Sunday Sermon Outline: The Importance of Death

 The Importance of Death

 

Introduction:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures ...” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

 

I. The Role of Death

John 20:30, “many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book.”
 

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). 

 

John 3:14, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”  

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19).

“the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh” (John 6:51). 

 

John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). John 12:31-33, “'Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. [32] And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.' [33] But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.”

 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! [50] But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:49-50). 

 

James and John's mother “said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” [22] But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”” (Matthew 20:21-22).

Matthew 16:21 says, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.”  

 

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). 

II. The Preaching of Death

“to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood” (1 Peter 1:2). 

 

“you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, [19] but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

“you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

“Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). 

 

“since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose” (1 Peter 4:1).

1 Peter 5:10 says, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, [2] by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. [3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

 

III. The Future of Death

Revelation 1:5, “To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood ...” Revelation 2:8, “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life.” “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

“For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; [17] and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:16-17).

“the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, [7] so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; [8] and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, [9] obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:3-9). 

 

 

LISTEN TO AUDIO MESSAGE HERE

The Words of God

Consider mankind. People are often careful in what they say for various reasons – political or business advantage, social position, politeness, fear, embarrassment, insecurity. But the Lord suffers from none of those things. He is God. He is Creator.

How many times have we read, “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16), yet we live and act as if were the work of “mere men” (1 Corinthians 3:4)? We project our thoughts and ways upon the word of God, forgetting His declaration, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

God doesn't have to watch what He says. He has no superior to fear. He has no higher position to seek. The social conventions of men are beneath Him, and their scheming is not the product of His mind but of Satan's (Ephesians 6:11). In fact, God has taught us in His Son, “Let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil” (Matthew 5:37).

So why do men so often approach the Scriptures looking for hidden meanings? I believe that in order to properly understand the Bible, we have to start by assuming a literal meaning. Absolutely, there are figurative statements within God's word, but don't start your journey to understanding assuming that God is trying to hide something from you. As Moses learned so long ago, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).

The word of God is what He wants us to know, otherwise He would not have revealed them in the first place. He has spoken not for His own advantage, but for ours (Romans 1:17). So as you read the Bible, know that God speaks plainly.

Perhaps we would never have the boldness to say to someone, “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?” (Matthew 23:33). But Jesus did, because “He is Lord of lords and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14).

“Oh, but He's God, and I'm just a man. I could never say something like that.”

Really? Not even if the Spirit of God were within you? Acts 13:8-10 says that “Elymas the magician ... was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. [9] But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, [10] and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?”” See? In the Spirit of God, Paul spoke plainly.

Haven't you ever once wondered why the modern church doesn't see the same spiritual success as the first century church? I believe it is because today's church leaders are preaching acceptance, tolerance and a non-judgmental spirit, while the church that Jesus established and the leaders He chose were more concerned with accurately relaying the words of the Lord. As Paul said, “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. [3] I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, [4] and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [5] so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:2-5).

But the faith of the modern church is no longer resting on “the power of God.” As the apostle forewarned, we have around us men who are “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power.” The word of God is plain and direct, “Avoid such men as these” (2 Timothy 3:5).

“Then who should I listen to?”

God.

“But my preacher said ...”

If he hasn't set aside his opinions and pointed you directly to the word of God, he is no real servant of God.

We read of the birth of the church in the beginning of the book of Acts. It is said that “the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32). Why? Because “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

“But our church doesn't believe ...”

But Christ's church does. Those who truly belong to the Lord believe in the word of God. “The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Thus David said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Thus Jesus said, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

The question is, what do you say? I would only point you to the Scriptures, “in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. [22] Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:21-22).

Wisdom is Vindicated by Her Children

Grow up, people! It's time to stop acting like children and start living like adults … spiritually speaking. Why is the way in which I live my life such an insult to you? If I'm doing the job the Lord gave me to do, then frankly I don't really care what you think of my personality, my preferences or my job performance.

In Luke 7:24-27, Jesus said of John the Baptist, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? [25] But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! [26] But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. [27] This is the one about whom it is written, ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’”

Notice the emphasis Jesus places upon spiritual recognition. For those who went out into the wilderness expecting to see a great charismatic speaker in a fancy suit, it was a wasted trip. But for those expecting to hear a prophet speaking the word of God … well, that's exactly what they heard!

