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Welcome to the Sea of Sermons blog. Please pray as we are currently trying to get back to consistent sermon outline writing for your church or ministry.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

The Gospel is Good News For All

Sermon Outline
7 Minute Walk of Victory (script for a pod cast, part #1)
The Gospel is Good News For All
Scripture: various Scriptures
Introduced 2010


Sermon Outline


Devotion for the week:  The Gospel is good news for all.


I.                    Misnomer

a.      Gospel is for sinners only

b.      Edification is for saints.

c.      Gospel is:  Romans 1:16

d.      The gospel is good news for all – for the sinner:  to be able to have peace with God.  To the saint – to live in the victory Christ has secured for us.  Christians, the Romans road of salvation misses some good news for Christians.


II.                  The Gospel – good news for those who do not believe

a.      Romans 3:23 – (coupled with showing people they cannot keep the ten commandments)

b.      Romans 6:23 – Wages of sin is death

c.      Romans 5:8

d.      Romans 10:9-10

e.      Christian application:  Romans 6:6


III.                The Gospel – Good news for the Christian

a.      There are 2 types of responses to the Bible:  to believe or to obey.

b.      Romans 6:6-7 – This is not something to do; it is something to believe.

c.      Christian – freedom from sin is your birthright.  There is nothing for you to do to walk the Christian life but to live in His freedom.


IV.               Practical Application

a.      Romans 6:6-7 gives us a promise of God.  Stop asking God to free you from sin and believe that He is not a liar.  He is a truth bearer.  He said you’re free – so – you’re free!

b.      This week – begin approaching the Bible with the eyes of Jesus and ask yourself – am I being told to do something or to believe something.  If you believe you’re free, your behavior will follow.


This has been your 7 minute walk of victory!  God Bless.


Notes:  This outline was used to remind me of talking points for a podcast that I broadcasted on my facebook account back in 2009-2010 sometime.  Feel free to use the outline as you see fit, either for your own podcast, sermon, or other devotion.  Remember to give God the glory for all the ministry opportunities that He is giving to you.  God Bless – Peter James

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Change in Paul's life - you can't fake it CHILDREN'S SERMON

Sermon Outline
Change in Paul’s life; change in your life; You Can’t Fake it!
Scripture:  Acts 14:9-10
Introduced 2009



Sermon Outline



Original challenge:  Here’s a blank piece of paper.  No matter what you do – how long you stare at the sheet of paper – it doesn’t just become something else.  You can pretend it is more than a blank piece of paper, but it just sits there – still.  A plank piece of paper.  You could even write on it and say it’s something else … but until someone changes it – it remains a blank sheet of paper.  (Make 2-3 different shapes with it while talking)


2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.”


What were the old things in Paul’s life?


a)     Acts 8:1 – Being okay with sin (okay with Stephen’s death)

b)     Acts 9:2 – Desiring to do wrong especially against Christians – almost like a bully


Acts 9:5 – Jesus Himself changed Saul.


c)      Acts 9:20 – He (Paul) preached God/Christ in the synagogues or wherever he was at.

d)     There was a change in Paul’s life, though the other Christians had not seen this change, so they did not believe.  Not until they saw the change!

e)     Acts 14:9-10 – Paul, changed by God, healed others rather than killing them.


God calls us to live a different life than the world.  We can’t pretend we’ve been changed and try to force it; we can’t say we’ve changed and not mean it; God knows the heart.  Instead – by faith – we realize God has changed us.


Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.  Old things ARE passed away, behold all things are become new!


Illustration:  One way to live as the new creature of God is to cleanse our mind.  (at this illustration, take a very large, clear see-through bowl.  Leave it empty.  Take a small, clear cup and place it in the middle of the bowl.  Then, have two pitchers of water.  One pitcher is full of clear water.  One pitcher is filled with dirty water; before the service, use food coloring to make the dirty water a yucky color.  Fill the clear cup with the dirty water.  Tell the children about the old life.  When it is time to talk about the new life, pour the new pitcher of water into the same cup.  Let the cup overflow; notice how the water in the cup is becoming purified.  Since the cup is in the clear glass bowl, it is okay to over run the water.  The bowl will catch the excess.  Practice until it is easy to do so; when done – just drain all water.  You may use the clean water as an illustration of the Word of God that cleanses our hearts and minds when we meditate on it.)


