Sermon Central
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Responsible Citizenship
Contributed by Paul Apple on Oct 18, 2000 (message contributor)
Summary: RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP DOES NOT VIOLATE OUR OBLIGATION TO GOD, BUT RATHER IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT HIGHER AUTHORITY Introd.
RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP DOES NOT VIOLATE OUR OBLIGATION TO GOD, BUT RATHER IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT HIGHER AUTHORITY
Introd.: Examine diff. viewpoints regarding the separation of church and state Issue: the obligation of believers to God's kingdom vs. our obligation to the state Specific issue here is paying taxes, but that only represents the larger issue
1. The Trap -- Viewing our Obligation to God and Our Obligation to the State as Mutually Exclusive (:13-14)
a. Strange bedfellows plan the trap (:13)
1) Context
The goal of the religious leaders was to publicly discredit Jesus with the people and with the Roman government
2) The strange bedfellows defined: a mixed group of Pharisees and Herodians
3) Sneaky goal -- trying to get Jesus to say something they could use against Him
b. They Bait the trap with Flattery and False Pretenses (:14a)
c. They spring the trap by presenting 2 wrong choices and demanding that Jesus pick one or the other
Transition: Jesus did not fear traps, but viewed them as opportunities to turn the tables and teach important principles
2. Turning the tables -- challenging the conscience with our true obligation -- both to the State and to God (:15-17)
a. Exposed their Pretense
b. Examined their Promise
c. Explained the Principle