Which begs the question: Why exactly are people attending church? What have they gone expecting to see and hear? If you go looking for entertainment, then it won't be hard to find. There are plenty of praise bands ready to get you on your feet, and drama teams working to extract a tear. If you travel out expecting social connections, you will find that in spades, too. Someone will be close at hand to offer you a handshake or a hug, along with a donut and some coffee.

But what if you are expecting to hear a word from the Lord? I'm afraid you may be disappointed. Chances are you'll have to sift through the jokes and the stories, the illustrations and the quotations to actually get to the Scriptures. Oh, I'm sure you will be able to say that the preacher was a swell guy, and perhaps that he was a dandy speaker … but will you be able to say without a doubt that he was a man sent by God to speak His word?

Where is the spiritual recognition today? Crowds of people traveled far out into the wilderness to hear John the Baptist … not because he was popular or trendy … not because he was culturally relevant … but because they believed that he spoke a message from God. Here was a man who was actually and truly in spiritual relationship to the Lord. Jesus says of him in Luke 7:28, “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

So, in other words, the social relationships aren't nearly as important as the servant relationship. John did his work. He didn't care what people thought of him. He didn't dress for success … he simply did what the Lord sent him to do. He preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). He taught people to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8).

And the real measure of his ministry wasn't in rising attendance or offering figures … it wasn't in community support or in an increase of property holdings … but in the spiritual response of those to whom he spoke God's word. Luke 7:29-30 says, “When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. [30] But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.” Those who believed repented, while those who disbelieved rejected his message. Despite his unique appearance and seemingly anti-social behavior, some people loved John for telling them the truth. The rest hated him. They spoke ill of him. They mocked him. And eventually – in rejection of the truth – such people killed him.

“Oh, but such a thing would NEVER happen today! We are much more civilized. We believe in tolerance and acceptance!”

Really? Then where exactly are the men of God today? I see those dressed in fine clothes and pleasing the masses. I hear those who are saying what people want to hear. But where are those who are speaking the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Where are the men who may not be doing the job the elders want them to do … or the job the congregation wants them to do … but are doing exactly what the Lord wants them to do? I'll tell you where they are … alienated from society and unemployed by “the church.”

Jesus spoke of the religious climate in which He and John lived in Luke 7:31-35, “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? [32] They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ [33] For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ [34] The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ [35] Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

Some believed that John the Baptist was demon possessed because he would not socialize like “normal people.” But who was really possessed of Satan? Wasn't it those who “rejected God's purpose for themselves” (v. 30)? So is the Lord with the elders who are “lording it over those allotted to [their] charge” (1 Peter 5:3), or with the congregations that blindly follow (Matthew 15:14), or with those men who have “suffered” and “been mistreated,” yet “had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition” (1 Thessalonians 2:2)?

Jesus' assessment of the religious world is still accurate. The modern church is full of those “like children who sit in the market place and call to one another.” They are upset when their “paid servants” don't dance when they play and cry when thy sing. Is it any wonder they “accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3)?

John didn't socialize … and they couldn't tolerate his message … so they called him names and killed him. Jesus did socialize … but they still couldn't tolerate His message … so they called Him names and killed Him. So it really doesn't matter whether you play the social games or not. If the message being preached is of God, it will offend the worldly enough to want you dead or gone. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:19).

Which seriously begs the question: Why are there so many popular preachers? Answer: Because they preach a social gospel that is compatible with this world. As soon as they drop the social conventions and start speaking the truth of God, the false smiles will be replaced with the “gnashing” of teeth (Acts 7:54). The facade of Christianity will be replaced by the truth of persecution. “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. [13] But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13).

So why does my life annoy you so much? Oh, yeah! Because I'm saying things you don't want to hear. But according to Jesus, “wisdom is vindicated by all her children” (Luke 7:35). In other words, results are what count. So what if John the Baptist was anti-social? Did he preach the word of the Lord faithfully? So what if he ate locusts and wild honey? So what if he dressed funny? What's that to you?

