Sermon: Nothing Phil 2:3, 4:6; Luke 1:37; Rev. 3:17 9/30/01
I. Introduction:
A. Nothing - Gene’s humor
B. Redeem the value of the Word - important word - significance enormous Family Circus - picture - Mommy - Thel and Billy - What have you been doing? Nothing!
1. A load word - so many implications it all depends on how you use it
a) Much to do About Nothing
b) Nothing to Lose
c) Nothing wasted nothing gained
d) Nothing but the truth
e) net to nothing
f) nothing more to say
g) nothing else matters
h) nothing to worry about
i) I’m nothing without you
j) all or nothing
k) nothing to fear
l) nothing but the net
m) nothing new
C. Look at Nothing in the Bible - 4 nothings sayings
II. #1 - "Be anxious for Nothing" Phil 4:6
A. Normally we read : "Be anxious" and we leave nothing out
1. number one killer, number one cause of the common cold: anxiety/stress
B. to being unduly concerned - anxiety
C. rest of the verse - which without we truly have nothing
1. but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your request be made knows unto God.
2. Ask and ye shall receive
3. worry about nothing - birds lilies of the field.
D. anxious worried stressed
1. work
2. home
3. children
4. college
5. retirement
6. bills
7. war - economy
E. give it to God
1. not complacency
III. #2 - Rev. 3:17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered and I need nothing…
A. Context
1. Church of Laodicea
2. know your works - neither hot nor cold -lukewarm - spit you out
3. self sufficiency - everything they need was of their own accord
4. complacency
B. Rest of the verse
1. And you don’t realize that spiritually you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
2. Apathy more than nothing - more than the absence of something - And I don’t really care
3. No one would say - more about actions
4. what to your actions say about
a) your home
b) your Faith
c) your church
5. Action
a) do they accomplishes nothing
b) just goes through the motions
C. Be anxious…doesn’t mean being complacent
IV. #3 - Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
A. Human Nature, Taught Nature
1. I - feeling communication - "I feel…"
2. seek to advance self and enjoy the glory of their success
3. Not me
a) work - they add a new project - I can’t I already have too mch
b) home - take out the trash - I watching TV
B. Fighting Human Nature
1. Putting others before ourselves
a) Radio Quote - Past week start crying - explaining to her child - because of the bad men in the world…how when so many are helping
b) Americans bad rap
(1) this past week
(2) 200 mil
2. Takes effort - conscious awareness
C. Christian Guide for decision making and handling of disharmony
1. imagine
a) home
(1) children/teens
(2) parents/husbands/wives
b) work
c) church
d) nation - war
2. doesn’t mean we are always nicey, nice - do what the other person wants - consider them, their needs
a) fights/arguments - mostly about what we want
b) by the way come back next Sunday - that’s my sermon next week - How to get what you want
c) not an exclusion of self but a WWJD
V. 4th Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
A. Context
1. Birth narrative
a) angel talking to mary
b) telling her she is to become pregnant with God’s son
2. how much more impossible can you get
a) than a pregnant virgin
b) than man who is - God’s son
c) than God- Jesus - holy spirit as one - trinity
B. Christian faith is believing For with God nothing shall be impossible
1. Saying it and Believing it - two different things
2. Actions
3. Trust It
4. freedom to live it
C. Do you believe God can…
1. look out for you and your family
2. find you a job
3. care for you
4. take care of you
5. financially care
D. Examples
1. Me
2. This church - face financial woes - about to close
3. The disaster - make something good out of it
VI. Closing
A. Four Nothings -
1. not that the bible tells us nothing about how to live our lives
2. but in the nothings God tells us how live abundantly
a) not to worry about anything,
b) but don’t be complacent
c) thinking of other
d) knowing that everything is possible with God
B. Most sermons end in nothing
1. People doing nothing
2. Nothing is a matter of perspective.
PERSPECTIVE: Adapted. The author is Linda Senese
On Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools.
On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where someone was not praying.
On Monday there were people were trying to separate each other by race, sex, color and creed.
On Tuesday they were all holding hands.
On Monday we thought that we were secure.
On Tuesday we learned better.
On Monday we were talking about athletes as heroes.
On Tuesday we relearned what hero meant.
On Monday people went to work at the world trade centers as usual.
On Tuesday they died.
On Monday people were fighting the 10 commandments on government property.
On Tuesday the same people said "God help us all" while thinking "Thou shall not kill."
On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room.
On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids.
On Monday people picked up McDonalds for dinner.
On Tuesday they stayed home.
On Monday people were upset that their dry cleaning was not ready on time.
On Tuesday they were giving their time to line up to give blood for the dying.
On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses.
On Tuesday grief stricken they gave money for relief efforts as they sang "God Bless America"
On Monday we worried about the traffic and getting to work late.
On Tuesday we worried about a plane crashing into our houses or place of business.
On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived.
On Tuesday we saw people celebrating people dying in the USA.
On Monday some children had solid families.
On Tuesday they were orphans.
On Monday the president was going to Florida to read to children.
On Tuesday he returned to Washington to protect our children.
On Monday nothing really seemed to matter
On Tuesday we learned everything and everyone matters.
It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into perspective, but it does and it has. The lessons learned this week, the things we have taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or overlooked, hopefully will never be forgotten again. Let us forget nothing.
Let us be changed by this new perspective that we might learn to live like Christ On Monday, On Tuesday On Wednesday On Thursday, On Friday, On Saturday, On Sunday knowing that nothing is impossible with God.
