Lip Service

Lip Service

March 2, 2008 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Our actions must match our words.

Focus Passage: Matthew 15:1-9

Supplemental Passage: (Luke 6:46) "And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Introduction: A very poor holy man lived in a remote part of China. Every day before his time of meditation in order to show his devotion, he put a dish of butter up on the window sill as an offering to God, since food was so scarce. One day his cat came in and ate the butter. To remedy this, he began tying the cat to the bedpost each day before the quiet time. This man was so revered for his piety that others joined him as disciples and worshipped as he did. Generations later, long after the holy man was dead, his followers placed an offering of butter on the window sill during their time of prayer and meditation. Furthermore, each one bought a cat and tied it to the bedpost.

I. Traditions of Man

a. Traditions can be good or bad. If they keep us from doing good, then they are bad.

b. Traditions are not to be worshiped. They are to help us to worship.

c. Only God can declare what is to be believed and be done in His service. When we put traditions above the Word of God, then we declare that we know what is best.

II. Conditions of Hearts

a. Worship is in vain if your heart is not close to God.

b. If you talk the talk, you need to walk the walk.

c. You can’t say you are going to do this or that and then never do it.

Invitation: Is your heart close to God? Are you full of talk, but have no actions to back it up; to prove your walk?