Part-time Christians
November 6, 2011 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We are either born-again, or we are not; there is no in-between.
Focus Passage: Matthew 23:23-28
Supplemental Passage: But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB)
Introduction: Definition of HYPOCRITE; 1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion; 2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
Relate personal story of living in Los Angeles having a part-time job, and being “on call” but only going in when it was convenient.
I. Part-time Christians Ignore the Important
a. Justice (or fairness)
i. He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 NASB)
b. Mercy (and compassion)
i. Matthew 20:29-34
c. Faithfulness (to God)
II. Part-time Christians Agonize over Appearances
a. Only care about the outside of the cup and take great strains to make sure it’s shiny
b. The inside of the cup is filthy and corrupts all that is put into and comes out of it
c. We look on others’ outward appearances because that is what we value most
i. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? (James 2:2-4 NASB)
ii. But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 NASB)
III. Part-time Christians Simulate Saintliness
a. A hypocrite claims to be a Christian AND to be WITHOUT sin or faults
i. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8 NASB)
b. A saint claims to be a Christian and to be WITH sin and faults
i. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1: 9 NASB)
c. A Christian who admits to struggles AND admits to relying on God’s strength gives HOPE to the hopeless
Invitation:
