Sermon Notes and Outlines
What The New Testament Says About Grace 9-22-24 AM
I. It teaches we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8).
a. This verse shows us we are saved by grace.
i. Sadly, there are those who have and do teach that we are saved only by grace and we don’t add one bit, or whit is their word, to our salvation.
ii. This verse teaches there are two parts to salvation: grace, which is God’s part and faith, which is man’s.
b. Add Titus 2:11 and we can see that grace can save all men.
c. For grace to save us, we must receive it (2 Corinthians 6:1).
d. We receive grace when we are baptized into Christ (Titus 3:5, 7).
i. Note “saved us” and “washing of regeneration” in v. 5.
ii. Link that to “justified by” and “grace” in v. 7.
e. Paul explains to us that one is justified by grace when he/she is saved by washing of regeneration.
i. There is not one credible commentator of whom I am aware that teaches “washing of regeneration” refers to anything other than baptism.
ii. We receive grace when we are baptized in order to be saved.
iii. If it isn’t at baptism, we would be saved before baptism.
f. If this is the case, we must ask at what point prior to baptism do we receive God’s grace?
II. We are taught by grace (Titus 2:12-13).
a. This passage reveals to us that grace teaches us.
b. It teaches us both negatively and positively.
i. Negatively, it teaches us to avoid some things.
1. Ungodliness is that which keeps us from doing our duty towards God in terms of religion.
2. Worldly lusts are the avenues of temptation to which the flesh may fall.
ii. Positively it teaches us how to properly live.
1. Soberly means we treat ourselves right.
2. Righteously means we treat others right.
3. Godly means we treat God right.
c. It is amazing that when we do these things, life works out for the best.
i. This does not mean there won’t be heartache.
ii. It means we will get the best out of life living this way.
d. How does grace teach us?
i. This passage implies the life of Christ, so Jesus teaches us to live this way.
ii. Ultimately, it refers to the Bible, the word of grace (Acts 20:32).
III. We stand in grace (Romans 5:1-2).
a. We either stand in grace or out of it.
b. When we are justified by faith we have peace with God which allows us continual access to God’s grace.
i. This is similar to 1 John 1:7.
ii. Walking in the light gives us access to blood of Jesus.
iii. Staying faithful gives us access to God’s grace.
iv. We walk in the light by staying faithful and the blood of Jesus is a result of God’s grace.
c. We should be able to confidently say that we are standing in God’s grace.
d. Again, we are either in or out of it.
IV. We are to grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18).
a. God always expects us to grow (1 Peter 2:2).
b. If our child is not growing, either mentally or physically, what do we do?
i. Do we sit around hoping things will change or do we get actively involved in finding out the problem?
ii. Everyone gets involved.
iii. We go to doctors and do internet searches and everything we can to figure out the problem.
c. How many of us get upset when there is no growth spiritually in ourselves or in our loved ones?
d. There are some people that never get past a preacher or an eldership.
i. Their preacher leaves or favorite elder retires and they quit trying to grow.
ii. They have “preacheritis” or “elderitis.”
e. We must grow and realize we can and must learn from others.
f. Jesus gives us a wonderful example of growth and it is found in Luke 2:52.
i. The word favor is our Greek word “charis.”
ii. Jesus grew intellectually, physically, socially and spiritually.
iii. We are to do exactly the same thing.
g. Jesus left heaven by grace for you and me (2 Corinthians 8:9).
i. God sent Him (John 3:16) and Jesus was willing to die (John 10:18).
ii. We are in His debt and should follow His steps.
iii. He grew while here and we must as well.
h. The only way to grow, as Peter pointed out, is to take in the word.
V. We are to come before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:14-16).
a. Because of Who Jesus is, what Jesus has done and where Jesus now is, we are obligated to come before His throne in prayer.
b. This is from where we receive the grace and mercy we need throughout life.
i. Grace can be said to be getting what you don’t deserve.
ii. Mercy can be said to be not getting what you do deserve.
c. We all deserve to be lost because of our sins, but God gives mercy through the sacrifice of Jesus.
d. We can pray because of what Jesus has done for us.
VI. We can fall out of grace (Galatians 5:4).
a. Whenever we try to go our own way, or a way other than that of Jesus, we fall out of God’s grace.
b. The Galatians were turning to something else for salvation.
i. There is no other gospel (Galatians 1:6-7).
ii. When someone tries to teach another way besides the gospel way, that person is to be ignored and shunned (Galatians 1:8-9).
c. Following any other teaching will cause us to lose our souls.
VII. We can fall short of grace (Hebrews 12:15).
a. The Hebrews writer was writing to an audience made up of Hebrew Christians.
b. In this text, he was exhorting them to understand that all men are to be lived with in peace and holiness.
i. There was to be no Jewish elitism with the gospel.
ii. They were to view all men as equals and all in need of the gospel.
c. God’s grace has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11).
i. Any time we fail to be gracious to others and extend grace to others, we fall short of God’s grace.
ii. We can, and will, miss out on heaven when we fail to live with others as we should.
Lessons From A Coward 9-15-25 AM
I. Deal with past sins so they don’t come back to haunt us.
a. Josephus tells some of the background of Pilate’s rule in Judea.
i. The leaders before him had always kept the Roman soldiers out of the city because their ensigns portrayed Caesar as a god.
ii. As soon as Pilate was given the position, he marched soldiers into the city with those standards, greatly offending the Jews.
iii. This made the leaders so mad that they called for a meeting with him in Caesarea Philippi, where he had his quarters.
iv. He instructed his soldiers to surround the Jewish leaders and kill any of them who got out of line.
v. When the leaders heard this they bared their throats and dared them to do it.
vi. Pilate backed off realizing this wouldn’t sit well back in Rome.
vii. He pulled the soldiers out of Jerusalem, removing the offensive standards.
viii. Another time, he took funds from the temple treasury and used them to build an aqueduct.
ix. When there was an uprising, Pilate sent in soldiers, dressed as Jews and they murdered hundreds of Jews on his command.
