Suggested Sermon Outline

Introduction:

"Just because your preacher will not preach it does not mean the bible does not teach it."

Message read from the Scripture without comment:

"Lo! the Lamb of God Which is taking away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29 CLNT)

"For there is one God, and one Mediator of God and mankind, a Man, Christ Jesus, Who is giving Himself a correspondent Ransom for all." (1 Timothy 2:5-7 CLNT)

"...through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens." (Collosians 1:20 CLNT

"...God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of conciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19 CLNT)

"...this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our Savior, God, Who wills all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4 CLNT)

"Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for for this are we toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers. These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:9-12 CLNT)

"Lo! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall be seeing Him - those also who stab Him - and all the tribes of the land shall be grieving over Him. Yea! Amen! I am the Alpha and the Omega, is saying the Lord God, Who is and Who was and Who is coming, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:7-8 CLNT)

"For Christ, while we were still infirm, still in accord with the era, for the sake of the irreverent, died...God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for our sakes." (Romans 5:6-8)

"For if, being enemies, we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son, much rather, being conciliated, we shall be saved in His life. Yet not only so, but we are glorying also in God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ through whom we now obtained the conciliation." (Romans 5:10-11 CLNT)

Conclusion:

"If God loves you that much, when you have never been worse, He really love you - trust him!"

Everything Is Beautiful - Really?

According to the Preacher of Ecclesiastes...

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:... a time to be born and a time to die...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance... a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing... a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak...

When time is no more. When all activity is done. When all that we know are memories. When our heart is set only on eternity and we go the way of all men - will everything be made beautiful?

...He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart...

If God "has made everything beautiful in its time" all our memories should be "beautiful" in the eternity set in the human heart. So I do not dwell on the bad memories now, and the good ones give me joy. They make me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time.

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction...this is the gift of God...

What we do now creates memories, some good, some bad. But what God does lasts beyond "time" and we cannot "fathom" them now.

...no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end....I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-14)

I try to live so that the memories I make today will be good for my family and friends. 

So, as Bobby McFerrin's lyrics go - Don't worry, Be happy!  After all, God has told us "everything" will turn out "beautiful"...according to the Preacher of Ecclesiastes - I like this guy!

Passed Away - Former Things

“…the former things have passed away. And He who is sitting on the throne said, Lo! New am I making all.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Exactly what are the “former things”?

Look around. We are living in the “former things” right now. Paul calls it “this present evil age.”

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.” (Galatians 1:3-5)

The Preacher of Ecclesiastes said of this "present evil age"…

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

Who is responsible for this age being “evil” and “all is vanity”?

God did it.

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create EVIL: I the LORD do all these things...For to VANITY was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him who subjects it…” (Isaiah 45:7; Romans 8:20-21)

I have had people get mad at me for saying "God did it". But refusing to believe what God has said in His word makes one an unbeliever – no matter how often we go to church.

Again, God did it!

God sat in motion a plan for people to experience both good and evil so they could appreciate the good and learn to reject the evil. People learn by contrast and experience. We learn what we like to eat by tasting food. We learn the value of health when we experienced sickness. We appreciate love when we see hate. Peace becomes our hope when war is all around us.

Fortunately this “present evil age” is a temporary learning center and a "rescue" is coming - for that is "the will of our God and Father" …

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might RESCUE us from this PRESENT EVIL AGE, according to THE WILL OF OUR GOD AND FATHER, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen…For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us…we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable…thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ…" (Galatians 1:3-5; Romans 8:18-25; 1 Corinthians 15) 

When "former things" have passed away and the "new" is here their will be no "evil" or "vanity", they will have served their purpose - and then the eternal good stuff begins - yea for God!

