Sermon Central
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The Chrisitan And The Iron
Contributed by David Parks on Jan 31, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: 1. Place a brown paper sack on the pulpit and let people wonder what’s in it. 2. One of Jesus' most effective methods of instruction was the "object lesson."
TEXT: Phil. 4:13-19
INTRODUCTION:
1. Place a brown paper sack on the pulpit and let people wonder what’s in it.
2. One of Jesus' most effective methods of instruction was the "object lesson."
3. With the object lesson, the instructor takes an object – either inanimate or animate – and uses some of its features or characteristics to illustrate scriptural truths in a way that makes them easier to understand or remember.
4. The power of the object lesson can be seen in the greatest sermon ever preached (the sermon on the mount).
5. How many of you can give all of the beatitudes from the sermon on the mount? Ask for a show of hands.
6. How many of you can remember the lesson Jesus taught in the same sermon about worry, using the birds of the air and the flowers of the field? Ask for a show of hands.
7. The reason so many more of you remember what Jesus said about anxiety is because of the power of the object lesson.
8. WARNING: Remember that Object lessons and other illustrations do not prove or establish doctrine. Only scripture can do that. But once the doctrine has been established --from scripture-- then illustrations help us to understand and recall the doctrine.
9. So today we will have an object lesson using the object in the sack.
10. Give title of sermon as you pull a clothes iron out of the brown shopping bag sitting on the pulpit.
DISCUSSION:
I. An iron, like a Christian, is created to serve.
A. People do not buy irons as works of art or decorations.
B. Even those who love pop art don't buy irons for art and hang.
them on their walls
C. If the iron will not work, we repair it or we throw it away.
D. The Christian is created to serve (Gal. 6:9-10; 1 Cor: 15:58)
E. The Savior's example (Matt. 20:28).
F. If the Christian will not work, he too shall be thrown away
(Matt. 25:31-46).
II. As servants, irons belong to someone.
A. This iron belongs to my wife (it doesn't fit my hand).
B. All people are servants of someone: sin or righteousness,
Satan or God (Rom 6:16-23).
C. People say, "I am free to do anything I want. I am free."
No, you are either a child of the Devil or a child of God (Col. 1:13).
III. For an iron to work it must be plugged into an external power source that is both negative and positive.
A. Just as a trained electrician can handle either the positive or
the negative wire to a circuit without being shocked, if we plug this iron into just the positive or negative side of the plug, nothing will happen.
B. In like manner, for the Christian life to be empowered to work
it must be plugged into an external power source that is both negative and positive.
C. Paul's life was filled with power (2 Cor. 11:22 ff.)
D. Paul tells us where he got this incredible power (2 Cor. 5:7-15).
1. This power source is negative --"the terror of the Lord"--(2 Cor. 5:9-11).
2. This power source is positive --"the Love of Christ"--(2 Cor. 5:14).
a. Read words to "When My Love to Christ Grows Weak."
E. None of us have ever seen electricity (the sparks or streaks of lightning you have seen are heated air not the actual electrons)
And yet none of us refuse to plug in the iron just because we cannot see electricity.
F. In like manner Christians do not refuse to avail themselves of the power source available to them just because they have never actually seen Hell or Christ (2 Cor. 5:7).
Phil. 4:13,19; 2 Tim. 1:7.
IV. For an iron to work it must Get hot.
Rev. 3:14 ff.
A. To work our prayers must get hot "fervent" (James 5:16).
V. An iron has a thermostat that is set by the owner to control the level of heat.
A. Describe the damage done by our last iron when the thermostat malfunctioned and overheated the iron.
B. Rom. 10:1-3.
C. Our enthusiasm must be guided by the word of God.
VI. The ULTIMATE GOAL of an iron is to straighten out a mess.
A. "Blessed are the Peacemakers" (Matt. 5:9).
B. Our ULTIMATE GOAL is to seek and save the lost
(Lk. 19:10; Matt. 28:19-20).
C. Ezek. 3:17-21.
D. Read words to song, "You Never Mentioned Him To Me."
CONCLUSION:
1. If you are tired of the mess your life is in, why not plug into the power (Rom. 6:2-5). You can then straighten out the mess your life is in and help your friends straighten out the mess sin has made of their lives
2. Perhaps you are already a Christian, but you have failed to follow these principles in your life--review points--.