b. We read in Luke 13:1-3, that Pilate had killed many Galilean Jews while they worshiped.
c. Philo, the historian wrote, “He was afraid that if a Jewish embassy were sent to Rome, they might discuss the many maladministrations of his government, his extortions, his unjust decrees, his inhuman punishments”.
d. What we see is a man paralyzed by his past sins and cannot stand up to defend an innocent man in Jesus.
e. One writer has stated, “There is nothing that so frustrates good resolutions and paralyzes noble efforts as the dead weight of past sins”.
f. We must be those who quickly repent when sins are committed.
i. Jesus taught the necessity of repentance in the very text in which Pilate’s sin against the Galilean Jews is revealed (Luke 13:3).
ii. Unrepentant sins hurt us in this life, as well as in the next.
g. How many good deeds have not been done because someone has been afraid that their past will be exposed?
h. We must obey the gospel, confess our sins to God and resolve to live for Him, no matter the cost.
i. We might be hurt in the present, but we will definitely gain in eternity.
II. Set godly goals, not earthly ones.
a. Pilate’s goal in life was to hang on to his position and gain more power.
i. Pilate, history reveals, had risen from being a soldier to power because of whom he married.
ii. Pilate didn’t want to go back to the life of a soldier, or to lose the power he had come to enjoy.
b. In one sense, this day was a great day for Pilate.
i. He made the Jews happy and kept peace with them.
ii. He also made up with an old enemy in Herod.
iii. He was able to hang on to power a few more years.
c. However, we know that, spiritually speaking, it was the worst day of his life.
i. He condemned the Son of God to death.
ii. Three times in the book of Acts, his name is tied to the crucifixion of Christ.
d. What led Pilate down the wrong road was his earthly goals.
e. There are a lot of people who profess to be Christians who have set their minds on earthly goals.
i. They will take a job strictly for the money that is offered.
ii. They will take a promotion, not concerned with any effect on their ability to attend worship.
iii. They will allow their children to miss services for athletic events.
iv. They will allow their children to be involved in events that hurt them spiritually but uplift them socially.
v. Their goal is success in this world, but not in the next.
f. What shall a man profit?
g. C.S. Lewis wrote, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in; aim at earth and you will get neither”.
h. We must be those who set spiritual goals, not earthly ones.
III. Please God no matter what.
a. Pilate didn’t want to put Jesus to death and he didn’t want to displease the Jews.
b. He couldn’t have his cake and eat it too.
c. He wanted to be neutral and stay out of it, but the Jews wouldn’t let him.
d. His decision came down to, though he didn’t realize it, pleasing God or pleasing man, and he chose to please man, as God knew he would.
e. The New Testament is clear that if we take a stand for God, it will cost us at times in this life.
i. We are going to alienate ourselves from people by our decision to put God first.
ii. We don’t do it to be mean or seek to hurt people by doing that (Romans 12:18).
iii. However, we must do it if it comes to God or man.
f. Paul had many enemies because he refused to not please God (Galatians 1:10).
g. God’s people, through the ages, are marked by their refusal to displease God in order to please man.
h. Winston Churchill, the great English statesman, wrote: “People who are unprepared to do unpopular things and defy clamor are not fit to be ministers in times of stress”.
i. His statement, though political in nature, is also true for Christians.
j. We must be like the apostles and obey God and not man.
k. It must be our habit in private as well as public to please God, so that when the difficult decisions come, we won’t be led astray.
IV. Don’t compromise our consciences, even to gain in his life.
a. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent.
i. He stood up and declared that he found him to be innocent.
ii. He should have been willing to stand for what he believed no matter what.
b. Pilate compromised his conscience, doing what was wrong to gain the favor of the Jews.
c. However, what he thought was a loophole, became a noose.
i. The Jews never liked him.
ii. Jesus lost his life.
d. How many preachers have compromised the truth because they stood to gain something?
e. How many Christians have compromised their moral because they stood to gain something?
i. It may be that the preacher doesn’t speak out about a sin because a prominent member or family member is involved in it.
ii. It may that the Christian can get something at work if he doesn’t say anything about his boss’s behavior.
f. For the most part, we know right from wrong.
g. We can’t give in to the world and win in the end.
h. Our conscience must stay pure or we will lose our souls (1 Timothy 1:19).
The Return Of Jesus 9-15-24 PM
I. Jesus will come again.
a. Some might think, you just said this.
b. I did, but we need to make sure that is what the Bible teaches.
c. John 14:1-3.
i. This statement was made to the apostles the night of Jesus’ betrayal.
ii. Jesus was giving them encouragement before He was to be taken from them.
d. Jesus plainly let them and us know that He would come again.
e. Notice Matthew 25:31.
i. Jesus said, “When the Son of Man shall come in his glory…”
ii. He was there then, so this has to mean that He is coming back at some point in His glory.
II. Jesus will return as He went.
a. Jesus returned to heaven in a cloud (Acts 1:9).
b. The apostles were amazed and stood looking up at that cloud.
i. While they did this, two angels appeared to them.
ii. Acts 1:11.
c. Notice what Paul was inspired to write (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
d. John was inspired to write…(Revelation 1:7).
III. The time of Jesus’s return has not been revealed.
a. Matthew 24:36 is very plain.
i. The context of the verse shows us that the “day and hour” that is not known by man is the return of Jesus.
ii. Matthew 24:42, 44.
iii. Matthew 25:13.
b. Sadly, many have not taken these passages at their word and made bold predictions about the second coming of Jesus.
i. Read from sheets.
ii. There are some New Testament passages that seem to teach an imminent return of Jesus (James 5:8; Philippians 4:5 for example).
iii. However, those must be understood with Matthew 24:36 in mind.
c. We do know that there was confusion in the early church about the return of Jesus.
i. Near the end of each chapter of 1 Thessalonians is a reminder of the return of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:16; 5:23).
ii. This apparently confused many of those brethren, so Paul was inspired to write 2 Thessalonians, urging them not to be shaken about the return of Jesus (2 Thessalonians 2:2).
iii. Paul let them know that certain things would occur before the Lord’s return (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12).
d. What Paul and Jesus taught was to be ready for His return (Matthew 24:44).