Alternative Plan:  (still implement the main lesson above, but in this order below)


Part 1 – We can’t fake who we are. 

·         From here, make a cup and a dog or cat using origami.  You must practice origami for this lesson.  When you make the cup or dog, do so quickly and with confidence.  Tell the children you will make more another time.  The point here is to illustrate how you, an outside agent, re-created the paper into something else; so too, only God, our outside agent, can re-create us into His image.


Part 2 – Paul was who he was by God’s grace.

·         Here go over the OLD Paul.

·         Here go over the NEW Paul

·         Use flashcards from any popular children’s curriculum to graphically show the change.


Part 3 – We have CHANGED, but we must take care of our mind.  Our mind is taken care of, our thought life.  This is the battlefield for our mind.  (proceed to the illustration of the cup and bowls above.)


Sermon Outline Creation Date:  2009.  Again, this was part of a sermon creation from the men’s fellowship retreat that I was on.  I created these outlines during our quiet time; for whatever reason, the Holy Spirit was treating me to a little clearer thinking.

Again, adopt these ideas and practices into your ministry as you see fit.  Both origami and a little improvisation on the illustration, done with confidence, will go a long way to illustrating these points.  Be prepared for questions or even for the children to want you to do more.  Just explain you will have more illustrations, etc. to do the next week and that you will follow through.
                                  
Praise the Lord!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

The Prophetic Word of Holiness

Sermon Outline
The Prophetic Word of Holiness
Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 1 - 5
Introduced May 2011 / Written some time in 2008



Sermon Outline



Introduction:  The Lord is bodily returning to this earth (Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:30).  In 1 Thessalonians, Paul shows an intense love and appreciation for the Thessalonians and their faith.



            - The Thessalonians were examples, 1 Thessalonians 1:7

            - Paul was like a father to them, 2:11

            - He commanded that they should love one another, 4:9

            - Yet, what were they missing? [after all, Paul wrote to them to help them in their spiritual journey.]



Today, we have an increased interest in the end of the world.

            - What will happen?  (every world view has a different answer.)

            - There are tons of literature that believe Jesus will come at certain times.

            - There are tons of magazines.

            - There are tons of end time books



We know for sure that without holiness, we are not ready for the return of Christ.  An accumulation of knowledge, books, and end time novels do not prepare us fully for the Lord’s return.  * A person who strives at a holy life is more prepared than someone who is merely a “prophecy buff”.  In fact, we have actually met worldly people who loved fictional end time books (can’t tell you which ones, or we will break copyright – but let’s just say they are very popular)



Overview of 1 Thessalonians 1-5 – How You Can Prepare for Jesus’s return.



  1. Prepare for Jesus’s return by turning from all idols.  1:9-10
    See also 1 John 5:21; 1 Corinthians 10:14
    1. Turn to God first; He will enable us to overcome the idolatry
    2. Your salvation was not of your own; neither is the Christian walk.
    3. Idols can be behaviors or people or things.  Idols have these characteristics: 

                                                              i.      you return to them again and again

                                                            ii.      It brings you comfort

                                                          iii.      You begin to resemble it

                                                          iv.      You know its an idol, but you refuse to acknowledge it.



  1.  Prepare for Jesus’s return by being your Pastor’s glory and joy  2:18-20
    1. What a joy as a Pastor to see Christians living a holy life.
    2. Notice in this verse the ministry of the DEVIL à v. 18 – Satan “hindered us”
    3. Notice, however, how proud Paul was that these Christians were progressing.  When the LORD Jesus returns, Paul says – I will take these Christians and present them to the Lord Jesus.



  1. Prepare for Jesus’s return by learning to love one another.  3:12-13
    NOTE:  Notice, coming with all his Saints.  Coming of Jesus will be 1 coming in 2 phases:

    1. Coming for his saints such as 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (gathering together unto him)
    2. Coming with his saints such as 1 Thessalonians 3:13


This [love one another] is the commandment we seek to avoid.  We want to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, prophecy, the tabernacle, etc.  And all these are good, but God has a plan for us.  His plan is to be like His Son.  Jesus knew the Old & New Testaments thoroughly and used them when necessary, but, He also taught us how to love God and others.





