Time to Get Things Right - Short Version

Sermon Outline (Short Version)

Time To Get Things Right

Scripture:  Matthew 7:24-29

Originally preached:  May 21, 2011 @ Berkshire Hills Baptist Church, Lee, MA

Thorough Outline of the Sermon

Introduction:  The time of Christ’s return will not come with a particular date that is given to us as in May 21, 2011; instead, it will come as a “thief in the night (Matthew 25, 1 Thessalonians 5).  Having said this, how we occupy our time, in the meantime … it is time to talk about it.

1)     Sermon Time.  While Christ was here, he preached the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.  People from far and wide came … we know this from the use of the term “multitudes” in Matthew 5:1.  He preached on several things:  How to love one another, prayer and fasting, judging, and how to be blessed or happy.

2)     Listening Time.  Listening to a sermon is important, no question.  However, as we shall see in our text:  Jesus does not regard listening time alone as a good use of one’s time.

3)     Summary Time.  Matthew 7:21 is the summary text, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter in the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”  There is

a)     Hearing & doing.   Matthew 7:21, 7:24; 7:26.  Notice what is said but not approved of:  7:22

b)     Contrast verse between positives and negatives:  Not every … but he that

i)        Saith Lord, Lord

ii)      Doeth the will of my father

c)      Notice; the “works” that are done are actually not equated as doing.  Someone might ask:  Didn’t these believers DO.  According to Jesus, they did not “do”; this is all cheap talk.

d)     Notice the play on words of the Son:  he “professes” he never knew them. 

4)     Building Time.  If we are to “redeem the time” as our master calls for, he is very specific on what we need to do.  The Lord says we are “wise” because we are building our “house” (our lives, what we believe, our affections, what we love, what we adore, what we worship, what we think) on his teachings.  OTHERWISE – all the words Christ has just said in 3 chapters will mean nothing.

5)     Rain Time.  Storms are coming.  They are mandatory in the life of the Christian.  You cannot be excluded; don’t think the Rapture is some sort of magical escapism in the Christian life.  Though the Rapture will rescue some from God’s wrath, it does not exempt us from persecution or tribulation in general.  Look for example at the Christians in Burma. 

a)     Why do American Christians believe they will be exempt.

b)     Rain Time is Coming because …

i)        Jesus promised it … John 16:33 …

ii)      Jesus leads people into it …  Matthew 14:22

iii)    Jesus prayed concerning it … John 17:15

6)     Safety Time

a)     It so follows that if we both HEAR and DO, we are using our time wisely.  In so doing, WE have built a fortress that will keep us settled.  Problems come from above, problems come from beneath, problems come for wherever it is blow.  Yet those who hear and do are solid and will not fail.

7)     Destruction Time, v. 26

a)     What about hearers only?  What of those who just hear good messages or talk a good talk?

b)     Guess what?  The storms still came.  Why?

c)      PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARD ONLY:  They are unwise; in fact, many of them do not know Christ (7:23; 7:27)

d)     End result:  These people were destroyed whether it is spiritually or emotionally, they are not ready or prepared because they built their life on sand only.

8)     Decision Time

a)     Decision Time:  This is not your typical stewardship sermon on Time.  In the past years, we’ve told you to redeem the time.  In the past years, we told you everyone has 168 hours they are given in a year.  We’ve told you that everyone has a responsibility to do with God’s time what He would have.  We’ve told you that you need to do daily devotions, and daily time.  This sermon only reiterates the need to hear and do.

Decision / Invitation

Sermon Creation Date:  May 2011

Inspiration:  I needed a sermon to conclude the Stewardship of Time series; however, I didn’t want the typical sermon and decided, based on an examination of a devotion done by a Methodist church, to use Matthew 7 and create a different outline.  The original Methodist sermon only prompted me to use Matthew 7 as a message on Time.

Tips:  To ensure I never forgot the outline on my longer 4-page document, I found it useful when I preached this message to place the following words at the top of the sermon in the header area of Microsoft Word so it would appear on every page:

CHEAT OUTLINE:  Stewardship of Time:  1) Sermon Time 2) Listening Time 3) Summary Time 4) Building Time 5) Rain Time 6) Safety Time 7) Destruction Time 8) Decision Time – Matthew 7

Additions:  After the sermon, a faithful church member reminded me that one cannot “build” without the help of others such as in the body of Christ.  I regret not putting this in the sermon and hope future preachers will add it somehow.  Thanks - pjm