IV. The return of Jesus will result in the physical world being totally destroyed.
a. 2 Peter 3:10.
i. Some say that this simply means a global wildfire cleansing the earth and allowing a renovation of it to take place.
ii. Notice the wording of 2 Peter 3:10-11.
1. Shall pass away – means to perish or die.
2. Shall melt and shall be dissolved are the same Greek word – means to destroy.
3. Shall be burned up – means to consume with fire.
b. Peter repeated these phrases in verse 12.
c. Jesus said “heaven and earth shall pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
V. The return of Jesus will bring about the raising of the dead.
a. Jesus made this point very simply.
b. John 5:28-29.
VI. The return of Jesus will cause those living to be changed.
a. The dead will be raised and the living will be changed.
b. Our mortal bodies will put on immortality is the way Paul was inspired to write it.
i. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
ii. The reason is that flesh and blood cannot inherit heaven (1 Corinthians 15:50).
VII. The return of Jesus will bring about judgment for all men.
a. Matthew 25:31-33.
b. Acts 17:30-31.
VIII. The return of Jesus will be sudden and unexpected.
a. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3.
b. Christians will not be caught unaware (1 Thessalonians 5:4).
From an article by Hugh Fulford
The Establishment Of God’s Kingdom 9-9-24 AM
I. A king has a dream.
a. In Daniel 2, we have a record of King Nebuchadnezzar waking up from a dream that was very startling and real to him.
i. He could not recall the details of the dream.
ii. He called in all his advisors and demanded they tell him the dream and the interpretation (Dan. 2:10).
b. Thankfully, God gave the dream and its interpretation to Daniel (Dan. 2:19), and he came to the king with the information (Dan. 2:28).
c. Daniel told him what the dream was (Dan. 2:31-35) and then told him what the dream meant (Dan. 2:37-43).
d. We know the first kingdom is Babylon because inspiration revealed this to Daniel and he revealed it to the king.
e. The other three are easily identified through history.
i. Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian Empire in 539 BC.
ii. The Medo-Persian Empire was conquered by Greeks, led by Alexander the Great in 330 BC.
iii. The Roman Empire defeated the Greeks in 63 BC and this empire ruled until about 476 AD.
f. Now notice what Daniel said would happen during the days of the 4th great kingdom (Dan. 2:44).
i. God promised to establish His kingdom during the days of the
Roman Empire.
ii. If God is true to His word, we can look between 63 BC and 476 AD for its establishment.
II. The kingdom is at hand.
a. When John began to prepare the way for the Messiah, his message was ...(Matthew 3:1-2).
i. Notice Luke 3:1-3.
ii. Daniel had prophesied that the kingdom would be established during the days of the Roman Empire.
iii. Luke identifies the Roman emperor who was reigning when John preached this message.
b. Jesus preached the same message (Matthew 4:17).
c. Jesus instructed His disciples to preach the same message (Matthew 10:7).
d. They all preached that the kingdom was near.
e. If we truly respect the truthfulness of God’s word, how can anyone believe all of these people, including Jesus were wrong?
i. Premillenialism teaches that Jesus planned to establish His kingdom on earth and reign over it from a literal throne in Jerusalem but the Jews rejected Jesus.
ii. The truth is, a large number of Jews tried to force Jesus to become an earthy king, which He refused (John 6:15).
iii. The reason for His refusal is that His kingdom was never intended to be a worldly kingdom (John 18:36).
III. The kingdom was still not here before the resurrection.
a. Jesus had taught His disciples to pray for the kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10).
b. Before His entrance into Jerusalem it had not come (Luke 19:11).
c. It was in the future the night before the death of Jesus (Luke 22:18).
d. It had not come while Jesus was on the cross (Luke 23:42-43).
e. There were faithful people waiting for the kingdom to come when Jesus died (Mark 15:43).
f. It was still in the future at His ascension (Acts 1:6).
IV. Jesus gave some signs for when the kingdom could be realized.
a. Luke 17:20-21.
i. The kingdom, when it came would not be realized with the naked eye, but it could be realized or discerned.
ii. The kingdom is within you tells us that it is not a physical kingdom and never intended to be such.
iii. Since it was not to be seen with the eye, it had to be of a spiritual nature.
b. Mark 9:1.
i. Jesus plainly stated the kingdom would come during the lifetime of some of those present at that time.
ii. He also stated it would come with power.
iii. Because of that, we need to look to find the establishment of the Lord’s coming prior to the death of those present and when power was demonstrated.
c. There are only three possibilities when considering this verse:
i. Christ was wrong about the promise, thus erring which would make Him not deity.
ii. Jesus was right about the promise but some members of that generation are still alive today.
iii. Jesus was right about the promise and the kingdom came with power before the death of all that generation.
d. Luke 24:47-49.
i. The apostles were to stay in Jerusalem until clothed with power from heaven, at which time they could then preach repentance and remission of sins in Jesus name.
ii. If we can identify when this happened, we can see when the kingdom was established.
e. Acts 1:5-8.
i. Jesus promised the apostles they would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit soon.
ii. They would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.
f. If you tie Mark 9:1 to Acts 1:5-8 and Luke 24:47-49 we learn the kingdom was to come when the apostles received power with which the Holy Spirit would clothe them.