So what if Jesus ate and drank with sinners? So what if He chose not to have a home? So what if He chose to spend most of His time with certain disciples? What business is it of yours?

In John 21:21-22, Peter – who had been told to go and shepherd the spiritual sheep – saw the apostle John sitting comfortably with Jesus, and asked, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus answer is forthright and direct, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” In other words, “Peter, what business is it of yours what John does? Go do what I told you to do!”

Does my lifestyle bother you? Deal with it. I'm not responsible for your contrived notions of how I should live, or what I should do. My job isn't to mold myself to your will, but to carry out the Lord's. And if the things I say offend you, then perhaps you might take a moment out of your busy life to determine exactly why it is so offensive.

If you believe me a liar, then ignore me and move on. Take Gamaliel's advice: “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; [39] but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God” (Acts 5:38-39).

But what if I'm not a liar? What if I'm doing exactly what the Lord sent me to do? “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4).

What that means is that multiple firings and the loss of property cannot stop the word of the Lord. Slander and gossip won't stop it. Even the death of the servant can't stop it. “Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” That doesn't mean Satan won't try. According to the Revelation, “the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17).

The apostle John was banished to the isle of Patmos “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9). He saw underneath a heavenly altar “the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained” (Revelation 6:9). Such people overcame Satan – not because of their cultural relevance or societal impact – but because they acknowledged the authority of Christ as more important than acceptance by the world. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (Revelation 12:11).

Therefore, if my preaching and teaching of the word of God offends you … if it makes you angry enough to fire me or spread lies about me … then I rejoice that I have “been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41). But I will not stop doing what the Lord sent me to do. “Every day” … in the churches or in homes … in Wal-Mart or in the woods … I will keep “right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42).

Feelings

How many marriages have ended in divorce after ten, twenty or thirty years, because of adultery? How many of those adulterous relationships have come about because the physical relationship with the illicit lover produced within the cheating spouse strong feelings that were supposedly no longer present in the marriage? These are people who “feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ” (1 Timothy 5:11). The adulterer – afterward – will often say something like, “I just don't feel anything for my spouse anymore. I love the other person now.” It is obvious that such an individual does not understand love at all, laying aside the declared commitment to the spouse for the renewed experience of a youthful hormonal rush.

In the modern church, we hear much about feelings. Some churches ask a person who claim Christianity to relate their “salvation experience.” Some – when asked how they know they are saved – simply say, “I just feel saved.” Others attend specific congregations based on how it makes them feel. Some enjoy the warmth of friendships. Some experience the excitement produced by music or drama. Some are drawn in by the emotional pull of a charismatic preacher. Some need a sense of familial safety, knowing that their children are being well cared for. Some have just developed an emotional comfort zone provided by the only congregation they have ever known.

In Christian terms though, Christ is the Bridegroom and the church is His bride. Should a bride care more about her house than her husband? Should she have stronger feelings for the stereo and television than the One to whom she's married? What does the Bible say about feelings? Does it speak of emotion?

Webster's Dictionary defines emotion as “a conscious mental reaction subjectively experienced as strong feeling, usually directed toward a specific object.” Such a definition should make the Christian immediately uncomfortable about associating emotionalism with the church simply because of the word “subjectively.” A subjective experience is a personal experience. It is one which you alone feel, and perhaps no one else does.

A subjective approach to Christianity is nothing new, but in my lifetime seemed to strengthen significantly throughout the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Preachers began urging seekers to enter into a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Sinners were entreated to accept Jesus as their “personal Savior.” Such language made salvation a subjective experience, one which could be tailored to each person's individual belief system.

Such thinking has done great harm to the bride of Christ. By speaking of a personal relationship with Jesus, the emphasis of the sentence is upon the individual and not upon the Bridegroom. The divine Son of God is seemingly tacked on as an addendum in a prepositional phrase. This allows someone to “feel” saved, not on the basis of Christ's authority but of their own “personal” emotions.

