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Biblical references in Gahanna-Jefferson Church of Christ's nondenominational sermon outlines are linked directly to text of the King James version of the Bible.
Four things we must do if we wish to grow!
Text: Revelation 3:7-13
Introduction.
1. If he can, the devil would love to hinder the gospel from being spread - 1 Thessalonians
2:18.
2. He is intelligent enough to be very subtle and shrewd in his attempt to obstruct our progress in the Lord's work -
Genesis 3:1;
2 Corinthians
11:3.
3. The result is that we may attend to certain of the devil's diversionary tactics -- all the while overlooking some of the things that are really holding us back. These are some of the challenges that we must meet in order to serve the Lord faithfully.
Body.
I. We must remember what our work is: Sowing the seed.
A. It requires constant discipline to stick to our work and let the Lord do His -
Jeremiah
7:27.
B. It is our work to plant and water: it is the Lord's work to give the increase -
1 Corinthians
3:6.
C. Ultimately, the Lord will want to know not how many people we baptized, but how many people were left in our community that we never introduced to the gospel.
D. We are constantly tempted to bypass the work of seed-sowing or to believe that we are doing enough -- we must resist both of these temptations.
E. We need to be a congregation from which the gospel sounds forth - 1 Thessolonians
1:8.
II. We must live above pettiness.
A. It requires constant discipline to keep away from tiny thinking.
B. Selfishness, gossip, and factionalism are the bane of the Lord's work in many places -
Philippians
2:3-4; 4:2.
C. We need a sense of proportion and priorities.
D. It is disastrous to major in minors.
E. We must be able to see the largeness and importance of the work we are doing in comparison to our own personal concerns -
Philippians
1:12-18.
III. We must believe we can make a difference in Gahanna.
A. It requires constant discipline to be confident we can bring about significant changes for good where we live.
B. Without some hope (desire + expectation), our work will cease altogether.
C. When Christ sets before us an open door in Gahanna no one can shut it - Revelation
3:8.
D. We simply must keep in mind that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world -
1 John 4:4.
IV. We must maintain gratitude for our blessings.
A. It requires constant discipline to emphasize the positive rather than the negative aspects of our congregational situation.
B. Few congregations have had more problems than Corinth -- yet there were still things to be thankful for -
1 Corinthians
1:4-9.
C. A scriptural congregation is a thankful congregation - Colossians
3:17.
Conclusion.
1. We must determine to meet these challenges successfully.
2. It is true, congregationally as well as individually, that with every temptation there is a way of escape -
1 Corinthians
10:13.
3. But we must have the honesty to see temptation for what it is and arm ourselves against it -
Ephesians
6:10-11.
4. Our salvation is nearer than when we first believed - Romans
13:11-12; Hebrews
4:1.
5. We must not let the devil rob us of our salvation - Revelation
3:11.
6. We must meet our challenges in the strength of God!
-- Don Treadway, March 2002 --
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