V. God was true to His word.
a. He had promised to set up the kingdom after the ascension of Jesus (Daniel 7:13-14).
i. We get a view of the Lord’s ascension (Acts 1:9-11).
ii. We even get a prophetic view of His return to heaven (Psalms 24:7-10).
iii. Daniel 7 plainly tells us Jesus received the kingdom after His ascension into heaven, which is another key.
b. The Holy Spirit gave power to the apostles on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4; 29-36).
i. 1 Corinthians 4:20 - this verse tells us that the kingdom of God does not rest on words only but also miraculous power.
ii. The kingdom came in close connection with supernatural demonstrations, proving to those who saw them, and we who read of them, that the kingdom is now with men.
c. Those who believed, repented and were baptized were added by the Lord to His church for the first time on Pentecost.
i. Acts 2:41, 47.
ii. Jesus used the word “church” and “kingdom” interchangeably (Matthew 16:18-19).
iii. When Christ built His church, He established His kingdom.
d. Prior to Acts 2, the kingdom was still future; after Acts 2 it is spoken of as being present (Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 1:6, 9).
We Are All Builders 9-1-24 AM
I. The houses (Matt. 7:24, 26).
a. Jesus tells of two different builders who were each building themselves a house.
b. We have to remember the word “therefore.”
i. Jesus was been talking about entering the kingdom of heaven.
ii. We have to be on the right path that leads to the right place, heaven.
iii. We have to be producing the right fruit in order to get to heaven.
iv. We have to be doers of the word in order to produce the right fruit.
c. So, because of all these things, we need to understand we are all building something in this life.
d. The thing we are building is a life, which Jesus represents by a house.
e. We talk to young couples about building a life together.
i. This is a true idea.
ii. When man and woman join one another to become husband and wife, those two build a life together.
f. However, we are all building our own lives as well, spiritually speaking.
g. We are all building it on some kind of foundation.
i. This foundation is what we establish as being important in our lives.
ii. It is some doctrine or philosophy of life that we deem important enough to use it expand our knowledge and guide our lives.
h. We cannot get away from the fact that we are all builders.
i. Each of us that is of a sound mind is building a life on some tenet or doctrine that we hold dear.
II. The storms (Matt. 7:25, 27).
a. Jesus said that storms hit both of these houses.
b. These storms may be literal, physical storms.
i. Back in 2002, when the tornadoes came through on Nov. 10th, one of them hit our house behind the church building at West Walker.
ii. It did a great amount of damage and we lost a lot but not everything.
iii. Some of you may have been through that or we all know people who have lost everything due to a fire.
iv. There are all types of storms that could be mentioned.
v. How did you react?
vi. How will we react if one comes in the future?
vii. We could fall apart, blame God for losing everything, and ultimately lose our faith.
viii. Or, we could stand with God and lean on Him and show others our dependence upon God in such a time as that.
c. The storms may be tragedies or difficulties of life.
i. How will we react to the death of a spouse, or a child?
ii. How will we react to receiving bad health news?
iii. How will we react if we lose our jobs?
iv. How will we react if our spouse commits adultery?
v. All of these, and many more, storms can, and some will, hit us in life.
vi. How we react in those moments will show to others the foundation on which we’ve built our lives.
d. There is one more storm that all will face, and I believe that Jesus is referring to this storm over all others.
e. This is the storm of the judgment (Heb. 9:27).
i. Jesus has said His followers can expect persecution (Matt. 5:10-12).
ii. He has said His way is hard and the other way is easy (Matt. 7:13-14).
iii. What makes choosing persecution and the hard way worth all of that is the reward of heaven.
f. There is a day of judgment coming (2 Cor. 5:10).
i. Those who have allowed their righteousness to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees will survive the storm of judgment.
ii. It is not being successful in this life that shows wisdom.
iii. We know the foolish person, spiritually speaking, is often rich, rewarded with power, and secure in this life.
iv. Those riches, that power, and that security in this life will provide no protection or strength when the storm of judgment comes.
g. Paul made the teaching of the judgment and God’s wrath a main point.
i. 1 Th. 1:10.
ii. It was a main point in his sermon on Mars Hill (Acts 17:30-31).
iii. To be saved from that wrath, one has to obey Jesus (Rom. 5:9).
h. The storms of life and judgment are all coming for each of us.
i. Will we stand or collapse when they arrive?
j. That will be determined by our foundation which leads us to the last point.
III. The foundations.
a. In these verses, there are two types of builders, various types of storms, and two foundation on which we build our lives.
b. Jesus said that one who hears and does the sayings of His has built his life on a foundation of rock.
c. The one who hears those same sayings but does not do them has built his life on sand.
d. Think about the setting at the time of Jesus teaching this sermon.
i. They are on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
ii. The plain around the Sea was sandy several feet deep.
iii. During the dry seasons, the sand would harden and look like it was strong enough to build upon.
iv. However, when the rains came and the storms blew down the valley, anything built on that soil would collapse.
v. If one were to build there, he would have to dig down up to 10 feet to get to the bedrock in order to ensure the strength of the house.
e. It would not have been easy work to get down that deep.
i. It was hard work.
ii. But, it would have been worth it if that is where you wanted a house.
f. Spiritually speaking, if you wanted an easy life that would provide ease in building, don’t do what Jesus said.
g. However, if heaven is our goal, we have to be willing to do the hard work to build on the bedrock of Christ.
h. What must be heard and acted upon are the sayings of Jesus.
i. In this text, this refers to this sermon.
ii. For us, it means we read, study, and follow the New Testament.
i. Hearing these sayings is not enough to get through the storms.
i. James said we are fooling ourselves if this is all we do (Jam. 1:22-24).
ii. If this is all we do, there is going to be a terrible collapse of our lives at some point, whether that be in this life or at the judgment.
j. If we hear and do these things, despite the severity of storms or facing judgment, our lives will be stable.
i. All through this sermon, Jesus has taught us how to withstand storms.
ii. If our treasure is in heaven, not on earth, we can face losing whatever we have in this life.
iii. If our focus is on God and His kingdom, we won’t be worried by the difficulties of life.
iv. By following the teachings of Jesus, no matter what comes our way, we will be stable and our righteousness will exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.
k. We have to make sure we are hearing the truth but also implementing it.
i. As we mentioned, for them listening to Jesus, it was to put into practice those things Jesus was teaching them.
ii. If they did that, they would enter the kingdom of heaven.
l. For us, we need to be studying God’s word.
i. We can’t know the sayings of Jesus unless we are reading and learning the sayings of Jesus.
ii. One theologian wrote that the church’s greatest problems were biblical illiteracy and theological amnesia.
iii. We don’t read and what we have read, we’ve forgotten.
iv. That’s not true with all of us but it is true with many of us.
m. Long ago God said that His people were destroyed for a lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6).
n. We learn all types of things for work and about our hobbies, but are we learning about the gospel that is God’s only power to save?