Do we not know though that emotions are easily swayed? Methamphetamines will stimulate your emotions. Valium will calm your emotions. Anesthesia will numb your emotions completely. A good storyteller can make sure there's “not a dry eye in the house,” while a comedian is adept at making everyone laugh. One song – slow and quiet – can cause you to nod off to sleep, while another song – fast and loud – has you on your feet, dancing about. None of these have anything to do though with the bride of Christ and her relationship to her Husband.

If it was His intention to base this marriage on emotionalism, do you not think that He would have taught such things? Or that His apostles would have practiced such things? Where do we find one instance of Jesus warming up a crowd with a side-splitting joke or a clever anecdote? Where do we see – either in the saving of sinners or the maturing of Christians – the apostles using music to get a crowd pumped up? Or a special gift offered to all the visitors? Where are the words of Scripture which suggest someone just “felt” saved? Where are the passages that describe this “personal relationship” we supposedly have with Christ?

I could not find any form of the word emotion at all in the Bible, but did find reference to affections. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that it is the “LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tries the feelings and the heart” (Jeremiah 11:20). Perhaps then it should be word of the “LORD of hosts” that actually directs the “feelings and the heart” of the bride.

We know that Jesus had feelings, but of greater importance is what exactly moved Him to feel. Matthew 9:36 says, “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” So Jesus “felt” bad for those who had no spiritual leadership. What did His “feelings” prompt Him to do? He taught the people His Father's word AND he confronted the bad leaders for their own lack of feeling in Matthew 21:32, “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.” What the religious leaders SHOULD have “felt” when confronted by the word of God was … wrong. They should have recognized their sin and repented.

We also know that Jesus actually taught against the kind of emotionalism that is rampant in the church today. In Luke 8:13 – as a part of the Parable of the Sower – Jesus describes those who thrive on excitement. “Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.” The word joy in the Greek is the word charis, from which we derive the words charisma and charismatic. Such people accepted the word with all the emotion and excitement that human charisma can produce, yet fell away because they had “no firm root.” This is no different than the spouse who marries for lust, and when the sexual passions subside they run off to find another partner that makes them “feel” something. If the byproducts of charisma were to be the driving force of the church, why didn't Jesus - “the head of the body” (Colossians 1:18) – say so?

This does not mean that emotion was not present within the church, but the apostles' doctrine presents it in a far different light than contemporary teachers. In 2 Corinthians 7:15, Paul speaks concerning the minister Titus and what specifically fueled his emotions, “His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.” Therefore, it was the obedient behavior of faithful Christians and their proper reception of God's word that produced strong emotion within the preacher.

Meanwhile, in Philippians 1:8-11, Paul doesn't speak of his emotions at all, but reflects the fact that he no longer exists independently of Christ. “For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. [9] And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, [10] so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; [11] having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Please notice that the apostle – demonstrating the “affection of Christ Jesus” – is praying for “real knowledge and all discernment.” He is looking for a bride who is “sincere and blameless” in fidelity to her husband. He is looking among those who call themselves Christians for “the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ.” Again, if emotionalism and excitement were to be a defining influence within the marriage, this would have been a great place to say so as he was discussing affections.

Of course, someone may read all of this and dismiss it, claiming that it doesn't matter what I say since they know how they “feel.” Some have claimed that its not about Bible knowledge, but about their “personal relationship” with the Lord. If that is the case, then why is it that the Scriptures only use the word “personal” twice … and both times in a negative sense?

In Philippians 2:4, Paul says, “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”And in James 2:1, James says, “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”
Personal interests? Personal favoritism? Perhaps its time to relearn the primary directive offered to those who would follow Christ. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Perhaps its time to be reminded that your “personal relationship with Christ” is less about you and more about Christ. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). As John the Baptist declared of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Or as Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Emotionalism within the church exalts self. It declares, “I want, Lord!” Obedience though exalts Christ to His rightful place of authority in the body. It declares, “I will, Lord!” Likewise the subjective nature of the “personal relationship” needs to be disarmed by the objective word of God. Jesus told us what was necessary to enter into a proper relationship with Him (and one that is based on genuine affection). In John 14:21, He says, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

Then – once we are a part of the holy family – “we” no longer exist as a “personal” entity. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. [14] For the body is not one member, but many” (1 Corinthians 12:13-14).