Love – an affectionate feeling that is proved by our actions of kindness to the ones we have the feelings to.  God’s love – His abundant desire to do good in our lives.



We will hold grudges against people, but Christians can’t pretend to hold grudges forever.  God’s love shed in our heart comes out!



Romans 5:8 – God’s love is characterized by a difficult, yet attainable, ideal.  God commendeth his love toward us, while we were sinners, Christ died for us.



  1. Prepare for Jesus’s return by realizing who is going to call you at the Day of Reckoning – God.  4:15-18



    1. Sometimes we chose our friends and people we “hang-out-with” by whether we like them or not.  There are so many Christians who say they love God, but fail to live holy lives.  How will they be able to live with Him who is Holy.
    2. Joel 2:1 – [not a direct quote] - Blow a trumpet in Zion, shout it on the mountain, blow a trumpet in Zion – for the Day of the Lord is come!
    3. There is a time coming when God Himself will call us to this appointment.  An appointment where we will stand before Him.



  1. Prepare for the Lord’s return by striving for holiness.  5:22-24


Why are we striving for His holiness?  Why is the Lord’s return characterized with holiness?  And why will the place of our future house be holy?



    1. Our age is characterized by lawlessness.  Hurt feelings, disobedience to God’s commandments, decadence.  The Spirit of this age
    2. The spirit of this age is trying to seduce last day Christians.  We are no different than the Thessalonians.  Even the simple, basic things in life seem to be corrupted.



Conclusion:  God is calling out a holy people unto Himself.

            Revelation 18:4 – Come out of Babylon!

            Babylon is to be destroyed.  Revelation 19:7-8 – Fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.





Sermon Outline Creation Date:  2008.  This sermon was created in 2008 for preaching; I can’t remember if I preached it!  No matter – I hope you can use it in your own ministry.

Don’t be fooled by the title “The Prophetic Word of Holiness”.  By this, we mean – all prophecy today is telling forth God’s word in the Bible … I do not believe new revelation is being given to us today.  Still, this title might be confusing to some.  So, feel free to change it.

You most likely should tailor this to your own situation.

In fact, if you haven’t figure out by now:  I write these sermons so that you WILL edit it, or use it, or modify it.  I am not offended in the least … however, I would like to have a “stories/testimony” section on my blog – so please email me at pjmarkavage@gmail.com and tell me how you are doing with these sermons.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Mountain of God or Mountains of Sin - Sermon Outline

Sermon Outline
Mountain of God or Mountain of Sin
Scripture:  Ezekiel 6 and varies
Introduced May 2011

Sermon Outline

Introduction:  Mountains are often linked to worship; for some reason, mountains are linked to Holy worship … or profane worship … even in people’s minds.  In one episode of Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls goes into the mountains to be close to God after a traumatic experience in her life.

Mountains rise … they get higher … they bring the worshipper closer to Jehovah … or, closer to sin … depending on the object of the worshipper.

A.  The Mountains of Israel became Mountains of Death – Ezekiel 6.  God, through Ezekiel, were condemning the people of Israel for their sin.  These were the warnings.

  1. God will bring a sword against Israel.  6:3  In other words, they worshipped idols.

  1. God’s heart was broken with their whorish ways.  6:9  God’s heart was broken with their whorish ways.  They had impure hearts.

    Some individuals in different denominations have written about how God’s heart needs ‘comforting’ or ‘consoling’.  Although it is very difficult to defend the idea that God’s heart needs some sort of comforting … we do see from this verse that there are times when God feels emotions which He may choose to rectify through chastising His kids.  One of the emotions he feels is a broken heart because of the whorish ways of man.  This makes sense as the Holy Ghost, Himself, also expresses emotions depending on how we relate to Him.
    1. Ephesians 4:30 – Grieving the Holy Spirit
    2. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 – Quenching the Holy Spirit
    3. Genesis 6:3 – He strives with man
    4. Revelation 22:17 – He convinces sinners to come to Christ

  1. People of Israel committed evil abominations.  6:11 They had unclean hands.  In other words, the mountains of Israel, during the exile time of Israel, were evil.  [Side note:  For a thorough discussion of these evil abominations, consider reading the Preachers Outline and Sermon Bible or a good commentary on the “high places” the Israelites had built.  However, be careful with discussing this with your Bible study or congregation.  Some of the unfruitful works of men are not worth discussion, especially if they will inflame the passions of weaker Christians.]