(Some material came from a sermon by Mark Copeland as well as “The Sermon On The Mount” by Dr. Ed Gallagher)
Problems With The Rapture 8-25-24 PM
I. The doctrine described.
a. Part of the total doctrine of premillennialism is the belief that Jesus will, within just a short time period, return to earth in a silent, invisible way to “rapture” the living and dead saints.
i. Then, a seven-year tribulation period will begin that will end in the battle of Armageddon.
ii. Once the Lord wins this battle, His thousand-year reign in Jerusalem on the throne of David will begin.
b. What is believed to take place at the rapture will be the instant vanishing of all living Christians.
i. Cars, planes, trains, boats, all will be unmanned instantly if they were being controlled by Christians.
ii. There will be mass chaos and destruction because of this.
c. All of these people, along with the righteous dead, will have been snatched up instantly, quietly, and invisibly.
II. Terms defined.
a. The word “rapture” is not found anywhere in the New Testament.
b. It is derived from a Latin word which means “to seize or snatch”.
c. Though nowhere used in the New Testament, the idea is believed to be found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
i. This passage is a comfort-bringing passage about the second coming of the Christ.
ii. In verse 17, Paul, by inspiration, declares that those saints who are living when the Lord returns will be caught up in the clouds to meet Jesus.
III. The doctrine destroyed.
a. There are numerous reasons why this doctrine is false.
b. One is that 1 Thessalonians 4:13f does not address non-Christians at all.
i. There was a problem in Thessalonica about what happens to Christians who die before the Lord’s return.
ii. Apparently some believed that those who died before that event had nothing to look forward to at death, much like atheists think today.
iii. Paul, by inspiration, addressed that false idea by giving hope that when the Lord returns, those that are dead in Christ will be raised and those who are alive will be called to the clouds to meet them.
iv. Nowhere in the passage does Paul address the unrighteous dead or living.
c. Another reason is that when Jesus returns it will be visible.
i. When Jesus comes back, the whole world and universe will see Him, not just a few.
ii. Matthew 24:15-22 tells of the destruction of Jerusalem and that some would say Lo here or lo there is the Christ, but they were not to be believed because of what is recorded in verse 27.
iii. Acts 1:11 says they beheld Jesus leave and that He would return in the same way.
iv. 1 John 2:28 – appear means to reveal or show oneself.
v. Hebrews 9:28 – shall appear means to become visible.
vi. The doctrine of the rapture has Jesus not appearing until His 3rd coming.
d. Another reason is that when Jesus returns it will be audible.
i. 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
ii. 2 Peter 3:10.
e. A final reason is that both the righteous and the wicked will be resurrected when the Lord returns.
i. Acts 24:15 – one resurrection.
ii. John 5:28-29 – the resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous will be at the same hour, and both the good and the bad will be rewarded at the time of the Lord’s return (Matthew 25:31ff; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
(The outline of the sermon came from an article by Wayne Jackson which can be found on Christiancourier.com)
Talkers Or Walkers? 8-25-24 AM
I. Jesus makes a surprising remark (Matt. 7:21).
a. Jesus states that not everyone that confesses Him as Lord will be saved.
i. We know there are many who state that all you have to do is believe.
ii. The New Testament teaches of unsaved believers:
1. James 2:19.
2. John 12:42-43.
b. This means there are those who believe and even state that Jesus is Lord, but are not going to heaven.
c. This is what it means by entering the kingdom of heaven.
d. The whole purpose of this sermon was to get His hearers to be ready for the coming kingdom, which we have also called the church.
i. We call it that because Jesus used the two terms in another passage.
ii. Matt. 16:18-19.
e. However, that is not how Jesus is using it in this passage.
i. The reason I say that is because of what Jesus says in the next verse.
ii. There He stated, “In that day…”
f. We need to understand this phrase that Jesus uses.
i. The kingdom is spiritual in nature (John 18:36).
ii. It began on Pentecost – up until then it was always spoken of in the future but from that point on it was spoken of in the past tense.
iii. There is a present tense in which it is used.
1. This is in reference to the church.
2. Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:9.
iv. There is also a future tense in which it is used.
1. This is in reference to heaven.
2. This is how Jesus us here using the phrase because He will say “In that day…”
3. Paul spoke in similar language (2 Tim. 1:12, 18; 4:8).
g. Jesus is concluding the sermon.
h. He has warned them to be on the right way and to produce the right fruit.
i. The purpose of doing those things is to get to the right place – heaven.
j. Jesus lets them know that there is more to getting to that right place than just acknowledging Him as Lord.
k. Those who will enter the kingdom are those keep on doing the will of God.
i. They have to walk the walk continually.
ii. James said we must be doers of the word (Jam. 1:22-25).
l. What is God’s will?
i. Jesus has been laying that out all through the sermon.
ii. We have to be the right type of person.
iii. We have to have the proper attitude toward God’s word.
iv. We have worship in the right manner.
v. We have to treat our brethren in the right manner.
vi. We have to treat our fellow man in the right manner.
m. We have to have our righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.
n. We can’t be going around talking a big game.
o. We have to be doing the will of God.