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...and I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away…Lo! New am I making all.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Revelation 21:1-5)

Overcoming The World

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ...“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (John16:33; 1 John 5:5)

Jesus had earlier told John and the other followers that the will of God was to raise to life all who God had given to him…

“…it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:32-40)

Various religions restrict the "those he has given me" to those who join their group. But there is nothing about joining anything. It is about God joining you to Jesus at the resurrection. It is the "resurrection" that John and the other followers of Jesus were told to preach in all the world…and it is “God’s grace” that brings the dead back to life. It is our faith in the resurrection of Jesus that “overcomes the world” and all its “trouble”. 

“…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth…With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all” (Acts 4:33)

The "resurrection" is the blessed "hope" of the world and all those who live in it. Paul told Felix in front of the Jews that the resurrection has been promised to both the "righteous and the wicked".

“I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” (Acts 24:15)

Our "hope" of resurrection is meant to give peace to those who hear and believe it in this age, not divide mankind into the saved and the lost. All are lost and all will be saved. Paul included the idol worshiping Athenians among the "children of God" when he said to them on Mars Hill...

"Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent (think differently about God), because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness (not wrath) through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31)

Paul later wrote to Titus…

“For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people. It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach.” (Titus 2:11-15)

The good news of our future resurrection "to do what is good" is simple and it is the "blessed hope" for "all people". When one grasps this good news he is comforted and finds PEACE in this world filled with "trouble". 

72 Hours To Save Us

It took God the Father 72 hours to save humanity through His Son Christ Jesus. Here is the way it happened...

"He begins to teach them that the Son of Mankind must be suffering and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests and the scribes, and be KILLED and AFTER THREE DAYS days rise." (Mark 8:31)

“For even as Jonah was in the bowel of the sea monster three days and three nights; thus will the Son of Mankind be in the heart of the earth THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS.” (Matthew 12:40)

"Now about the nineth hour Jesus exclaims with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi! Lema sabachthani?"...Now Jesus, again, crying with a loud voice, lets out the spirit." (Matthew27:46-50)

"The Jews, then, since it was the preparation (for the high sabbath of unleavened bread ), lest the bodies should be remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for it was the great day, that sabbath), ask Pilate that they might fracture their legs, and they may be taken away." (John 19:31)

"And lo! a man named Joseph...approaching Pilate, requests the body of Jesus. And taking it down, he folds it up in a linen wrapper, and he places Him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one was lying as yet. And it was the day of preparation (for the high sabbath of unleavened bread). Now following after, the women who were come together out of Galilee with Him, gaze at the tomb, and how His body was placed." (Luke 23:50, 52,54-56)

Three nights and three days later...

Now it is the evening of the sabbaths. At the lighting up into one of the sabbaths came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to behold the sepulcher...the messenger said to the women, "Fear you not! For I am aware that you are seeking Jesus, the Crucified." He is not here, for He was roused, according as He said. Hither! Perceive the place where the Lord lay." (Matthew 28:1-6)

Summary:

Passover that year had begun at sunset on Monday and Jesus had eaten the passover meal with his disciples on Monday night.  Sometime during the night he was brought before the Jewish high priest and tried.  He was delivered over to Pilot on Tuesday morning and was crucified around noon and died on the ninth hour after sunrise (around 3:00 pm).  Just before sundown on Tuesday, Jesus is placed in the tomb by Joseph. 

Tuesday night passes...Wednesday passes...Wednesday night passes...Thursday passes...Thursday night passes...Friday passes - three full nights and three full days.

Just before sundown on Friday Jesus comes to life. It was on the third day from being "killed", and exactly "three days and three nights" from being put in the "heart of the earth". 

And the salvation of humanity is secure! 

That is the way it happened as set out in the Scripture, regardless of what Church tradition may tell you, and it is this good news of the salvation of humanity we are to "Prescribe and teach"... it is the gospel.

"Now I am making known to you, brethren, the evangel which I bring to you, which also you accepted, in which also you stand, through which also you are saved...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was entombed, and that He has been roused the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

“Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all welcome, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, foremost of whom I am.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

"Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for for this we are toiling and being reproached), that rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of ALL mankind, especially of believers. These things be CHARGING AND TEACHING.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

 Happy Easter Humanity!

