Sermon Central
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Just Be Like Jesus
Contributed by Boomer Phillips on Oct 30, 2021 (message contributor)
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1. Be Present Among The Lost
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
Some believers insist on keeping a safe distance from the lost, afraid of being contaminated by their behavior or being seen as guilty by association; and so they fail to share their faith with the ones who actually need their help.
It is my desire to preach on real issues that we deal with as believers, so here’s a real observation to start off with: Some believers act like once they have received God’s forgiveness and been saved from their sins by the blood of Jesus Christ that they’re somehow better than the lost. However, ...read more
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2. Be Compassionate To The Fallen
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
You cannot lead someone to Christ through criticism, shame or correction. It starts with the kindness of God, as you show forth the compassion and forgiveness of Jesus. “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).
In Romans 2:4, the apostle Paul declared that “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” (NIV). If showing forth the kindness of God can lead a person to repentance, then on the opposite side, sharing judgment and condemnation will lead an individual to hardening his heart against the ...read more
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3. Be Cautious About Judging
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
When believers criticize each other, it can actually drive people away from the church. Jesus warned about the consequences of criticizing others, and of the need to do some spiritual self-examination before passing judgement.
This morning we are going to look at the spiritual issue of judging others. The applicable definition for the word “judge” in our main passage means, “to form a judgment or opinion” and to “decide upon critically.”(1) The key word here is “critically,” for when we judge others we are often ...read more
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4. Be Kind To The Disabled
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
Those who are disabled can challenge believers to be more authentic in their Christian faith and love. This message shows how a blind man was able to challenge the disciples and a crowd of people who were following Jesus.
My family attended two Baptist churches in Danville that were unusually, yet refreshingly, filled with a love for those who are disabled. We saw the deaf, for which a sign language interpreter was provided. We also saw those with some sort of mental handicap, and those with a wide range of physical ...read more
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5. Be Accepting Of The Sick
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
People can become so afraid of catching an illness that they will stay clear of anyone who is sick. Jesus challenged people to realize that caring for the spiritual needs of others far supersedes one’s desire for self-preservation
I wish to begin our message today with two quotes by Mother Teresa. Here is the first quote: “The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.”(1) In her humanitarian efforts in Calcutta, Mother Teresa observed much rejection and hopeless, as ...read more
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6. Be Loving To All Minorities
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
Some pick and choose whom they feel is worthy of fellowship; basing their judgments on a person’s skin color, nationality, or gender. Jesus, however, was careful to give everyone a chance to believe in Him, no matter what their background.
The apostle Paul once said that “there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:11); and he also declared, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). James admonished, “My brethren, do not hold ...read more
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7. Be Caring To Other Cultures
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
Jesus had no social prejudice nor felt inconvenienced; therefore, He was able to meet the needs of a woman from another country and different culture. Being spiritually-minded allows us to lower our prejudices towards those who are different.
Leo Tolstoy, author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina, once said that “those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs” possess a state of mind that is not common, but essential for right ...read more
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8. Be Practical, Not Legalistic
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
Jesus taught the Pharisees how He desires sincere love for people over meaningless ritual, and how He desires grace over legalism. Those who adhere to ritual and tradition are often unable to love others or worship God.
In our message today, we will see how Jesus taught the Pharisees that forgiveness and grace toward others is a necessity before worship. The capacity to extend love and mercy is something that must be present in a person’s heart before he or she is able to worship the Lord in spirit and truth, as ...read more
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9. Be Supportive Of Other Churches
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
If we serve the Lord with the impure motive of personal gain, instead of with the intention of leading people to faith in Christ, then we can become self-focused, critical and judgmental of other believers and other churches.
The apostle Paul once admonished the Philippians, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). In ...read more
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10. Be Focused On People, Not Property
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
It is important to note that the church is comprised of people. It is not a building. If we fail to remember this fact, we might make the mistake of directing our energies into preserving property instead of rescuing those who are perishing.
In Matthew 16:18, we read where Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” When Jesus stated that He would build His church “on this rock,” He was not referring to the location where they were standing, and He ...read more
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11. Be Ready To Receive Help
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
Jesus received people according to how they were convicted to serve Him. However, we as human beings often miss the bigger picture, and forfeit opportunities to assist people in being used by God to further the kingdom.
I want to begin by sharing something from the apostle Paul. Paul, in speaking about what a person should give to the church in the way of monetary offerings; he once stated, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” ...read more
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12. Be Willing To Be Available
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
The disciples were tired and worn out from ministry; however, Jesus challenged them to put aside their own needs to love and serve others. As a result, the disciples were refreshed and strengthened in an unexpected manner.
The apostle Paul once informed the believers of Galatia, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” ...read more
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13. Be A Servant To All People
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
Believers often get caught up in self-service instead of true service, being focused on seats of power. Jesus demonstrated a powerful act of servanthood that would stand as a reminder concerning genuine kingdom service.
There once arose a dispute among the disciples, as to which of them should be considered the greatest (Luke 22:24). Jesus told them, “He who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is ...read more
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14. Be Observant And Flexible
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
It is all too common for individuals in ministry to become overly focused on small and often menial tasks, and then forget to take time for the people around them; and ministry is supposed to be about people! Jesus was flexible.
We live in a hectic and fast paced world. I’m sure that many of you have noticed just how busy life can be. I read an article entitled, “Goal Oriented or People Oriented,” and I want to share with you something it says. This article states, “Many times we get caught up in our ‘to do’ lists and ...read more
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15. Be Involved In The Father’s Business
Contributed on Oct 30, 2021
This message looks at how Jesus personally demonstrated the primary task that is expected of all believers, which is share the clear, unembellished message of the salvation found in the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul once declared, “When I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16, NIV). For Paul, the most important thing in life, second only to worshipping Christ, was preaching the gospel. He stated that he ...read more