Take Note Of This Series

INTRO.- Take note of this. Pay attention to this. Pay attention to scripture. This is divine revelation. This is the Word of God.

ILL.- One day a professor was discussing a particularly complicated concept. A pre-med student rudely interrupted to ask, "Why do we have to learn this pointless information"

"To save lives." The professor responded quickly and continued the lecture. A few minutes later, the same student spoke up again. "So how does physics save lives?" he persisted.

"It keeps the ignoramuses like you out of medical school," replied the professor.

There are some people who shouldn’t go to medical school. This doesn’t mean, however, that they should stop learning about good things in school or college that pertain to maintaining life.

Likewise, some people should not become preachers of the gospel. They might not kill anyone but they might not do any good either! Some people are just not cut out to preach. But this doesn’t mean they should stop learning the Word of God. All Christian people need to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 3:18) And where do we get this knowledge? THE BOOK!

If there is anything we should “take note of,” it’s scripture. We should take good note of it, meaning, pay special attention to it. Why? Because scripture can save us in the sense of leading us to one who saves by His grace!

II Timothy 3:13-17 13 While evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Continue in what you’ve learned. Hopefully, you’ve learned some scripture. If so, CONTINUE IN IT. Continue to pay attention to the Word of God. Read it. Study it. Hide it in your heart so that you won’t sin against God. (Ps. 119:11) Sin will keep you from the Bible or the Bible will keep you from sin!

PROP.- James says to take note of important matters of life.

1- Take note of your listening

2- Take note of your speaking

3- Take note of your anger

4- Take note of your sin

I. TAKE NOTE OF YOUR LISTENING

19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen.

ILL.- Before the beginning of an athletic event, awaited by thousands of fans, a little dog strayed from his master onto the field. From the grandstand on one side of the field, one whistled. Presently, many were whistling to the dog from all sides of the field.

In the middle of the field, the little dog, filled with confusion and fright, crouched to the ground. Then, a boy at the end of the field put two fingers into his mouth and whistled shrilly and loudly. The little dog, recognizing his master’s call amidst the others leaped to his feet. With ears erect, the dog ran swiftly to its master.

Can you hear your master calling you above all other calls in this world? BE QUICK TO LISTEN.

ILL.- July 13, 2011. New York (CNN) -- A New York town clerk announced her resignation in a letter saying that she would be compromising her "moral conscience" if she signed marriage licenses between same-sex couples.

Laura Fotusky said her decision was based strongly on her religious convictions and obeying the law of God over the law of men. "The Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage between male and female as a divine gift that preserves families and cultures," Fotusky wrote. "Since I love and follow Him, I cannot put my signature on something that is against God."

That lady could hear God calling her above the call of the world. She chose to listen to God above all others.

ILL.- The minister’s sermon concerned the relationship between fact and faith. “That you are sitting before me in this church,” he said, “is fact. That I am standing, speaking from this pulpit, is fact. But it is only faith that makes me believe anyone is listening.” Are you listening to God through the preached Word of God?

ILL.- I like that old story about the southerner who was in New York on business and went to church on Sunday while he was there. (good lesson for us all! Go to church on vacation, etc.)

As the preacher began his message the southerner got caught up in the message and shouted “Amen!” The preacher was unaccustomed to anyone saying, “Amen” during his sermons so it shocked him to the point that he lost his place in his sermon. A deacon saw this and went to the southerner and said, “You’re disturbing the preacher. You’ll have to be quiet.”