BE A SIGNPOST
Matthew 16: 1-4
Intro:A. Have you ever given any thought to how important signpost are in our world
1. Can you imagine the problems that we would have getting from one place to another without them
2. What about the problem that we would have in directing someone to a particular place
(a) I have noticed how different people use different landmarks to give direction
(b) I use places to eat --- Go to the street past Wendy’s take a left and turn right at McDonalds
(c) My wife uses stores --- Go past Walmart until you get to Kroger
3. As I was preparing this message I gave thought to the trip that I recently took to SC
(d) What if there had been no signs along the way --- Highway numbers or street names
B. Signpost are extremely important in giving us direction and keeping us on track
C. Christians should also act as signpost
1. In our efforts to win the lost to Christ it is important that we give direction
(a) To direct them to a God who loves them and a Savior who died for them
2. In our efforts to encourage one another to stay on track with our daily walk with Christ we need to give the proper direction through our own actions
D. This morning I want to direct our thought to 3 ways that we as Christians can be signpost in our living for Christ
I. A Signpost Of Unity & Love --- Christians need to show the proper direction through unity & our love for one another
A. First --- Because God commands (not suggest or ask) that Christians act in love & unity
John 15:12
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
1. God commands that we are kind and forgiving to one another
Ephesians 4:32
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
2. And God commands that we act in unity as one body in Christ
Romans 12:4-5
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
B. Secondly --- Because God condemns those who cause division in the church and warn us to avoid them
Romans 16:17
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
C. And thirdly --- Because if we can’t love one another and work in unity it is a sign that we aren’t Christians at all
1 John 3:14
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
D. Why should we as Christians be a signpost of love and unity --- What is the value of unity & love in the church and among Christians to the lost
1. We need to show a lost world that we are one --- brought together by the love of God
John 17:20-21
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
2. How can we possibly convince the lost that God loves them and Jesus Christ love them if we can’t convince them that we as Christians love each other
3. How can we tell them that we love them and want to see them come to know Christ if they can’t see the love of Christ in us
II. We as Christians also need to be A Signpost Of Hope
1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
A. This verse makes an assumption --- The assumption is that the hope within us as Christians can be seen by those around us
1. If people are going to ask us to explain or give answer for the hope that is in us they must be able to see that we have that hope
B. Many times we as Christians fail to show that hope --- We act as if we have no hope
1. We go around with frowns on our faces --- If we smile our faces might crack
2. We constantly complain about our lives and everything that happens to us
3. We have our pity parties and feel sorry for ourselves
4. We complain to all of our friends about our church, our jobs, our families and friends, and the situation in the world today
5. We try to convince people how difficult it is to live a Christian life
6. And then we wonder why others don’t want to give their lives to Christ
C. Let me remind us this morning why Christians should be the happiest people in the world
1. We have a loving, merciful, forgiving Father who has promised that He will never leave of forsake us
2. We have an all powerful, all knowing God who has promised to take care of all of our needs
(a) And has promised that He will never put more on us than we are able to bear
3. And we have the promise of eternal life in Heaven
4. In addition to all of that --- We who are here;
(a) Have the health and ability to come and be here today and worship without fear
(b) We have comfortable houses to live in and cars to get us where we want to go
(c) We have food to eat and cloths and shoes to wear
(d) We have people who love us and care about our welfare
What in the world do we have to frown about or complain about
Jeremiah 17:7
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
III. Finally --- Christians need to be A Signpost Of Good Works
Matthew 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
A. There is purpose behind living good Christian lives
1. That purpose isn’t to receive salvation --- That comes by faith
2. That purpose isn’t to receive the praise of man
3. That purpose isn’t even to receive blessings from God or to avoid chastisement from God
4. That purpose is to be a signpost pointing others to Christ
The title of the message this morning " Be A Signpost" is a little misleading --- You are a signpost
The question is --- Are we a signpost of love and unity, of hope, and of good works pointing the way to Heaven
Or are we a signpost directing the lost to continue their path to Hell
