proclaim it.

   4.  Guard it.

 B.  Here is how you SHOULD use the Door:  ENTER IT!

   1.  Entering a Door is a Simple Act.

   2.  Entering a Door is a Fast Act.

IV.  Think About the Privileges of the Door.  (v. 9)

 A.  They Will Be Saved.

   1.  Note the Need of this Privilege.

   2.  Note the Certainty of this Privilege.

   3.  Note our Action in this Privilege.

 B.  They Will Have Freedom.

   1.  Their Freedom is to Go into God’s Presence.

   2.  Their Freedom is to Go Out into the World.

 C.  They Will Have Nourishment.

"The Most Important Question You Will Ever Be Asked": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, October 16, 2011

“The Most Important Question You Will Ever Be Asked”

John 9:35-41

Proposition:  The most important question YOU will ever be asked is this:  “Do you believe in the Son of Man”?

Transition:  I call your attention to 4 actions relative to this question.

I.  I Want to make You Aware of the Question.  (vv. 35-37)  

 A.  It Concerns the Son of Man.

 B.  It Concerns Faith.

II.  I Want to Alert You to the Question. (v. 35)

 A.  It is a Simple Question.

 B.  It is a Personal Question.

 C.  It is an Important Question.

 D.  It is a Necessary Question.

 E.  It is a Direct Question.

 F.  It is a Demanding Question.

III.  I Want to Alarm You with the Question. (vv. 39-41)

 A.  The Question Results in Arbitration.

 B.  The Question has Wrong Answers.

   1.  Some Answer Noting Their Position.

   2.  Some Answer Noting Their Performance.

IV.  I Want You to Answer the Question. (v. 38)

 A.  You Must Believe.

 B.  You Must Believe Jesus is Lord.

 C.  Your Faith Must Result in Worship.

"Stand Your Ground": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, October 9, 2011

“Stand Your Ground”

John 9:13-34

Proposition:  We must stand on our testimony of Christ no matter what our opponents may say or do to us.

Transition:  The inquisition unfolding in our text provides 5 situations which call for us to stand firm in our testimony for Jesus.

I.  Stand for Jesus When Authorities Challenge You. (vv. 13-17)

 A.  Note the Response of the Pharisees to the Man’s Healing. (13-15a)

 B.  Note the Response of the Healed Man. (15b, 17b)

II.  Stand for Jesus When Family Deserts You.  (18-23)

 A.  The Pharisees Do Not Believe. (18-19)

 B.  The Parents Respond in Fear. (20-23)

III.  Stand for Jesus When Your Integrity is Attacked. (24-25)

 A.  The Pharisees Appeal to the Man. (24)

 B.  The Man Stands Firm. (25)

IV.  Stand for Jesus When You are Reviled. (26-33)

 A.  The Pharisees Curse Him. (28)

 B.  The Man Grows in Christ. (28, 30-33)

V.  Stand for Jesus When You are Threatened. (22, 34)