B.  The Mountains of Israel Were to Be God’s Holy Mountain – The Mountain of Zion

    1. His foundations is in the holy mountains.  Psalm 87:1
    2. God is holy; that is why we worship at His holy hill.  Psalm 99:9
    3. God’s mountain is sometimes expressed as His dwelling place.  Psalm 43:3
    4. From God’s holy mountains does He answer the psalmist.  Psalm 3:4
    5. Psalm 24 – Only some may dwell in the Holy mountain/hill of God.

C.  Only Some May Dwell in the Holy Mountain of God

In the pages of Ezekiel 6, we see that the mountains are described as very sinful and troublesome.  It makes sense, then, that God “cleanses” His mountains and the places of Israel in order to cleanse out the people’s sins. 

Then we notice throughout the Psalms that there are tons of places that speak about how God dwells in holy mountains.

We come, however, to Psalm 24 and we realize that if we are to be close to God and able to dwell with Him in His holy mountains (which means, metaphorically, to dwell on high with God) – there are certain requirements.  They include:

  1. Clean hands.
  2. Pure heart.
  3. Not lifting his soul unto vanity (some commentators suggest the translation should be not lifting his soul unto idols.  This is not a contradiction of the Scriptures; we learn in Isaiah 44:9 that they who make graven images are vanity.  Vanity and idol false worship are linked in the Old Testament.)

Charles Spurgeon suggests that another way to look at this section of Psalm 24:4 is to see that two descriptions are characteristic of those who can live with God: 

1)     Abstain from evil doing [clean hands]
2)     Abstain from evil thought [pure heart]

Conclusion / Decision / Invitation:
The mountains of sin or the mountains of the LORD … to which are we attaining?  As noted, mountains “rise”.  Are we continually seeking higher and higher pleasures of sin … or are we seeking the highest Divine Being – God Himself?  A great blessing is promised to those seeking Him (Psalm 24:5)

What if you are currently living for the mountains of sin?  Ask the LORD to cleanse you … let His cleansing work surround you and accept his chastisements if that is what will be necessary.  Then, begin the continual, daily work of living a Holy life.  Know that you cannot, on your own, attain to His holiness.  Rather, He has already done this for you – Ephesians 1-3.


Sermon Outline Creation Date:  2011.  Mountains of sin or Mountain of God.  This particular sermon has a literary device in it that may not be readily apparent to the reader or hearer.  I do not know how effective it will be … however, please note that in the first half of the sermon – we describe what the Israelites were not.  Notice the words in italics match that which is preached in section C, clean hands, pure hearts, idols.

Section B. of this sermon is optional … however, I thought it would be a great bridge between Section A & C since if the hearer knew nothing of the Lord – the hearer might not understand the holy nature of God and His ways.

Tip:  If you use Microsoft Word, consider taking the bare essence of the outline and placing it in the header of the document which will appear on every page of the sermon.  When it prints out, you can look at your outline at any time during the sermon and you will sound like you thoroughly know your content to your hearers.  May the Lord Jesus be praised! 

Saturday, July 9, 2011

His Holy People - "A Pure Sermon Starter"

Sermon Outline
His Holy People
Scripture:  Romans 1:13
Introduced May 2011

PURE SERMON STARTER

NOTE:  I began writing this particular sermon based on some memorizing from Romans 1.  The reason it is so short is because I did not develop the sermon past verse 1.  I hope the outline, itself, is sufficient for you to add your ideas to it.  I also apologize; except for the 2nd and 3rd points of the outline, the outline was alliterated.

  1. His Servants, v.1
    1. If you were not aware from the book of Acts who Paul was – Saul to Paul, saw Jesus on the road to Damascus, healer, preacher of Jesus to Gentile or Jews … one who wanted to go to Rome … we learn so immediately that Paul, above all, considers himself a Servant of Jesus Christ.