Considering the discussion that Paul offers in the rest of that chapter, it is hard to imagine a hand saying, “I just don't feel like I'm a part of the body,” or a foot saying, “I would feel more excited if the hand would turn up the music!” No body part functions individually apart from the instructions of the head. Whether or not a member of the body is useful is determined by the head. The knee doesn't have to “feel” excited and the elbow doesn't have to “feel” loved. The head leads the body, and the members of that body follow.

“Well, I need to feel something to believe its real.” Really, Thomas (John 20:25)? “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed” (John 20:29).

I find it interesting in discussions of feelings and emotions how Jesus' feelings and emotions never seem to brought up. “I like this kind of music.” “I need a preacher that preaches positive messages.” “We have to give people what they want or they won't come back!” What about what the Bridegroom wants? Is that not a valid consideration? Did we not declare our love for Him when we made our good confession? Did we not enter into a marriage covenant when we were baptized into Christ? What more do you need within the relationship than what is provided by your husband?

We know exactly who will be in heaven someday. The Revelation reveals them as “the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Revelation 14:4). In the traditional wedding, vows are made to remain faithful to the marriage “in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, till death do us part.” Yet the bride of Christ demands that she never be uncomfortable? If I had a bride who insisted on excitement and thrived on emotionalism, I would call her high maintenance to say the least. Why is the bride not content with the provision of the Bridegroom? Is she going to leave Him if things get difficult?

Then start walking … the door's that way … because according to the Scriptures, Christ may lead us through weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecutions and difficulties (2 Corinthians 12:10). Marriage to Him may offer “dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, [and] dangers among false brethren” (2 Corinthians 11:26). We may have to leave behind our comfortable friendships, turn off our exciting video presentations, say goodbye to the praise band and work beside our husband “in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, [and] in cold and exposure” (2 Corinthians 11:27).

Listen to the heavenly music recorded in the Revelation: ““Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. [7] Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” [8] It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:6-8).

Have you not thought of how your actions affect the Bridegroom? He declares, “I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols” (Ezekiel 6:9). The modern push toward emotionalism is wrong. The Lord doesn't want just any bride, but one that is chaste and faithful having "made herself ready." The constant desire for entertainment and excitement makes the bride nothing more than a harlot in pursuit of other lovers.

The apostle writes in 1 Timothy 2:11-14, “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. [12] But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. [13] For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. [14] And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”

It is not the church's job to teach Christ, but to receive instruction from Him. As the bride, we have no business making demands of the Bridegroom, since He is Creator and we are creature. Christ must come first in this relationship. What we “feel” is of little regard, since it was our base instincts and natural feelings that caused us - like Eve - to commit sin in the first place. The only way this marriage will work is to "quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness" from the One who redeemed us from our transgressions with His own blood.

I just pray that those who claim to be the bride of Christ will renounce their exciting worldly lovers, repent and return to their faithful Husband before it is too late.

The Need for Seed

“Houston, we have a problem!”

It is the Bible by which we are reborn. “You have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). The process of new birth starts with spiritual seed (sperm, Greek sperma), as Jesus says, “the seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).

It is the Bible by which Christ's disciples would be set apart as unique to the Lord. “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

It is the Bible for which we are to long and by which real growth is produced. “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).

It is the Bible which is both our foundation and basis for judgment. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48).

Christ's disciples have been commanded not only to baptize, but to teach the Bible. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, ... [20] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The apostle of Christ warned the church of a time when people would not want the Bible. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, [4] and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3).

The church has also been warned about the danger of ingesting the Bible in a shallow manner. “For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant” (Hebrews 5:13).

With the abundance of evidence as to the importance of the Bible … of its necessity for our spiritual lives … why then is there so little of it utilized within the modern church?

Preachers do not preach Bible sermons, they preach “Bible-based” sermons. It is rare when a 30-40 minute “message” contains more than two or three verses of Scripture. There is more emphasis on relevance than righteousness. Truth is watered down to the point it is deemed non-offensive. And even among those preachers who claim to be preaching “tough messages” and “the whole truth,” the majority of them prove to be more knowledgeable of theatrics than theology. The seed sown is of the spiritual Monsanto variety … GMO all the way.

