Like the prophets, but More than a Prophet

Sermon Title:  Like the Prophets, But More than a Prophet
Scripture Text:  Matthew 16:13-16

"13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Type of Sermon: Sermon starter
Purpose of Sermon: The idea of this sermon came to mind when, in church, we were studying Christ's teachings on the church. In introducing the church, He first asked His disciples who people thought He was. Three names are suddenly given: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. We will look at why some people may have thought Christ was these men, but why He is so much more. Use this sermon to build the anticipation of people's hope to see how the prophets were mere mirrors of the reality of Christ, yet were not complete pictures. Christ was the summation of all the prophets, and so much more than that.

Outline:
Introduction: The world could not deny that Jesus was extraordinary; when Christ asked his disciples what other people thought of Him, He was given three answers:

I. Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist; He is so much more.

II. Some thought Jesus was Elijah; He is so much more.

III. Some thought Jesus was Jeremiah or other prophets; He is so much more.

IV. One remembered He was Christ.

Lost It all to gain Him

Sermon Title:  Lost it all to gain Him

Sermon Type:  Sermon Starter

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-8, "7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ"

Introduction: While there are many pleasures in this life (money, fame, sin, respect, comfortable living) and while it was wholly possible for Paul to gravitate to comfortable living (as an apostle, who would have stopped him), yet he decided to give up everything so he could have Christ. Only Jesus is enough in this life; as the famous hymn says, "all other ground is sinking sand".

When you preach this message, make sure to point out to the people that Paul, as well as we, have a choice: will we try to put our life on 'cruise' control so there are little or no waves going on about us? Or, are we willing to lose it all and count it as 'dung' so that we can turn our full attention on Him?

Sermon Note:

1. Christians count what they have gained as loss for Christ.

     a. Those things we have gained (v. 7) may have come as gifts from God Himself; but do not begin to worship or rely on them as eternal rewards. Nothing of the world system is eternal.

     b. Those things we have lost (v. 8) pales in knowing Christ.  Notice that the excellency of the knowledge of Him as a person is so much greater than anything in this life. In fact, the original sin in the Garden of Eden was Adam partaking of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17).  Sin always tempts us to know something other than Jesus. And righteousness always leads us to know Jesus.  In other words, all sin is designed that we may fill our mind with knowledge other than who God is, what He is like, how He alone can fill our loneliness, and how He alone is our sufficient life. Christ is our life, let us not let other things come in the way of loving Him.

2. Paul felt the pain of this life, yet he trusted in the Lord Jesus.

     a. 2 Timothy 1:16 - He was in chains; yet the Lord sent Onesiphorus to refresh him.

     b. 2 Timothy 3:11 - Paul received persecutions and afflictions at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. He endured them because he knew that Jesus would deliver him.

     c. 2 Timothy 4:10 - Demas, a worker of Paul, forsook Paul at the worst time. It seems right when ministry becomes difficult, right when it becomes hard, right when tasks are piling up on each other - someone may forsake us like someone forsook Paul. It is a lonely, difficult, painful trial. It is especially trying because Demas loved this world.

In a sense, those who give up all to gain all will walk a lonely path; yet be reassured there are those praying for you (for instance, even though Demas left Paul - Luke was still with him). Stand strong in what the Lord has done, and do not allow the difficulties of this life to cause you to forsake the Lord.