Illustrate Humor: One day, two monks were walking through the countryside. They were on their way to another village to help bring in the crops. As they walked, they spied an old woman sitting at the edge of a river. She was upset because there was no bridge, and she could not get across on her own. The first monk kindly offered, "We will carry you across if you would like." "Thank you," she said gratefully, accepting their help. So the two men joined hands, lifted her between them and carried her across the river. When they got to the other side, they set her down, and she went on her way.
After they had walked another mile or so, the second monk began to complain. "Look at my clothes," he said. "They are filthy from carrying that woman across the river. And my back still hurts from lifting her. I can feel it getting stiff." The first monk just smiled and nodded his head.
A few more miles up the road, the second monk griped again, "My back is hurting me so badly, and it is all because we had to carry that silly woman across the river! I cannot go any farther because of the pain." The first monk looked down at his partner, now lying on the ground, moaning. "Have you wondered why I am not complaining?" he asked. "Your back hurts because you are still carrying the woman. But I set her down five miles ago."
1 PP SLIDE: Sermon Study 286 ¡V WORD OF SALVATION
2 PP SLIDE: Key Passage: Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" Luke 23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don’t you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? Luke 23:41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Luke 23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Mat 27:41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. Mat 27:42 "He saved others," they said, "but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. Mat 27:43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ’I am the Son of God.’" Mat 27:44 In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Poem:
Upon Calvary¡¦s hill, three men died - on crosses they were crucified
Two were paying for crimes they had done - One was paying a price as God¡¦s Son
The man in the middle committed no sin - Yet dying He hung for souls to win
One beside Him said, ¡§Save us if you could, - If you¡¦re the Son of God then you should
The other declared ¡§We deserve to die, - but in this man there is no reason why
And in the last moment of his life at Jesus he said,
Remember me, when you see Your Father at home Remember me, when You sit at Your throne
With a look of compassion at that sinner He said,
Today you will know God¡¦s grace when you see my Father¡¦s face. in this day you will be with Me.
3 PP SLIDE:
FOUR FEATURES FOR A PASSPORT TO PARADISE:
1. CONFESSION OF FAITH "Don’t you fear God,"
„Ã Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
2. CONFESSION OF SIN "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.¡¨
„Ã 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
3. CONFESSION OF CHRIST ¡§But this man has done nothing wrong."
„Ã Rom 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
4. CONFESSION OF SALVATION "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
„Ã Rom 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
4 PP SLIDE: How could he promise paradise for such a sinner?
5 PP SLIDE: 2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
I once heard the story about a young man who was about to graduate from high school. He was the valedictorian and he had a perfect 4.0 grade point average. The day before the graduation took place, the principal of the high school called the young man into his office, and said to him, ¡§Well you¡¦ve done it, you made valedictorian. Congratulations. So what are your plans for the future?¡¨ The young man said, ¡§Well I plan to go on to college and get my Bachelors degree.¡¨ ¡§Great¡¨ said the principal, ¡§what then?¡¨ ¡§I guess then I¡¦ll go on to med. School and become a Dr.¡¨ ¡§what then?¡¨ Said the principal. ¡§Well then I plan on getting married, having children and pursuing my career¡¨. ¡§What then¡¨ ¡§I guess I¡¦ll retire¡¨ ¡§what then?¡¨ ¡§I would like to travel all around the world¡¨ ¡§What then?¡¨ And the young man thought for a few seconds and said, ¡§Well¡K I guess then I¡¦ll die.¡¨ And the principal looked him right in the eyes and said, ¡§What then?¡¨