Elders – those who are supposed to be qualified as “able to teach” the Bible (1 Timothy 3:2) – barely know it, and cannot teach it without a workbook or teacher's guide. In thirty years of ministry, I have rarely ever missed a board meeting. Decision after decision has been made concerning the forward progress of Christ's church, yet I can count on less than one hand (even if I were missing a couple of fingers) the number of times that what the Bible says has ever been considered. In fact, just the opposite. On countless occasions I have brought up what the Bible says about a subject, only to be told, “We know what the Bible says, but ...”

Members – who have been given voting privileges (not according to the Bible, but according to the democratic society in which we live) – do not know the Bible, yet they elect their own leaders and hire their own ministers (again, the marks of the republic in which we live, not the eternal kingdom of Christ). If these infants – these sickly sheep – have no knowledge of the Bible, how then can it be expected that the elders chosen from among them or the preachers hired by them will be of any real value? Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:16). Nowhere has this proven to be more true than in biblically ignorant congregations. If fifty morons select one of their own to lead them, it doesn't make the leader any less a moron than the other forty-nine.

It was Maverick (played by Tom Cruise), in the 1986 classic Top Gun, who said, “I feel the need. The need for speed!” Well, I see a need for seed! We need it sown, and sown abundantly … and not just among the unsaved, but among the church as well.

“Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; [17] so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Five things that are killing the Restoration Movement: #1, Pastors

The ideal of the Restoration Movement is a grand one. Rather than reform the existing – and potentially incorrect – practices and traditions of a particular denomination or congregation, the goal is to lead men back to the Bible; to restore that which was originally created by Christ and His apostles.

Unfortunately, the principles established 200 years ago by men like Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell have been seriously undermined. I have heard motto after motto. “Where the Bible speaks, we speak. Where the Bible is silent, we are silent.” “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love.” A motto though, is just that … a motto. It sounds great on paper, but rarely is actually applied. I can't begin to count the number of times through the years I have heard the phrase, “I know what the Bible says, but ...” If you know what the Bible says, then why would a “but” ever come next? If you know what the Bible says, then do it!

In today's religious climate, the Restoration Movement has shifted far from her original position. It is the stated goal of her contemporary leaders to retain sound doctrine, yet adapt her methodology to an ever-changing culture. With that said, I believe there are five current trends which are killing the Restoration Movement.

#1, Pastors

One popular trend is the title of “pastor” applied to ministers. We have senior pastors, youth pastors, worship pastors, etc. While denominational churches may freely use such a term, I would expect better from a movement whose supposed concern is “where the Bible speaks.”

In this case, the Bible has spoken clearly. Ephesians 4:11 says that God gave “some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.” One doesn't have to be a Bible scholar to do a little basic research. God's kingdom requires those who make disciples (evangelists, preachers, ministers) and those who train the disciples (pastors and teachers, elders, shepherds).

Interestingly enough, the KJV, NASV and NIV each use the word “pastor” only once, in that Ephesians 4:11 passage. The Greek word, poimen, is translated as shepherd or shepherds in all other instances. The majority of those references refer to Jesus, our great Shepherd, but two of those passages in particular point to the function of the elder or overseer. In Acts 20:28, Paul says to the Ephesian elders, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” And in 1 Peter 5:2, Peter – speaking to elders – says, “shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness.”

So how has this term “pastor” – very obviously used in the Scriptures to refer to elders or overseers – come to refer to the paid minister? The answer is: Laziness. Why do your job when you can pay someone else to do it? Over the last thirty years, I have heard elders declare a) they have full-time jobs and are too busy, b) “people expect to see the minister,” and c) “that's why we pay a preacher.”

By referring to the contemporary minister as “pastor,” Restoration Movement churches have spoken the truth, yet have also inadvertently admitted the failure of their leaders. Today's minister IS “the pastor.” He shepherds the flock … which Scripturally is not his responsibility, but that of the elders.

In effect, the Restoration Movement has redefined the eldership. The shepherds of the first century have become a twenty-first century ruling council. Borrowing from Wall Street, they have become a board of directors whose “life experiences” have become substitutes for Biblical knowledge and spiritual character.

