It’s Time To Get Ready! Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). Be Ready For My Visit (vs 1-4).

(2). Be Sure You Are Saved (vs 5-7).

(3). Be Obedient To God’s Word (vs 8-10).

(4). Be Mature In Your Faith (vs 11-14).

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• This week I was reading the story of a man;

• Who was rummaging through some old draws in a sideboard,

• And came across a ticket from the local Dry Cleaners.

• The ticket was for a suit he had taken in to be cleaned;

• But he had taken the suit in eleven years earlier and forgotten all about it.

• He asked his wife, "Do you think the suit will still be in the shop?"

• She replied, "Not likely, nut it's worth a try."

• So he drove to the Dry Cleaners and, with a straight face,

• Handed the ticket to the man behind the counter.

• The man looked at the ticket and said,

• “Just a minute. I'll have to go look for these."

• He disappeared to the back of the shop.

• Two minutes later, the man called out, "Here it is!"

• The man replied. "That's terrific!

• Who would have thought they'd still be here after all this time."

• To which the owner of the Dry Cleaners said,

• “It will be ready on Thursday."

• TRANSITION:

• Sadly it is not just Dry Cleaners that are never ready when you want them to be!

• Some tradesmen i.e. builders & plumbers etc. fall into that category!

• You are never sure when they are coming or when the job will be completed!

• And if we are honest with ourselves;

• We too fall into that character fault called procrastination!

Quote: David Ronald Bruce Pekrul

Procrastination, what's the rush?

I'll do it some day without fuss,

But until then I'll take my time,

And maybe have a glass of wine.

Why do it now, when I can wait?

I'll get it done before it's late,

I work much better under stress,

(But that's not true, I must confess).

To be on time is not my thing,

For I'm "Procrastination King",

But one day, be it late or soon,

I'll sing a very different tune.

I'll be on time and get it done,

(Although it won't be any fun),

I'll be responsible, you'll see,

And you'll be very proud of me.

But until then I'll take my time,

(Now where is that third glass of wine?),

They say tomorrow never comes,

So maybe then I will succumb.

• TRANSITION: And if we are honest with ourselves;

• We too so often fall into that character fault called procrastination!

• In this final chapter of this New Testament letter called 2nd Corinthians;

• The apostle Paul wants this Church to ‘Be ready!’

• Ready for four things.

(1). Be Ready For My Visit (vs 1-4).

“This will be my third visit to you. ‘Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: on my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.”

Ill:

• I remember as a kid, whenever we had visitors come to our house,

• My mum would be up cleaning and hoovering all morning,

• And as soon as the visitors arrived she would say;

• “Come on in, sorry about the mess!”

Ill:

• I like the story of the three-year-old girl;

• Who was visiting Grandma’s house and having her first sleep over.

• She sat in the bathroom with her gran;

• And she starred as she removed her false-eyelashes;

• Then she watched as she removed her false-teeth and brushed them.

• After a few minutes,

• The little girl asked, “Can you take your ears off too?”

• TRANSITION: The apostle Paul is planning to visit this Church;

• He is coming to put wrong things right.

• He has told them before in this letter;

• And he reminds them again.

• If these people who came into the Church after the apostle had left the Church;

• And caused such problems, thought he was weak,

• Then they are in for a big surprise!

Quote: Someone described a leadership this way.

“A leader should have a compass in their head and a magnet in their heart”