CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE GOD KIND #1 – JESUS THE SAVIOUR
OPENING: Great Truths from Small Children
· No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats.
· When your mom is mad at your dad, don’t let her brush your hair.
· You can’t trust dogs to watch your food.
· You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
· Don’t say that the "Last One is a Rotten Egg" unless you’re absolutely sure there’s a slow kid behind you.
OPENING TEXT:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).
· As Christians, we don’t just believe in a God of the past and the future, but we believe in a God who is actively involved in our lives TODAY.
INTRODUCTION:
Over the next four weeks, we are going to study the person of Jesus, and discover what the Foursquare Gospel is all about. The Foursquare Gospel is all about Jesus, and proclaims Him as Saviour, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and Soon Coming King. The goal is not just to learn facts and figures, but to get to know Him more:
“[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly].” (Phil. 3:10, Amplified).
Each week, we will consider three truths: (1) The Nature of Jesus; (2) A Bible story that illustrates this truth, and (3) Action Steps for Monday:
JESUS THE SAVIOUR:
I. THE NATURE OF JESUS:
KEY TEXT:
Talking about Himself, Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10).
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).
· The first thing we learn about Him is that He is the Saviour of the world.
II. A BIBLE STORY THAT ILLUSTRATES THIS TRUTH:
THE STORY OF SAUL:
“1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:1-6).
· Note the first two questions that Saul asks - let’s also seek to know God better, and find out what He wants us to do.
· Note also that Saul was a murderer. He was a very bad man! He even referred to himself as the ‘chiefest of sinners’. If God could save Saul, He can save anyone of your friends or family members!
III. ACTION STEPS FOR MONDAY:
QUOTE: “What is it to believe in Him? It is not merely to say, “He is God and the Savior,” but to trust Him wholly and entirely and take Him for all your salvation from this time forth and forever as your Lord, your Master, your all… Remember that the Lord Jesus came to take away sin in three ways: He came to remove the penalty of sin; the power of sin; and last, the presence of sin.” (Charles Spurgeon).
Three aspects of salvation:
1. Justification – past tense of salvation – we were freed from the penalty of sin (forgiven)
2. Sanctification – present tense of salvation – we are being freed from the power of sin. God’s grace is available ot help us to keep from sinning. Jesus told us to pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
3. Glorification – future tense of salvation – we will be freed from the presence of sin. When we die, (or when Jesus returns for us, whichever happens first), we will be totally free from all presence of sin, death, destruction, war, sickness, etc.
Action Step #1: Stop compromising with sin – say no to sin!
· Salvation is more than just a ticket out of hell!
· Jesus died to save us FROM our sins – not IN our sins!
· The Greek word translated salvation is “soteria” which means to rescue from destruction, to keep safe and sound, to make well, heal, and deliver.
· Jesus wants to save us from our sins – why? Sin bring death and destruction into our lives! (the wages of sin is death).
· ILLUSTRATION: When I give rules to my children, it is because I love them and want to protect them from danger. When God gives us commandments, it is because He loves us and wants to protect us. When we sin, those sins lead to death and destruction.
QUOTE: A preacher said once, “Kneel at the foot of the cross of Christ and plead for His crimson red blood to wash your sins away and for your name to be recorded in the Lamb’s book of life… It is time for preachers to start telling sinners that there is still a King who redeems, a cross that bleeds, a hell to shun, and a heaven to gain…”
ILLUSTRATION: The Pet Rattler
A newspaper told the story of a man in Arkansas who had a pet rattlesnake. The man found the snake as a baby. He took it, fed it, and made it a pet. The reptile would come when he whistled, it would eat from his fingers, and it would coil around his arm and let him stroke its head with the palm of his hand or with the tips of his fingers. One day he took the snake to town to show it to his friends. They marveled at its gentleness –marveled that it would eat from his hand. Satisfied that he had impressed his friends the man went back home with his pet snake. When he arrived home, suddenly, with only the slightest provocation, the reptile became angry. That “pet” rattler buried its fangs into the man’s arm. In a few hours, the man was dead. In one quick instant, through that “friendly” serpent’s poisonous fangs, that man met death! Two days after that, this man who should have been sitting with his family in their humble but happy home was sleeping in the mud of an Arkansas grave. With such dread cometh such an hour to every man and woman who makes a pet of sin! (Robert G. Lee, Whirlwinds of God).
Action Step #2: If you don’t know Jesus as Saviour yet, come to Him today!
THE ABC’S OF RECEIVING SALVATION – THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
A. ALL HAVE SINNED. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23).
B. BUT GOD LOVES: “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16).
C. COME TO JESUS: “That if you will confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). Repent of your sins, and believe in Jesus!
ALTAR CALL: For salvation and rededication
Chris Jordan is the lead pastor of Beausejour Community Church in Beausejour, Manitoba, Canada.
For more sermon outlines, and online audio sermons, go to www.beausejourchurch.ca.
