Thursday, January 29, 2009
BE FAITHFUL!
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER/SOILS
Matthew 13: 1-9; 18-23
INTRO: In this parable we have the sower, seeds, and soils. The seed is the Word of God. There is a message here for those who sow and there is a challenge to all who hear.
THE FACTS OF THE STORY
The farmer sows his seed by broadcasting it on the field.
Then he plows the field. Quite different from our way!
Before he plowed, birds ate some.
Others were lost, but some produced much grain.
There were four kinds of soil:
The hard packed path where the birds quickly ate
The rocky soil with shallow soil made quick germination, but gave no room for roots, so it soon died out.
Some soil had so many weeds that there was no room for a crop, so the weeds crowded out the grain.
Some soil was just right to receive the seed and produced abundant grain.
LESSONS FOR THE ONE WHO SOWS
The Word of God must be sown.
If it is not sown, there can be no return.
Some will not be received, but some will and people will have changed lives because we share the Word.
One must run the risk of loss in order to change lives.
LESSONS FOR THOSE WHO HEAR
What kind of hearer are you? How do you respond?
The indifferent hearer has so many interests.
The shallow hearer does not let the Word sink in.
The cluttered hearer lets other things crowd out the Word
The receptive hearer listens and lets the Word do its job.
WHERE DOES THIS SPEAK TO YOU? Have you failed to share due to fears of loss and rejection? Do you receive the Word of God and let it have its way in your life?
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Preached at Greenville So Baptist Church, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Abaham's Faith
THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM
Genesis 12:1-9; Hebrews 11:8-19
INTRO: A study of Abraham is a study of faith. As we study the faith he had, we are challenged and encourage to have the same kind of faith. We can trust the same God as Abraham!
FAITH BASED ON A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
The Lord said to Abram
Genesis 12:1
The word of the Lord came to Abram
Genesis 15:1, 9
When Abram was 99, the Lord appeared to him
17:1
God changed his name Genesis 17:5
FAITH EXPECTED MIRACLES
"We will worship and we will come back." Genesis 22:5
He saw promises from a distance (Heb 11:13)
FAITH SHOWN BY WORKS
Circumcision, Genesis 17
Willingness to sacrifice Isaac, Gen 22
James says "Faith without works is dead." James 2:26
FAITH BROUGHT AFFIRMATION FROM GOD
Abram believed the Lord and He credited it to him as righteousness. Gen 15:6
FAITH INVOLVES A FAITHFUL GOD
he considered Him faithful who made the promise...Heb 11:11
God's faithful provision is seen in Matthew 6
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WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you have this kind of faith? Have you come to trust God? for salvation? For provision? Will you live a life of trust and dependence on Him?
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Greenville (CA) Southern Baptist Church
January 11, 2009
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Stages of Life
Genesis 1:1-28, etc.
INTRO: This week as we began reading through the Bible again, we read in Genesis and Matthew. The first day's reading seem to mesh together to tell the story of our life. If we see life as a play, it would have 4 acts or scenes.
LIFE BEGAN IN INNOCENT PERFECTION (Genesis 1)
We see an orderly progression.
Each day God made something different and good.
Finally He made man, male and female, in His image.
He put man in dominion of the rest of creation.
What happened? Life today is quite different!
LIFE IN REBELLION (Genesis 3)
Adam and Eve was put in a garden with one forbidden tree.
Satan in the form of the serpent came to tempt them.
He accused God of being selfish. (He still does!)
He promised wisdom if they ate of the forbidden fruit.
So Eve and then Adam ate and the result we experience.
Life in rebellion from God is a life of confusion, etc
LIFE SAVED (Matthew 1)
Into a troubled world a Savior was born.
He was prophesied by prophets of old.
Even His name, Emmanuel, was announced by Isaiah.
Emmanuel means "God with us".
He came to save us from a life of rebellion.
LIFE REDEEMED
God gave His only Son that we might have life. (John 3:16)
Jesus called us to Himself to receive love and forgiveness.
We must choose today. Choose rebellion or forgiveness!
WHERE DO YOU STAND TODAY? WHICH SCENE ARE YOU IN? You can choose redemption today as you choose Jesus as savior and accept God's forgiveness.
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Pastor Fred D. Kerr
Greenville (CA) Southern Baptist Church
January 4, 2009
Friday, January 02, 2009
God Speaks
2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2:15
INTRO: In Judges 13 we read about the announcement of the birth of Samson. He was to be born to aged and barren parents. The father prayed for God to let the angel return to give instructions for raising the son. The angel came and said; "Your wife must do all that I have told her."
Today we stand on the brink of a new year. There are lots of unknowns ahead of us. We can do no less than Samson's dad and ask for God's leadership. The message to his mother is the same to us: "Do all that I have told you."
God has spoken to us through the Scriptures:
THEY MAKE ONE WISE FOR SALVATION
Through faith in Jesus
They reveal the need of salvation
They call for repentance
They promise forgiveness
THE SCRIPTURES ARE INSPIRED BY GOD
God breathed
The word of the Lord
We can trust what God says!
THE SCRIPTURES ARE PROFITABLE
Teaching
Rebuke (reproof) (conviction)
Correction
Instruction in righteousness
THEY EQUIP THE MAN OF GOD
For good works
We are to study them
We are to rightly divide them (2Tim 2:15)
THE TASK AHEAD: As we move into the future, we must seek God's leadership. He has spoken and will continue to speak through His Word. Will you listen??
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Preached December 28, 2008
Greenville Southern Baptist Church
Pastor Fred D. Kerr