II. A stunned reaction (Matt. 7:22).
a. Remember that Jesus has already said many are going to be lost because many are on the broad way.
b. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that there will be many who get surprised on that day.
c. The reason they will be stunned is two-fold.
d. The first reason is stated in verse 21 – they believed in Jesus as Lord.
e. The second reason is stated here – we did these things in your name.
i. In your name carries the idea of by your authority.
ii. They claimed that the things they did were by the authority of Jesus.
f. They felt they had been empowered to do those things by Jesus.
g. This would have been the Pharisees and scribes at that time.
i. They felt that if they just did the things God said do, with no feeling or love for God, they could earn their way to heaven.
ii. They felt they had God in their debt because they did certain things God had said to do.
iii. The prayer of the Pharisee in the parable found in Luke 18:9-14 reveals this was their thinking.
h. God will never be indebted to us and owe us salvation because of our efforts.
i. Salvation is by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9).
ii. But notice the next verse – there are works that we are to be doing.
iii. Those works are done because we are indebted to God for pouring out His grace on us, not to put God in our debt.
i. Legalism will never save man.
i. At the end of the day, we will always be unworthy (Lu. 17:10).
ii. There are not enough good deeds we can do to cause God to be in our debt.
j. On that great day, there will be those who will be stunned.
i. They will have believed they were in the kingdom.
ii. They will have believed they were doing things by the authority of Jesus.
iii. The truth is, people do the right things for the wrong reasons all the time.
iv. Paul spoke about this concerning some who preached Jesus (Php. 1:15-16).
k. We need to make sure that we will not be stunned on that great day.
III. A scary reality (Matt. 7:23).
a. There are some statements that strike fear in the heart.
b. There are things that can be said that we never want to hear.
c. Of all the statements that could be said to us, this statement from Jesus ought to be the one we avoid at all costs.
d. For those who claim Jesus as Lord and did things by what they believed was His authority but were just talkers, the reality of the words “I never knew you” should strike fear at the deepest level.
e. John 17:3.
i. Jesus says knowing Him leads to eternal life.
ii. 1 John 2:3 tells us how we know Him.
f. We have to be walkers not just talkers.
g. We have to be those who live for Jesus.
h. Otherwise, the scariest words that could ever be said to us will be our reality.
i. To have to depart from Jesus is to be turned away eternally from His presence (2 Th. 1:9-10).
j. All the time spent doing what we thought was God’s will was really working iniquity.
i. Newer translations have “you who practice lawlessness.”
ii. All the things we thought were done by God’s authority, were not.
iii. Either because our hearts were not right doing them or because we did things we were not authorized to do.
k. This is not what we want to hear on the Day of Judgment.
l. It is truly a scary reality for many because so many, even those who have obeyed the gospel, are doing what they think is right or pleasing but are fooling themselves.
The Day Of The Lord 8-18-24 PM
I. Peter tells us of its destructive nature (2 Peter 3:10).
A. This great day will come upon us without notice and destroy everything in our existence.
B. Notice that the heavens will pass away.
1. The heavens refers to the atmosphere and universe.
2. The passing of it will be extremely loud.
C. The elements shall melt with fervent heat.
1. Elements refers to the basic particles of matter that make up all the larger things of life.
2. Fire will be used to destroy all things.
D. This fire will destroy the earth and all things on it.
1. There have been terrible fires that destroyed large parts of great cities (Chicago, Rome).
2. There was some things left in each of these.
3. Everything that man has built, created, placed before God is going to be destroyed.
E. We might ask how God is going to do this.
1. I have no earthly idea.
2. Guy N. Woods wrote, “The manner in which the Lord will accomplish this is not stated, and it is idle to speculate.”
3. We really have no idea.
4. However, if He can create the earth, He can destroy it as well.
F. When the Lord returns it will in no way be secretive.
1. There will be a great noise.
2. There will be complete destruction.
II. Peter tells us to live a dedicated life in view of His return (2 Peter 3:11).
A. Peter asks a tremendous question: How should you live in view of the return of Jesus?
B. What manner of person should you be?
1. One who is caught up in lies of false teachers?
2. One who gives in to the sins of the world?
C. It is interesting to note that manner of persons could also be translated “of what country.”
1. We must remember our citizenship is in heaven.
2. They needed to remember they were pilgrims from another country.
D. For a faithful Christtian this is an easy question to answer.
E. He tells us to live holy lives.
1. Peter has already reminded them to be holy as God is holy in the previous letter (1 Peter 1:15-16).
2. He’s already revealed to them how live that holy life in the entirety of the first letter.
3. Remember he started out this chapter to keep in memory what has been taught to them.
F. Because the Lord is returning we should be godly.
1. We have the responsibility to be like God as much as we can.
2. We need to love the things He loves and hate the things He hates.
III. Peter tells us to desire the Lord’s return (2 Peter 3:12).
A. Notice that he wrote looking for and hasting.
1. The ASV says earnestly desiring this day.
2. John prayed Even so come Lord Jesus.
B. Because of all the things we have to put up with in this life, we should have a great desire for the Lord’s return.
C. Looking for carries the idea of looking forward to His return.
D. Hasting means having a deep longing for something, in this case, the return of Jesus.
E. Do we want the Lord to come in our lifetime?
1. Is it something we want more than anything?
2. Most of us probably want Him and death to stay away as long as possible.
3. However, the opposite ought to be the case.
F. In view of the Lord’s return we ought to greatly desire it and long for it.
I. Peter tells us of a new dwelling place (2 Peter 3:13).
A. God that cannot lie promised us heaven.
B. A new heavens and a new earth is a metaphor for the dwelling place for the righteous when this world is destroyed.
C. The word new indicates something that is fresh in place of something that is worn out.
D. This will be the place in which the righteous dwell.
1. Righteousness is a quality of God and His people.
2. Therefore, this has to refer to heaven.
E. We don’t know where it will be located, its nature or characteristics.
F. All we know is that God promised it and He does not lie.
G. All we do know is that it will not be this earth because it is going to be destroyed.
Fruit Inspection 8-18-24 AM
I. The warning (Matt. 7:15).
a. The word for beware comes from a means to guard oneself.
i. It is the same word that is translated “take heed” in Matt. 6:1.
ii. It is a word of warning to be watchful and aware.
