The Standard 2009 (Part 9): What Goes Around Comes Around

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday March 29, 2009

© 2009 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

* Notes
V Introduction
* Bible Reading 3/22 - 3/28: Num 33:40 - Deut 10:22; Luke 5:12 - 8:21; Psalm 65 - 69; Prov 11:23 - 12:3
> Review
V New Material
> Prep - Mat 7:1-6
V Stop! The Life You Judge May Be Your Own!
> Standing Issues
V Introduction
* Our series: The Standard
* One arena for standards: driving
* Driver safety: "Stop - the life you save may be your own!"
* Jackson Five: "Stop - The Love You Save May Be Your Own!"
V Passage
V Jesus' Principles From the Sermon on the Mount
V God is calling us to relationship - he wants to be Daddy to us!
* The relationship is on his terms - he calls the shots!
V Jesus is fulfilling the scriptures - Mat 5:17-20
* Restoring a right understanding of scripture so we can obey it.
* Bringing good news, freedom, recovery, etc. - Luke 4:18-21
* Put his teaching into practice.
V Parallel text:
* Luke 6:37-42
V Jesus on Judgement:
* John 8:21-29
* John 12:44-50
* Read the passage - Mat 7:1-6
V Driving and Judgement
* We often judge others when we are driving.
* Often, the bad driving that we complain about in others we are guilty of ourselves.
* Stop! The life you judge may be your own.
V We will all face judgement in heaven.
V Books were opened:
* Book of Life
* Other Books
* What's on the "heavenly" DVD of your life?
V Exegetical Idea:
* Subject: Why shouldn't we judge others?
V Complement:
* Because we'll be judged the same way we judge our brothers.
* Because judging outsiders doesn't help them and may hurt us.
V 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.
V 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.
V 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.
* Realize When You're Judging Others
* Judge Yourself First
* Don't "Share" Spiritual Truth With Those Who Can't Handle It
V What About Situations That Call For Judgement?
* Church Discipline - Mat 18:15-19
V Jesus on Judgement:
* John 8:21-29
* John 12:44-50
* Conclusion
> Prep - Mat 7:7-11
V Ask, Seek, Knock
V 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.
V Explain It: What does this mean?
* Even unjust people respond to persistence, how much more will our loving Father?
* God rewards persistence.
V Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
V Things I've prayed for for years that have eventually happened:
* Agreement with my wife.
* Knowing God's voice.
V Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
* You can have the blessing - it's your choice!
V Homiletical Idea: Keep pursuing God!
* Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie - Jay and the Techniques
Ready or not here I come
Gee that used to be such fun

Apples peaches pumpkin pie
Who's afraid to holler I?
That's a game we used to play.
Hide and seek was its name.
Oh ready or not, hear I come,
Gee that used to be such fun.
I always used to find a hiding place,
Times have changed.
Well I'm one step behind you, but still I can't find you.
Apple peaches pumpkin pie,
You were young and so was I.
Now that we've grown up it seems
You just keep ignoring me.
I'll find you anywhere you go,
I'll follow you high and low.
You can't escape this love of mine anytime.
Well, I'll sneak up behind you,
Be careful where I find you.
Apple peaches pumpkin pie,
Soon your love will be all mine.
Then I'm gonna take you home,
Marry you so you won't roam.
Marry you so you won't roam. Right now
I'll find you anywhere you go,
I'm gonna look high and low.
You can't escape this love of mine anytime.
Well, I'll sneak up behind you,
Be careful where I find you.
Ready or not here I come,
Gee that used to be such fun

[Repeat And Fade]
V Purpose
* Understand the importance of persistence in pursuing God.
* Develop a lifestyle of persistence in pursuing God.
V 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
* Understand the importance of persistence in pursuing God.
* Develop a lifestyle of persistence in pursuing God.
> Prep - Mat 7:12
V Golden Rule
V Passage - Mat 7:12
* Related Passage: Luke 6:31
* Exegetical Idea: Do to others what you want them to do to you.
V 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?
V Homiletical Idea: Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
* Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
* Love On A Two Way Street
V Purpose
* Make sure you treat others the way you want to be treated.
* Make sure you treat others the way you want to be treated.
V Altar Call / Response Cards?
V Misc
* Sin requires a reset from the creator like "supervisor to aisle 3".
V We must absorb the "spiritual DNA" that nullifies sin. That "DNA" must come from the death of a god-man (i.e. Jesus).
* Eat the sacrifice (research this).
* Eat my flesh and drink my blood.
* Take eat.
V Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)
V Matthew 7:1-6
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
* Have you judged anyone recently? Are you able to recognize when you're judging someone else? Discuss.
* Have you judged yourself recently? Do you judge yourself before you judge others? Discuss.
* Have you ever tried to share spiritual truth with someone who was unable to appreciate it or handle it? Did you persist or did you change the subject? Discuss.
V Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
* What have you asked God for recently?
* Are you persistent with God or do you pursue him briefly and then give up for a while? Discuss.
* Describe someone you know who is persistent in pursuing God.
V Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
* How easy or hard is it for you to live by this "golden rule"?
V Witnessing Activities
* Consider the Life Church Mission:
Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them.
* As we mentioned on Sunday, Life Church will begin going out into neighborhoods to invite people to our 4/12/2009 Easter service. Our Life Groups will play a key role in this effort. Please make plans with your group to go out at least three times between now and Easter Sunday to invite people.  You can do this outreach either during your life group time, or at some other time that you and your group choose.
V Scriptures For 03/29/2009 Life Church Sermon:
What Goes Around Comes Around
Matthew 7:1-6
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
John 8:21-29
Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins.”
“Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
John 12:44-50
Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.