I Get Mad At God Sometimes...He Loves Me Anyway

"There is nothing I can do to make God the Father love me any more. There is nothing I can do to make God the Father love me any less. His love for me is not based on my performance. This is what grace is." Peter M. Lord  from Bless and Be Blessed (2004)

Love that is based on "GRACE" - unmerited favor - now that is a good thing! God loves all like this.  Me, not so much, if ever.  There are times when I just get hacked off at the world in general - I even get mad at God sometimes.  

Fortunately God is not like me...

"God is love...Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1 John 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Unlike me, He "keeps no record of wrongs" and His love "never fails". 

I am soooo glad - and I ignore those who teach or think otherwise.

"For I am convinced that death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

Yes, I get mad at God sometimes - but He loves me anyway! You too!

Good News Of Great Joy - Teach These Things

Below is a summary of the really good news.  It needs no explanation or comment.

"Then God said, let us make mankind in our image, according to our likeness...so God created mankind in His own image, male and female made He them..." (Genesis 1:26)

"...all sin and fall short of the glory of God...the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord." Romans 3:23; 6:23)

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible...it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things to Himself..." (Colossians 1:15-20)

"...you shall give him the name Jesus, because He will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

"I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."(Luke 2:10-11)

"John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

"...you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin." (1 John 3:5)

"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son...love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10)

"He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)

"....that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified you on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given me to do. Now, Father, glorify me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was...Jesus said, It is finished. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 17:3-5; 19:30)

"We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world..."  (1 John 4:14)

"...having made peace through the blood of his cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach." ; Colossians 1:20-22)

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men..." (Titus 2:11)

"It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.." (1 Timothy 1:15)

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all..." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

"...when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, he saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy...whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life..."  (Titus 3:4-8)

"...now we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)

"This is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." (Revelation 22:21)

Hope - A Revelation Worth Having

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God….

There is more knowledge, government and religion on this planet today than at any other time in the history of mankind; and yet they have failed to bring salvation, peace and unity to the creation. 

Why?

"…for the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it..." (Romans 8:20)

It was God who "subjected" the creation to futility. The governments and religions of man will continue to try to repair the world but will fail. Creation can be "set free from its bondage to corruption" only by the God who "subjected" it in the first place - mankind can only "wait for it with patience".

"...the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God...in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience..."  (Romans 8:21-25)

Only those who love God know that this "futility" that God subjected His creation to will work out for "good"...

"...we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." (Romans 8:28)

God is working "all things together for good". ALL creation will be "set free from its bondage to corruption" and "obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God" when they are finally "conformed to the image of his Son". Mankind is predestined for this by God.

"...For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30)

The real God will save "mankind" because Jesus Christ the Lord has ransomed us "ALL".

"There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for ALL... as one trespass led to condemnation for ALL mankind, so one act of righteousnes leads to justification and life for ALL mankind. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous...at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the gloy of God the Father." (1 Timothy 2:5-6; Romans 5:18-21; Philippians 2:10-11)

One Nation Under God

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands; one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

President Eisenhower said of this pledge...

"From this day forward, the millions of our schoolchildren will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty."

It is good and right for our children to be taught it is OK to pledge allegiance to the flag which represents our nation as one nation under God.

Their is only one way to unify all Americans, including paid professional athletes, it is to humble ourselves and bow "at the name of Jesus", our Savior, because he "humbled himself" to become "a ransom for All".

"For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all...Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who...humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth..." (1 Timothy 2:5-6; Philippians 2:5-11)

Returning greatness to this nation involves returning to God, and a respect for the flag of the United States of America which represents our Republic as "One Nation Under God".  But to become unified in greatness, we all need to bow before the "Savior of the world", Christ Jesus - and never depend on the governments of men to save us.

"We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)