Sermon Central
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Learning From God's Imperfect People
Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jul 18, 2023 (message contributor)
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1. Why God Uses Imperfections - Introduction
Contributed on Jul 18, 2023
We learn victory is possible when God gives weak people strength to succeed.
A. IMPERFECT PEOPLE? 1. Positive: we learn victory is possible when God gives weak people strength to succeed. 2. Negative: we learn what not to do. TEN IMPERFECT PEOPLE ? Jacob: A liar and trickster changed by a dream ? Noah: After walking with God got drunk ? Peter: A granite rock who ...read more
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2. Jacob: A Liar And Trickster Changed By A Dream Lesson 1
Contributed on Jul 18, 2023
Deep passionate, sacrificial faith pleases God.
A. JACOB WAS PERFECTLY IMPERFECT 1. He enticed his brother Esau to sell his family birth right (Genesis 25: 26-34). 2. He deceived his father and lied to get the family’s inheritance (Genesis 27:1-33). 3. Jacob had to run away from home. “Esau hated Jacob … ‘I will slay my brother’” (Genesis ...read more
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3. Noah - After Walking With God Got Drunk Lesson 2
Contributed on Jul 18, 2023
The careless root of sin in a grandfather or father (lust or rebellion) can have disastrous results in grandchildren.
A. WHAT NOAH DID FOR GOD 1. Godly. What is known about Noah? “Noah was a just man and perfect … and Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). 2. Warned of judgment. Why did Noah build an ark? “By faith Noah being divinely warned of things not yet seen moved with godly fear, prepared an ark … by ...read more
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4. Peter: A Granite Rock Who Cracked Lesson 3
Contributed on Jul 18, 2023
Jesus uses us when we come honestly to Him. Your strength is not in your personality or your powerful will, it is in Christ.
A. PETER THE ROCK “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I ...read more
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5. Gideon: God Pushed Him To Victory Lesson 4
Contributed on Jul 18, 2023
An imperfect person plus God makes a confident warrior. An organized and obedient few can defeat a multitude.
A. WHEN GOD USES THE IMPERFECT: JUDGES 6:1-6 1. Desert raiders. The Midianites came – stole – and returned to the desert. (Judges 6:2-3). 2. Israel hid in the mountains. “Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites” (Judges 6:11). 3. Imperfect Gideon felt he ...read more
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6. Thomas: A Jesus Follower Who Doubted Lesson 5
Contributed on Jul 18, 2023
A doubter makes decisions – not on intellect or emotions – but on their inner negative nature.
A. WHO WAS THOMAS 1. Thomas was listed both 7th and 8th among disciples (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16). THOMAS – THREE NICKNAMES • Had a twin brother. Didymas means ditto, or duplicate, i.e., perhaps an identical twin (John 20:24). • Was from the tribe of Judah, or that was his ...read more
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7. Naomi: A Bitter Woman Constantly Desiring Better, Ended Up A Nourisher Lesson 6
Contributed on Jul 18, 2023
We can list Naomi’s mistakes, but we remember how God used her in spite of them.
A. HOW NAOMI COMPROMISED 1. She compromised her spiritual priorities. a. Did not continue in difficulties. “A famine in the land” (Ruth 1:1). b. Enticed by the well-watered plains of Moab (1:1). c. Left the Promised Land. “Ephrathites of Bethlehem" (Judah 1:2). 2. She compromised her ...read more
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8. Samson: Wrongly Trusted In His Own Strength Lesson 7
Contributed on Jul 18, 2023
Samson put his faith in God in an age of national doubt and apostasy.
A. THE BIRTH OF SAMSON 1. From the weak unlikely tribe “of the Danites” (Judges 13:2) 2. A Nazarite from birth (13:7), i.e., separated to God. (Numbers 6:1-13). a. Can’t cut hair. b. Can’t touch a dead body. c. Can’t drink wine (fruit of the vine). 3. God’s call. “He shall begin to deliver ...read more
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9. Solomon: The World's Wisest Made Bad Choices Lesson 8
Contributed on Jul 19, 2023
The desires of your heart are more important than your money. Your desires reveal who you are.
A. SOLOMON 1. Wisest. God asked Solomon in a dream, “Ask, what I shall give you” (1 Kings 3:5). “All Israel saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgements” (1 Kings 3:16). 2. Queen of Sheba. “I believed not … until I came and saw … behold half was not told me, thy wisdom and ...read more
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10. Rich Young Ruler: A Wealthy Man Learned Value Lesson 9
Contributed on Jul 19, 2023
Be careful of those you criticize or disagree with; they may be a future fellow worker. Praise God who uses imperfect people.
A. THE RICH YOUNG RULER: LUKE 18:18-23 1. He came to the right person. “There came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, ‘Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’” (Mark 10:17). 2. He came with a right attitude. “Good Master” (v. 17). 3. He was blameless. Jesus ...read more
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11. Saul/Paul: The Consummate Legalist Finally Gains Perfection Lesson 10
Contributed on Jul 19, 2023
Law keeping begins with a head issue, and following Christ begins with a heart issue.
A. SAUL’S LAW KEEPING WAS IMPERFECT 1. He was a flawed law keeper (Philippians 3:4-6). 2. He hated Christ and persecuted Christians. “Saul was consenting to his (Stephen) death … great persecution against the church … went from house to house … throwing them into prison” (Acts ...read more