A Nominal Disciple
Text: Acts 1:17: Read: vs. 15-19.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Nominal followers were one of the great obstructions to Christ’s ministry. Their interests were—
1) Being entertained by His miracles, (Mt. 16: 1).
2) Finding opportunities to criticize and second-guess Him, (Luke 15:2).
3) Getting something for nothing – free bread (John 6:26).
DISCUSSION:
I. JUDAS WAS ONE OF THE TWELVE DISCIPLES, BUT PETER SAYS OF Judas: "He was numbered with us"—just a number!
A. He attempted to serve both God and mammon, (Mt. 6:24).
B. He had no single desire to serve Christ, (Mt. 26:15).
C. His tongue was pious, but his heart was greedy (John. 12:6).
II. "HE WAS"—THIS CAN BE SAID OF MANY CHURCH MEMBERS TODAY.
A. Once he or she was a person of prayer, but now—?
B. Once he or she was faithful in attendance, but now—?
C. Once he or she was a happy Christian, but now—?
D. Once he or she was an infectious Christian but now—?
III. "HE HAD OBTAINED PART OF THIS MINISTRY,” SAID PETER.
A. Judas’ part was no less important than the others.
B. Heaven’s resources were at his disposal.
C. He could have had an eternal mansion, (John. 14: 3).
D. What became of Judas? Like every self-centered life; he came to his end with a little silver, and a "plot of ground" bought with his sin!
IV. NEW YEAR, LET US FACE SQUARELY this question: "Am I just a NOMINAL Christian?"
A. I CHALLENGE YOU TO JOIN ME THIS NEW YEAR IN--
1. Making our "calling and election sure," (1 Pet. 1: 10).
2. A greater effort to know God’s will, (John. 21: 22).
3. A greater interest in one another, (Gal. 6: 1, 2. 4)
4. A greater interest in the unsaved, (1 Cor. 9: 22-27).
5. A greater loyalty to public worship, (Heb. 10: 25).
6. A fervent approach to God in prayer, (Heb. 4: l6).
7. A greater interest in Bible study, (2 Tim. 3: 16-17; 2:15).
CONCLUSION:
INDIFFERENCE
by G. A. ’Studdert-Kennedy
When Jesus came to Galgotha,
They hanged Him on a tree,
They drove great nails through hands and feet,
And made a Calvary.
They crowned Him with a crown of thorns,
Red were His wounds and deep,
For those were crude and cruel days,
And human flesh was cheap.
When Jesus came to Birmingham
They simply passed Him by,
They never hurt a hair of Him,
They only let Him die;
For men have grown more tender,
And they would not give Him pain,
They only just passed down the street,
And left Him in the rain.
Still Jesus cried, ’Forgive them,
For they know not what they do I
And still it rained the winter rain
That drenched Him through and through;
The crowd went home and left the streets
Without a soul to see,
And Jesus crouched against a wall
And cried for Calvary.’’
1. If you are unsaved, let Christ make a "NEW CREATURE" of you at the threshold of this new year, (2 Cor. 5: 17).
Note: The idea for this sermon came from a mimographed book of sermons by and old Baptist preacher in West Virginia in the fall of 1971. His name was J Dean Cameron. I don’t think he is still alive.
