Life Church Message 2008-04-27 - The Standard (Part 15)

The Standard - Mat 5 - 7 (continued)

Don't Judge

Passage - Mat 7:1-6

Related texts: Luke 6:37-42

Exegetical Idea:

Subject: Who is qualified to judge someone else's problems?

Complement: The person who has already dealt with his/her own problems.

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

You will be judged by the same standards and to the same degree that you judge others.

Only share truth with those who can appreciate and receive it.

Giving people (unbelievers) more truth than they can handle can be dangerous to you.

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

Yes - I've experienced hypocritical judgement (give example).

I've judged hypocritically - criticizing Y re sex with F.

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

Hypocritical judgement hurts rather than helps.

It deceives us into thinking that we are doing better than we actually are.

Some people try to divert attention from their own shortcomings by judging the shortcomings of others.

Homiletical Idea: Stop - the life you judge may be your own!

Purpose

Make people aware of when they are judging others.

Make people judge themselves before judging others.

Breakdown

Explain the text

Explore the experience of being judged by a hypocrite.

Cite the portrayal of religious hypocrites in the media.

Do you want to be a part of this pattern?

Ask, Seek, Knock

Passage - Mat 7:7-11

Related passages: Luke 11:1-13

Exegetical Idea: Pursue God persistently because he wants to bless you with good things.

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

Even unjust people respond to persistence, how much more will our loving Father?

God rewards persistence.

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

Things I've prayed for for years that have eventually happened:

Agreement with my wife.

Knowing God's voice.

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

You can have the blessing - it's your choice!

Homiletical Idea: Keep pursuing God!

Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie

Purpose

Understand the importance of persistence in pursuing God.

Develop a lifestyle of persistence in pursuing God.

Breakdown

Explain the text

Contrast the pursuit of easy things vs. hard things

God is calling for a people who will "go for the gold"

Diligently seek the Lord - Heb 11:6

Golden Rule

Passage - Mat 7:12

Related Passage: Luke 6:31

Exegetical Idea: Do to others what you want them to do to you.

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

Homiletical Idea: Treat other people the way you want to be treated.

Do Right Woman, Do Right Man

Love On A Two Way Street

Purpose

Make sure you treat others the way you want to be treated.

Breakdown

Narrow Gate, Narrow Path

Passage - Mat 7:13-14

Related Passages: Luke 13:22-30

Exegetical Idea: Many people find destruction but only a few find life.

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

The journey to destruction has a wide starting point and lots of options along the way.

The journey to life has only one starting point and few options along the way.

The path and the gate are similar.

Have you ever had trouble looking for a side street on your way to somewhere you've never been before? Finding it requires your full attention (e.g. driving to visit Dana and Thomas in Virginia).

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

A relationship with God must be on his terms.

God calls the shots

Jesus is the only way - John 14:1-6; Acts 4:8-12

You demonstrate faith in a

cook: by eating the food he prepares.

surgeon: by letting him/her operate on you or a loved one.

leader: by following him/her.

Continue the way you started - Col 2:6-7

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

If you don't stay focused on the right path you can miss it altogether.

Even many churchgoers miss the path because they lose sight of what Jesus actually said.

Homiletical Idea: It's Tight, But It's Right

Purpose

Understand the narrow nature of our Christian walk.

Walk consistently with this understanding.

Breakdown

Explain the passage.

Christianity is not a "do your own thing" movement.

Following Jesus requires focus and paying attention.

Following Jesus requires self-denial and restraint.

Following Jesus means walking where your errors can be seen.

Contrast narrow and broad starts to spiritual life.

Contrast narrow and broad spiritual journeys.

Illustrate using Joe Sumrell's demonstration.

What approach are you taking?

Preparation

Expository Preaching

Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers.

Select the Passage

Study the Passage

NIV

Hebrew Study Bible

KJV

The Message

NASB

RSV

Discover the Exegetical Idea

Subject

Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why

Complement

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

Formulate the Homiletical Idea

Determine the Purpose of the Sermon

Make it plain

Use accessible language and modern parables

Make sure people do something with the word God gives you for them.

Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose

Outline the Sermon

The Standard - Mat 5 - 7 (cont.)

False Prophets

Passage - Mat 7:15-20

Related Passages:

Exegetical Idea:

Subject: How should you watch out for false prophets?

Complement: By inspecting their fruit.

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

The term "prophet" indicates that Jesus is describing someone who would appear to be a legitimate leader.

We are commanded to watch out for false prophets - they exist and we will encounter them.

We can't wait until they reveal themselves to inspect their fruit. We must inspect fruit as part of our general lifestyle.

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

Yes - Share experiences:

Personal experience with A.C.C. and leader's fruit.

Jim Jones & People's Temple

Other cults

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

How would you behave in the presence of a ravenous wolf?

Failing to recognize false prophets has consequences:

It makes you vulnerable to their harmful agendas.

It leaves the rest of the church vulnerable as well.

We have to change the way we evaluate:

Focus less on words and more on actions

Focus less on the short term and more on the long term

Homiletical Idea:

Purpose

We must watch out for false prophets.

We must evaluate in ways that enable us to detect false prophets.

Breakdown

Read the passage.

Jesus says watch out for false prophets.

False prophets are false leaders

Sheep's clothing refers to what shepherds wear.

He apparently knows that they exist.

He apparently knows that they are coming.

He apparently knows that they are dangerous.

Do false prophets exist?

Yes - Share experiences:

Personal experience with A.C.C. and leader's fruit.

Jim Jones & People's Temple

Other cults

What are the implications of a dangerous leader?

How would you behave in the presence of a ravenous wolf?

Failing to recognize false prophets has consequences:

It makes you vulnerable to their harmful agendas.

It leaves the rest of the church vulnerable as well.

We have to change the way we evaluate:

Focus less on words and more on actions

Focus less on the short term and more on the long term

What does it take to heed Jesus' warning?

Fruit focus!

How is it done in the world?

Credit reports

Job references

Check first - then trust!

Unbelievers are shrewder than the saints - Luke 16:1-15

What must we do in the Church?

We must assess both existing and future fruit - 1Tim 5:24-25

Structure and operate in a way that facilitates checking fruit

Check references before authorizing ministry

Present references before seeking to minister

What are the warning signs of a false prophet?

Bad fruit

Hiding fruit

Hiding his/her past

Lying

Not accountable to anyone

It takes more than failure to make a false prophet

We all fail - James 3:1-2; 1John 1:5-10

Some become false prophets by refusing to repent

Some become false prophets by trying to restore themselves

We need our brothers' and sisters' help - Gal 6:1-2; James 5:13-20

"Lead Us Not Into Temptation" by Don Basham p. 67

We must change our church subculture!

Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)

Scripture References: Mat 7:15-20

Discuss (with respect for privacy) any encounter you've had with either a false prophet or a gifted person whose character was poor.

What practices of yours would enable you to recognize a false prophet?

What kind of spiritual fruit do you look for in spiritual leaders?

Have you ever tried to hide or lie about your past? How open are you?

How do you feel about job references and/or credit reports?

How easy would it be for someone else to evaluate your fruit?

Witnessing Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings

Make sure that everyone knows about the next Life Church 101 class:

Sunday June 8, 2008 - 2 P.M. - 4 P.M.

Other witnessing / works activities as determined by your life group leader.

The Standard (Part 15) - False Prophets

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday April 27, 2008