Flesh It Out (11/28/22)

 

"The Backdrop of Christmas" (Mt. 1:18-2:23)

• The backdrop of willingness (to obey the revealed will of God in spite of fear or hesitation) (1:18-25).  God scripts things differently!
• The backdrop of wickedness (2:1-8, 13-23).  Herod -- a manipulator and murderer!  The Light of Christmas (star, Child) is in stark contrast against the darkness of personal and political gain.
• The backdrop of worship (2:1-2, 9-12).  The magi didn't allow themselves to stop short at wonder, curiosity or fascination.  They made the arduous journey prepared to worship.

Flesh It Out (09/26/22)

 Isaiah chapter 12 has two divisions.

1. "on that day" (12:1-3) > emphasis on celebration > knowing your testimony.  Notice the pronouns:  "I", "me", "my".
2. "in that day" (12:4-6) > emphasis on evangelism > sharing your testimony.  Notice the audience:  "among the peoples" (Gentiles) (12:4); "throughout the earth" (12:5)

Flesh It Out (09/12/22)

 

"Fresh Wickedness In The Well"

Jeremiah 6:7

• The well didn't just appear.  It was dug one irresponsible, ungodly, rebellious decision at a time.
• People got bored with "old" sin.  Right now there is an insatiable thirst for fresh wickedness.  The more perverse, outrageous and accessible, the better.  Don't think to yourself, "It couldn't possibly get any worse!"  Unfortunately, yes it can.
• God loved the nation enough to warn that He was aware of what they were doing (and how they were "selling" it to the public).
• What a contrast to the well of salvation! (Isa. 12:3; Jn. 7:37).  See also Jer. 2:13.

Flesh It Out (09/05/22)

 

" . . . waits in silence . . ." (Psa. 62:1)

Silence is more than the cessation of external noise.  Silence is also the cessation of internal agitation, including surrender of self-attempts to rectify a matter.  (That doesn't mean irresponsibility; rather, it is a manifestation of trust.)  Biblical silence, properly utilized, is a form of worship.

Flesh It Out (07/18/22)

 

". . . His faithfulness is a shield . . ." (Psa. 91:4).

Ephesians 6:16 mentions "the shield of faith."  

Explore:  If you do not have settled the faithfulness of God, then can you utilize to maximum advantage the shield of faith?

Flesh It Out (07/11/22)

 

Read Judges 10:1-5.

Tola and Jair.  Each has a brief paragraph which gives a few personal details but nothing concerning ministry.  In that regard all we're given is how long each served.  That's it. The same Holy Spirit who authorized three chapters to Gideon allowed one paragraph each to Tola and Jair.  We're not told what each did for twenty-plus years, only that they served.  Somewhere in there is a message about faithfully serving God in obscurity.  Don't serve to be impressive before men or to do something noteworthy.  Just be faithful each day to what the Lord puts before you.  Forget notoriety.

Flesh it Out (06/27/22)

Read Joshua chapter 22.

Lessons Concerning Conflict:

1.  Just because it looks a certain way doesn't mean it is that way.

2.  An awkward conversation now is better than a war later.

3.  Verify before you vilify.

4.  There is a reason why people do things.  Take initiative to understand the "why."

5.  Don't escalate prematurely.  Involve as few as possible as much as possible.  Don't send the entire army when a delegation will suffice.  When you intimidate, you shut things down.

Flesh It Out (06/20/22)

 "A Contrast of Cling" (Josh. 23)

1.  Cling to the Lord (23:6-8, 11).

2.  Cling to the culture (23:12-13, 15-16).

There is a question behind the contrast.  Considering the faithfulness of God that you have experienced, why would you not want to continue to cling to Him?

Emphasize that "cling" is exclusive.  You cannot cling to the Lord and to culture.  You must choose.

Flesh It Out (06/13/22)

 

"When 'That Day' Comes" (Isa. 12:1-6)

Subject:  seven changes that occur when God inserts Himself

1.  From silence/passivity to thanksgiving (v. 1) > "I will give thanks . . ."

2.  From discipline to comfort (v. 1) > "Thou dost comfort . . ."

3.  From fear to trust (v. 2) > "I will trust and not be afraid . . ."

4.  From drought to satisfaction (v. 3) > " . . . you will joyously draw water . . ."

5.  From trial to testimony (v. 4) > "Make known His deeds among the peoples . . ."

6.  From sulking to singing (v. 5) > "Praise the Lord in song . . ."

7.  From formality to intimacy (v. 6) > " . . . for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

Flesh It Out (06/06/22)

 

Read Amos 2:10.  This is a verse about testimony.

