Sermon Central
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Learning From God's Imperfect People
Contributed by Elmer Towns on Nov 5, 2025 (message contributor)
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1. Introduction: Why God Uses Imperfections Lesson 1
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
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 2
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
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 3
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
A fall can come after God has greatly used you.
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 4
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
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 5
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
An organized and obedient few can defeat a multitude.
A. WHEN GOD USES THE IMPERFECT: JUDGES 6:1-6 1. Desert raiders. The Midianties 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 6
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
Faith leads to correct understanding of Jesus.
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 7
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
God can overlook the sins and mistakes of your youth and use you in your old age.
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 8
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
Samson lost God's presence.
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 9
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
The most valuable things in life are not bought with money.
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 10
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
None of us are perfect workers, praise God for using 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 11
Contributed on Nov 5, 2025
Our new power and passion is Christ.
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