b. We have to be aware of the fact that there are and will be false teachers.
i. Paul warned the elders of the Ephesian congregation about this (Ac. 20:28-31).
ii. Peter warned his readers about them (2 Pe. 2:1-3).
iii. Jude warned of them already being on the scene (Jude 1:3-4).
iv. John warned his readers to test what they heard (1 John 4:1).
c. The need for being on guard is because of the way in which the false prophets will come.
d. They will look like they are sheep but they are not.
i. Listen to how Paul was inspired to describe them.
ii. 2 Cor. 11:13-15.
e. At that time, they looked like scribes and Pharisees, who looked like everyone else.
f. There are false prophets today.
i. They look and sound good.
ii. They don’t walk in with a trumpet and begin shouting that they are false teachers.
g. There are those who teach that you can get to Jesus by choosing your own path– this is pluralism.
h. There are those that teach God is going to save everyone – universalism.
i. There are those that teach you have to do certain things and if you do them you will be saved – this is legalism.
j. There are those right now who are teaching that you have to be a good American – this is Christian nationalism.
k. There are those that teach a prosperity gospel.
l. One thing we need to keep in mind is that not everyone that is teaching error, or who hold wrong views, are false prophets.
i. Sometimes people just don’t know better.
ii. Apollos would fall into this category (Acts 18:24-28).
iii. We need to be those who know the difference between a false teacher and someone who doesn’t know better.
m. This naturally takes us to the next point Jesus made.
II. Inspect the fruit (Matt. 7:16-18, 20).
a. Twice Jesus says you will know a false teacher by his fruit.
b. I am not a tree expert at all.
c. However, if there is fruit on the tree I can tell you what it is.
d. This is how Jesus says to distinguish between a false teacher and teacher of truth.
e. We will know if someone is a true or false teacher by what they produce.
f. This will be by their words as well as their actions.
i. At some point, whatever teaching that is contrary to God’s word will be spoken by them.
ii. It is going to come out.
iii. Jesus dealt with this when talking with those that questioned His being from God or Satan because of His ability to cast out demons (Matt. 12:31-37).
iv. The thing is, if we listen to what people say, they will tell us who they really are.
v. This is true in virtually every area of life.
vi. It is also true when it comes to false teachers peddling some false doctrine.
g. To tell their fruit by their words requires knowledge of God’s word on our part.
i. When John told them to try the spirits, they were to test what was said against God’s word.
ii. Paul was inspired to write “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good (1 Th. 5:21).
h. We will also be able to inspect their methods.
i. Oftentimes, as Peter points out, they work in secret (2 Pe. 2:1).
1. They should be open to all.
2. If someone tries to hide everything, it usually means they have something to hide.
ii. They will often appeal to coveteousness (2 Pe. 2:3).
1. This is the prosperity gospel.
2. This is not how Jesus or the apostles did it (Matt. 10:22; Lu. 9:57-58; 2 Tim. 3:12).
iii. They will often use deceptive words (2 Tim. 3:13).
1. They twist the scriptures as Peter said false teacher were doing in his day (2 Pe. 3:15-16).
2. If you are hearing something new, chances are it is false.
i. We will also be able to inspect their actions.
i. Oftentimes, those with false doctrinal stances end up in sinful situations.
ii. When doctrine leaves, morals tend to follow.
iii. They will tolerate sins in the lives of others, such as family members.
j. The idea of good trees and bad trees needs to be understood.
i. This is not teaching that one cannot change.
ii. There have been plenty of people who once taught false doctrine who now teach the truth.
iii. There are also those who once taught truth who now teach error.
iv. When we look at the passage in Matthew 12, Jesus made it clear that truth and error both come from the heart.
v. If one changes his heart through the gospel or hardens his heart in error, that person can and will change.
k. Jesus lets us know that, as long as your heart stays the way it, good won’t come from bad and bad won’t come from good.
III. The result of false teaching (Matt. 7:19).
a. If one refuses to change from a bad tree to a good one, destruction awaits.
b. The truth is, all of us are to be good fruit producers.
i. Jesus mentioned this when He made the “I am the vine” statement.
ii. If we don’t produce fruit, good fruit to be exact, we will be cut off (John 15:1-6).
c. Paul wrote about the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).
i. This is produced in the lives of those who are following Christ.
ii. If it is not being produced, then we are going to be cut off.
d. If we are producing bad fruit, the end that awaits is destruction.
i. There is nothing good that comes from this life.
ii. It is a life spent in leading others from God.
e. When Jesus says cast into the fire, He was speaking about hell.
f. The profit of false teaching is only in this life.
g. The reaping of the false teaching is an eternal reaping.
A Choice To Be Made 8-11-24 AM
A CHOICE TO BE MADE
(Matthew 7:13-14)
I. The declaration.
a. Enter by the strait gate.
b. This is not an invitation in the sense that Jesus is saying, Hey come on in.
c. This is a declarative statement and it implies that this is the only gate for good.
d. Throughout the sermon, Jesus has been letting people know of His power.
i. You have heard that it has been said. . ., but I say unto you.
ii. Jesus was making demands and stating facts.
iii. This is why when the sermon ended the people were astonished (Matt. 7:28-29).
e. Jesus is saying, “If you want in this kingdom, you have to come in through this gate.”
f. This also indicates the exclusive nature of the kingdom – there is only one kingdom and only one gate by which one can enter the kingdom.
g. Jesus is not making a polite suggestion here.
h. This is a declarative statement that is a command.
i. Jesus is showing His power and authority.
ii. At best, the Pharisees could make suggestions because they did not even agree on everything among themselves.
iii. Jesus had then, and still does now, the authority to make demands of us, and any who would enter the kingdom of heaven.
i. The people of that day were presented with choices in certain ways: Pharisee, Sadducee, Essene, Herodian, Zealot.
i. All were presented as viable options for having a relationship with God.
ii. All were thought to be different ways of getting to the same destination.
j. This idea is alive and well in today’s world.
i. All the denominations and religions of the world present themselves as different ways of having a relationship with God.
ii. All the denominations present themselves as viable options of the overall idea of Christianity that gets one to God.
k. There have been different phrases to express this idea.
i. We are all sailors on the same ship; we just wear different uniforms.
ii. Sayings like this are supposed to show how all the various denominations are all connected to God and lead to heaven.
l. That is not at all what Jesus is stating.
m. There is only one kingdom, the church which Jesus built and purchased (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28) and there is only one entryway into that one church.
