Sermon Central
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The Generosity Of Grace
Contributed by Rick Boyne on Dec 29, 2014 (message contributor)
Summary: God’s grace is given to us a free gift, not as something we deserve.
The Generosity of Grace
December 28, 2014 Evening Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: God’s grace is given to us a free gift, not as something we deserve.
Focus Passage: Matthew 20:1-16
Supplemental Passage: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)
Introduction: I never got picked first, or even second for any of the recess sports games while in elementary school. As a chubby child, I couldn’t run very fast. Sometimes, they would pick me as the center for football or as the umpire for baseball. The only time I ever got picked first was when we were playing “Red Rover” because I could bust through the lines pretty good.
The Jewish workday began at 6:00 AM. This was called the 1st hour. The 3rd hour began at 9:00 AM, the 6th hour began at noon, the 9th hour began at 3:00 PM, and the 11th hour at 5:00 PM.
I. The Generous Giver
a. It was the landowner’s money and he could do with it as it pleased him
b. He had some work to be done and needed to hire some workers
c. Workers, even today in 3rd World and other developing countries, gather at points to be hired by the day
d. The landowner, perhaps, realized that all the workers needed money to provide for their families
II. The Unworthy Recipients
a. By the end of the day, the only ones left were the ones who the weak & undesirable
b. The strong workers had been picked earlier in the day
c. These workers had lost hope of earning any money for the day
III. The Complaining Workers
a. The workers hired earlier in the day made a contract with the landowner
b. The workers got what they bargained for
c. The workers expected to get more because those hired last got the same as them
d. They argued that it wasn’t fair
Application/Invitation: Sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." (Mark 9:35 NASB)
