If You Point Out These Things Series

INTRO. - ILL.- Preacher G. Campbell Morgan who passed away in 1945 once told this story about his granddaughter, Penelope. One day Penelope rushed indoors shouting, “Oh, mama, there’s a big black bear in the backyard!”

Her mother said, “You know perfectly well that it’s only a big black dog. Now go to your room and ask God to forgive you for telling a lie.”

Later she returned and her mother asked, “Did you ask God to forgive you?” Penelope said, “Yes, and God said it was ok, because He thought it was a bear as well when He first saw it.”

Did your parents teach you to pray? And did you teach your children to pray?

Some things in life need to be pointed out to us because they don’t naturally come to us.

What did mom and dad teach you? Wash your hands before you eat. Wash behind your ears. Clean your finger nails. Comb your hair. Make your bed. Clean your room. Carry out the trash. Mow the grass. Be polite. Be mannerly. Say your prayers. Good parents teach their children these things and more.

While we may not have liked doing some of these things they were necessary for life. Today we are thankful that our parents taught us things that dealt with clean living, a good life, and the Christian life!

Paul advised Timothy to point out certain things to the people and if he would do this he would be a good minister.

A good ministry depends on teaching and preaching. And a good minister should point out important matters from the Scripture.

ILL.- I attended the Annual OCC Preaching and Teaching Convention in February. Some preachers said little, because many of them said a lot! A lot, like over an hour sermon! And I’ve always believed that if you can’t say preach it in less than 30 minutes then either you haven’t studied well or else you just like to hear yourself talk!

Dick Alexander from Cincinnati, OH, had the most practical and most helpful sermon and class. His class was entitled, “Preaching to a Wired Generation,” meaning a generation of people who watch TV, fast commercials, cell phones, texting, Internet, and instant messaging, etc.

By the way, he asked, “Do you know what is the attention span of the average person?” I believe he said it was only three seconds! Can you believe it? No wonder people get bored with lessons and sermons and even some TV!

6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus.

I want to be the best minister I can be, which requires that I point out the message of God in scripture. And hopefully, I’ll do it the best I can!

PROP.- Let’s note what Paul told Timothy to point out to the church.

1- Point out the importance of godliness

2- Point out the assistance of exercise

3- Point out the acceptance of salvation

I. POINT OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GODLINESS

7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

ILL.- At McDonald’s and many other fast food places, after you order your meal, they will ask, “Do you want to super-size your meal?” I always say, “no,” BUT DO YOU WANT TO SUPER-SIZE YOUR LIFE? We all should say, “Yes” and that can only happen through godliness.

The most important thing for all Christians is to become more godly in Christ. I need it and you need it. I need to be more like Jesus and you do too.

What are your priorities in life? Pleasures more than people? Fun more than faith? Where does the Lord fit in?

I realize that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but it is also true that all play and no spiritual work makes Jack a very dull boy spiritually.

Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

The early disciples were accused of being with Jesus or having been associated with Jesus. What about us? That doesn’t happen overnight. It takes work, spiritual work. It takes much time alone with the Lord.

Godliness is something that all Christians should be interested in. What is it? God-likeness, perhaps.

ILL.- An elderly Quaker woman with a beautiful complexion was asked what kind of cosmetic she used. Replying, she offered this prescription: “I use truth for my lips; for my voice, prayer; for my eyes, pity; for my hands, charity; for my figure, uprightness; for my heart, love. This prescription can be filled without expense, and the supply will be increased with continued use.” In other words, it will never run out!