The Power Of The Gospel Message!

Sermon: The Power of the Gospel Message! (Getting the Story in; Getting the story Straight and Getting the Story Out)

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14-18 “Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them. Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.”

Our key theme verse is 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Holy God and loving Father, please use my influence and the quality of my life to bring others to Jesus. Please give me wisdom as I seek to bring others to Christ... May my words and actions lead them closer to you and show them my respect and love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Introduction: Hymenaeus and Philetus were professing Christian preachers who had thrown aside their faith and good conscience. They were claiming that the resurrection of the dead had already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith, telling some that how they lived on earth was not important. Yet, Paul had put them out of the church at Ephesus and delivered them unto Satan, along with Alexander, "that they might be taught not to blaspheme."

I will always be grateful for Bible Colleges, Schools and Seminaries that prepare men and women for Christian Service. The best schools help us “get the story in; get the story straight and get the Story out! 2 Timothy 2 contains several wonderful admonitions and warnings. Apostle Paul was well aware that ministers acquire knowledge for different reasons. Some use their knowledge to gender strife, arguing about small things that waste time; while others discuss points that will not profit and yet there are others who dangerously dig away at the foundation of Christian faith confusing and undermining the faith of young Christians.

Every opportunity we have to speak will be to impress men or to speak for God. Every preacher and teacher must decide which one they will do. Some preachers are dangerous because they can’t seem to get the story straight – to rightly divide the word of truth! It is absolutely necessary that we get the gospel story straight before we attempt to get the story out. Still there are others who struggle with what the story is. Jesus, In Christianity, the son of God and the second person of the Holy Trinity. Christian doctrine holds that by his crucifixion and resurrection he paid for the sins of all mankind. His life and ministry are recounted in the four Gospels of the New Testament. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. It is through His work that men can be put right with a holy God. Jesus is the Story.

A story is told about a preacher who was being examined before seeking his deacon's ordination. Each time we share this story, we have done so with fear and trembling. We have had a horror of reading this and having no one laugh! The story goes as follows:

"Brother Sam, what part of the Bible do you like best?" "Well, sir, I like the New Testament best, sir." "What book in the New Testament?" "What book, sir?" "What book?" "I think it's the book of parables, sir." "Would you kindly relate one of those parables to this council?"

Poor Sam was up against it, but there was a possibility that the members of the council knew no more about their Bibles than he did. He decided to make a bold attempt, and proceeded as follows:

"Once upon a time a man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves and the thorns grew up and choked the man and he went on and didn't have no money and he met the Queen of Sheba, and she gave that man—she gave that man, sir, a thousand talents of gold and silver and a hundred changes of raiment. And when he was driving along under a big tree, his hair got caught in a limb and left him a hanging there. Yes, sir. And he hung there many days and many nights and the ravens brought him food to eat and water to drink. And one night while he was hanging there asleep, his wife Delilah, come along and cut his hair off, and he dropped and fell on stony ground and it began to rain and it rained forty days and forty nights. And he hid himself in a cave. And the man went out into the highways and byways and compelled him to come in. He went on and come to Jerusalem and he seen Queen Jezebel sitting high up in the window and when she saw him she laughed and he said, Throw her down out of there,' and they threw her down. And he said, Throw her down again,' and they threw her down, seventy times seven times and the fragments they picked up were twelve baskets full. Now whose wife will she be in the days of judgment?"