  1. His Apostle, v.1

  1. His Prophets, v.2

  1. His Scriptures, v. 2

  1. His Son, v.3

  1. His Seed, v. 3


Conclusion / Decision / Invitation:
            Fill In the Blank


Sermon Outline Creation Date:  2011.  See introductory notes.  This is a great sermon starter and I would recommend any of these themes with this section:
            * People God uses …
            *  Introduction to the book of Romans
            * The humble servant
            * Actually … I see that each of the 6 points above could spin off into their own servants, using the “key words” of the verse as the launching off point.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Mission Motive – The Great Commission – Sermon Starter

Sermon Outline
Mission Motive – The Great CommissionSubtitled: God’s History of the World
Scripture: Matthew 28:18-19
Introduced May 2011

Brief Expositional Introduction: Matthew 28:18-19. This section has been affectionately called the Great Commission. Take note of a few things.

1. 28:16 – The mountain where Jesus especially had appointed them is the scene of this great commission to be announced. (Mountains seem to pop up here and there in the gospels as if they are great places of victory. For example, Luke 6 – Jesus first appoints his sent ones or ‘apostles)

2. 28:17 – Notice it says “some doubt”. It is quite possible that the 500 are the ones who would have “doubted”. 1 Cor 15:6. If it is so, then this Great Commision was give to many people; not just the 11. This proves the universal nature of the preceding commands.

3. 28:18 – The statement here is meant to induce courage to those who doubted.

4. There are 3 parts to this commission:
a. Teach, v. 19
b. Baptize, v. 19
c. Obey, v. 20
5. Notice there are 2 power statements before and after the Great Commision, v. 19 & v. 20. Point: Jesus is the power, authority, seal, and provider for the great Commission.

Conclusion / Decision / Invitation:
Fill In the Blank – You will need to determine this information.


Sermon Outline Creation Date: Can’t remember; it was written in anticipation of another sermon which never came to fruition.


Notes: There is no overall theme in this sermon; there were some ideas I started experimenting with including “mountains” in the New Testament; extent of the Great Commission; and Jesus as the source and sustainer of the Great Commission.

This sermons needs to be developed; I hope you might use the notes above as a sermon starter and perhaps you have learned a few things you did not know before. Thank you.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

He Seeks Us So We Seek Him - Sermon Starter

Sermon Outline
He Seeks Us So We Seek Him
Scripture:  Deuteronomy 4:29
Introduced May 2011

Outline of the Sermon

Introduction:

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”  Deuteronomy 4:29

This Jewish promise comes at the tail end of another promise by God:  Deut 4:24-28, God promises the covenant nation that if they go astray from Him – they will perish from His hand, lose the land and the inheritance, and be left in a miserable state:  serving the dead gods they believe in.  After all of this, God makes a promise that if they/we seek Him, though they are stuck in the muck of sin, though they are in addiction, and unhealthy relationship, a dead religion, a back fallen state – they/we will find Him!


1.          We Must First Realize Where We are.  V. 29, “But if from thence …”
a.      We are in the midst of terrible evils we brought upon ourselves.
b.      We must realize we are having the wrong relationship – i.e., David/Bathsheba
c.      We must understand that we have the wrong ideas about God – like Peter, etc.
d.      We must realize we serve the wrong master, like money – like the rich young ruler.
e.      We must realize we left our first love, like Ephesus in Revelation 2.
f.        We must realize that we have a Laodicean heart like Revelation 3.

2.          From the midst of error, you must strive to find the right way.  “Thou shalt seek the LORD thy God.”  It is true that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.
a.      Luke 19:9-10 – In Luke 19, Jesus came to Zaccheus.  Zaccheus accepted Christ as Savior and we learn Jesus sought after Him!  So too, God sought the Israelites and saved them from Egypt.  But, there is also a seeking we must do. 
b.      Matthew 5:33 – Seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness.  Look after, imagine for, think about, and strive to attain the righteousness which God has already given to us.  Seek God in your affection and thoughts.
c.      “Thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”  The soul is the imagination of the heart; the heart is the throne-room of who or what we love.  If we love Him, He will sit there and we will imagine Him.  If we love sin, our sin will be on that throne.  That is why we must, with our heart, OBEY and with our mind, RENEW.


Conclusion / Decision / Invitation:
            Even in our sin, if we seek after God – He will rescue us, heal us, revive us, refresh us, and take His place as our God and king in our lives.

Decision / Invitation

Sermon Creation Date:  Can’t remember; it was written, however, during a personal men’s retreat I attended.