II. The description.
a. Jesus then describes the two gates through which people travel spiritually in this life.
i. There is a wide gate that leads to a broad way on which many are traveling.
ii. There is a strait gate that leads to a narrow way on which few are traveling.
b. Throughout this entire sermon, Jesus has been presenting a choice that people would need to make.
c. This choice is laid out in Matt. 5:20 – be like the scribes and Pharisees or be better.
i. Everything that Jesus has been teaching is aimed at getting people to understand the choice they need to make for their salvation.
ii. In essence, Jesus has been presenting the Pharisaical way as a broad, easy way and His way as a strait, difficult way.
d. Jesus presents the broad way and wide gate as having ease of entry.
i. The Pharisees way of life was an easy way.
ii. It was all about self.
iii. Whatever they did or believed was designed to make their lives easier.
iv. It took little effort to be a Pharisee and none that was hard.
v. They required little of godliness or righteousness.
vi. The word for “broad” means “spacious” – you can carry whatever baggage you want on this way.
e. The same holds true today.
i. There is little required of people in most religious efforts.
ii. What is required of them is still easy to accomplish and requires little to no sacrifice on their part.
iii. What is easier than once saved always saved?
iv. What is easier than a direct operation of the Holy Spirit?
v. What is easier than being saved only by God’s grace?
vi. There is little to no change required or sacrifice demanded in today’s worldly brand of Christianity.
f. Some in the Lord’s church act like this as well.
i. Little more effort than attending a few services is given by many.
ii. Well, I’ve been baptized and I am a fairly moral person so I’m not on the broad path is the idea of a lot of us.
g. Jesus says His gate is strait and His way is narrow.
i. The word “strait” is translated “narrow” in newer translations and that is the meaning of the word.
ii. It indicates a difficulty in getting in through the gate – not everything fits through this gate – we have to get rid of some baggage.
iii. The word “narrow” is translated “difficult” in newer translations and as “trouble,” “afflicted,” and “tribulation” in other verses.
iv. It literally means “press hard upon” according to Thayer’s.
v. It is a compressed, tight, restrictive way.
h. This sounds like it is too hard to travel through this gate and on this way.
i. It is a life of sacrifice.
ii. It is a life of persecution as Jesus has already pointed out in the beatitudes.
iii. It is a life of understanding God’s word.
iv. It is a life of being spiritually minded and not worldly minded.
v. It is a life of self-examination and service to others.
vi. It is a life of treating others properly no matter how they treat you.
i. There is plenty of help going this way though.
i. There is Jesus waiting to help us (Matt. 11:28-30).
ii. There is the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3).
iii. There is the Holy Spirit working on our behalf (Rom. 8:26).
iv. There is the help of brethren (2 Cor. 1:4; Gal. 6:2).
v. There is a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on (Heb. 12:1-2).
j. It may be that you think the broad way still sounds better because it requires less of us.
k. This leads us to the last point that Jesus makes.
III. The destination.
a. When I was twelve, a song by Talking Heads became well known entitled “Road To Nowhere.”
b. These two roads, or ways, both lead to somewhere – destruction or life.
c. The path that many people are on leads to destruction.
i. Jesus does not mean that is what happens in this life – it may, but that is not what He means.
ii. Psalm 73 is about the psalmist looking around and seeing those on the broad way of that time prospering, but he concludes that God is going to take care of things later.
iii. The destruction about which Jesus is speaking is eternal punishment.
iv. Thayer’s says the word is a reference to “the destruction which consists in the loss of eternal life, eternal misery, perdition, the lot of those excluded from the kingdom of God.”
v. In another word, destruction means hell.
d. Again, many are headed that way.
i. There is not a specific number as some claim.
ii. This is not even the main point of what Jesus is saying here.
iii. Jesus is saying that His disciples can’t follow the crowd.
iv. The crowd chooses easy over difficult.
v. I believe this is why there are fewer professional athletes and fewer great musicians.
vi. The path to places of stardom in sports, medicine, music, and things like that are very difficult.
vii. It takes great sacrifice to achieve that type greatness.
viii. Most people don’t want to make those sacrifices.
ix. The same is true spiritually.
x. Hell will be so full because so many didn’t want to give up selfishness and ease for self-sacrifice and difficulty.
e. When Jesus says destruction, we need to understand what He means.
i. Hell will last as long as heaven will last (Matt. 25:46) – everlasting and eternal are the exact same Greek words.
ii. It is a place of agony (M. 9:44, 46, 48).
iii. It is a place of eternal separation from God (2 Th. 1:9).
iv. It is a place of torment (Re. 20:14-15).
f. The path that few choose is the one that leads to life.
i. Jesus is, of course, speaking about eternal life with God.
ii. Jesus is speaking about heaven.
iii.
g. Sadly, few choose this path.
i. Again, Jesus is not trying to give a number.
ii. He is saying that fewer will choose this path.
iii. The number of the saved will be less than the number of the lost.
h. This life is hard to comprehend because of the splendor that is there.
i. It is a place with plenty of room (John 14:2-3).
ii. It is a place of rest (Rev. 14:13).
iii. It is a place of no more suffering or death (Rev. 21:4).
i. Our human minds can’t comprehend the splendor of heaven and our human languages fail to adequately describe it.
j. These are the only two destinations.
k. Once you arrive in either of them, there is no leaving (Lu. 16:26).
i. You wouldn’t want to leave heaven if you could.
ii. You can’t leave hell if you would.