The Lord brought Israel . . .

1.  "Up from the Land of Egypt."  Deliverance.

2.  Through "the wilderness forty years."  Sustainment.

3.  To "the land of the Amorite."  Inheritance. 

Flesh It Out (11/06/17)

Read Psalm 16.

1.  The sorrows of the one who does not choose the Lord.  David mentions that idolaters will have fullness of sorrow.

2.  The blessings (physical, financial, emotional, spiritual, eternal) of the one who does choose the Lord.  Most of the psalm elaborates on these blessings.

3.  David suggests a big picture, a pattern.  He isn't suggesting that the righteous never suffer nor that idolaters never prosper for a while.  He counsels us to keep on looking at the pattern.  It is so worth it to serve the Lord!

Flesh It Out (10/30/17)

Read Psalm 16:5-6.

1.  My level > " . . . the portion of my cup . . ." (How full or empty is your "cup"?)

2.  My lift > " . . . the portion of my inheritance . . ." (Receiving an inheritance is a privilege.)

3.  My lines > "The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places . . ." (What do you do if the "lines" haven't fallen in pleasant places?)

4.  My lot > " . . . You support my lot." ("Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to
say . . .")

Flesh It Out (10/23/17)

Read Genesis chapters 38-39.

Both chapters share the theme of sexual temptation.  Judah (ch. 38) shows a person what not do to.  Joseph (ch. 39) shows a person what to do (flee).

Both chapters result in immediate, negative circumstances.  Judah gets his daughter-in-law pregnant and Joseph goes to jail for something he didn't do.

If participating in immorality and not participating in immorality both have or can have negative consequences, then why not participate?  Briefly tell Judah and Joseph's stories, then emphasize that believers in Jesus shouldn't be ruled by feelings or pragmatism. 

Another angle to consider:  What do you do with a troubled sexual past?

Flesh It Out (10/16/17)

Read Mt. 8:1-13 for context.

Matthew 8:2 says the leper was worshiping Jesus.  The leper's words seem more of a request than a praise.  Did he worship first and then ask Jesus or was the man's request itself a form of worship? 

The centurion follows a similar pattern of request (8:5-6) yet there is no mention of worship.  Both came to Jesus.  Both made a request of Jesus.  The leper is linked to worship.  The centurion isn't.  Why?  What did the leper do that the centurion didn't?

Flesh It Out (10/09/17)

Read Psalm 3.

1.  David's great fear (3:1-2)
2.  David's great faith (3:3-6)
3.  David's good foundation (3:7-8)

Thesis:  If you want to choose faith over fear, then you must build and maintain a strong foundation.

This would make a good sermon for the first Sunday in January.

Flesh It Out (09/25/17)

Read Proverbs 20:9.  Set this verse against Psalm 32:1 and preach "The Possibility of a Clean Heart."  Explain how it happens.

Flesh It Out (07/10/11)

Read Psalm 40.

1. Attention (40:1)
1. He turned to me.
2. He listened to me.
2. Direction (40:2)
1. He lifted me up.
2. He lifted me out.
3. He lifted me onto.
4. He lifted me onward.
3. Reflection (40:3)
1. New song of praise to God
2. New song of testimony to others
4. Conclusion
1. Define what it means to "wait patiently for the Lord."
2. Is waiting "patiently for the Lord" mere passing of time or is there more to it?

Flesh It Out (07/03/17)

Read Psalm 37:11.

Who are "the meek"?  Consider the context.

1.  The meek are those who have good reason to be angry over the sin and corruption all around them, yet don't become ruled by that anger, thus losing their peace.

2.  The meek are those who commit their way to the Lord and thus find security, confidence and rest in Him.

Flesh It Out (06/26/17)

Read Luke 14:34-35.

Are verses 34 & 35 its own paragraph, beginning a new unit of thought, or are these verses the conclusion of an "argument" that began in 14:25?  If it is the latter then loss of saltiness refers to avoiding the cross, a lack of sacrifice and surrender, a lack of separation from the world, and a lack of lifestyle obedience.  In other words, a blown and ineffective witness.  Does anything change if verses 34 & 35 form their own paragraph?

Flesh It Out (06/18/17)

Read Luke 1:5-32.

Both Zechariah and Mary receive a message from an angel.  Both encounter the same angel.  Both angelic pronouncements involve the birth of a child.  Both Zechariah and Mary ask a similar (not identical) question to the angel.  Zechariah is reprimanded, yet Mary is not. Why?