One might believe me too strong in declaring that “pastors” are killing the Restoration Movement, but I believe the use of the term to be symptomatic of a greater problem within the leadership of Christ's kingdom. If one unbiblical practice is accepted, then why not two? Why not three? Where do we draw the line in the sand? We ought to know that if a tradition is left standing long enough, it becomes equal in authority with the Bible itself (i.e., the Catholic church).

I believe that within modern elderships, traditions have overtaken and subdued doctrine. Elders are usually elected by their congregations, despite the fact that Paul writes to the minister, Titus, directing him - not the congregation - “to appoint elders in every city” (Titus 1:5). Using the sheep metaphor abundantly supplied in Scripture, can you imagine a flock of sheep gathering to vote one of their own to be a shepherd? That's hardly a realistic picture. In truth, a shepherd is hired by the owner of the sheep, not elected by the sheep themselves. But if the truth of God's word isn't applied in one instance, why apply it in another? There is a serious problem when “that's the way we've always done it” becomes more important than that which the Holy Spirit inspired.

If ministers are “pastors,” then where is the evangelist? If the minister is shepherding and teaching, then what are the elders doing? Such dysfunction is why the Restoration Movement is failing. If they cannot restore such a simple, yet vital, thing as a Biblical pattern of leadership, then how am I to trust anything else?

“Where the Scriptures speak, we speak ...” “In essentials, unity ...” There is nothing more Scriptural or essential than leadership. Jeremiah's prophecy against Israel still delivers the sad truth today, “For the shepherds have become stupid and have not sought the LORD; Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered” (Jeremiah 10:21).

Identifying Evil

What is evil? When someone refers to an “evil” person, chances are they're referring to a murderer, or a criminal, or someone sexually degenerate. But what if that sweet little old lady next door is an evil person? What if a family member is evil? What if someone sitting next to you in church is evil? How do you know?

Even by definition (the world's, not necessarily the Bible's), evil means “morally wrong or bad; harmful.” So if someone is morally wrong – even though perhaps they are a good neighbor – then they are appropriately defined as evil. If someone causes you harm, then they can be defined as evil.

“But wait a minute! Every person has a different standard of morality. What's to say you're right and I'm wrong?” And that argument is exactly why we need the word of God. If there is no moral standard, then evil is in the eye of the beholder. If right and wrong are measured by who harms me and who pleases me, then now you have reached the classic textbook definition of narcissism. “It's all about me!”

Here's what the Bible says, “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL” (1 Peter 3:12). Even without the further definition of the Scriptures, there are some things that can be immediately pulled from the text concerning an evil person. If the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and against those who do evil, then an evil person is someone who is NOT righteous.

What does it mean to be righteous? As the word suggests, it is to do right and to be right – not according to our own standards or definitions, but according to the Lord's. If God says it's right, it's right … and to do otherwise is evil. As James says, “To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

The second definition of evil regards that which is harmful. Lazarus is a good biblical example – the beggar, not the dead guy. Jesus tells us about the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man – in torment – begs for mercy from Father Abraham, who responds, “Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony” (Luke 16:25).

Lazarus received bad things in life (lit., evil). We can't assume this is simply misfortune, since God “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). Everyone experiences misfortune … this is about mistreatment. Lazarus was poorly treated because of his position in life, while the rich man was treated well in life because of his money. James speaks of such partiality, “Have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?” (James 2:4).

Notice also the way Jesus describes those who simply will not prepare for the Master's return … His return. “If that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, 51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:38-51).

So Jesus' description of an evil slave is one who won't prepare for His return, one who mistreats his fellow servants, mixes and mingles with the world, and is actually nothing more than a hypocrite. No wonder James says that “friendship with the world is hostility toward God” (James 4:4).

How do we identify evil though? That's the question on the table. Yes, a mass murderer is evil … but so is your aunt Susie who goes to church every Sunday, but gossips about everyone in the neighborhood on Monday-Saturday. What she is doing is harmful. It is evil. Your friend, Billy Bob, is evil, too. Yup, he's a good guy. He would loan you his mower, fill it with gas, and do the mowing himself … but he's cheating on his wife. What he's doing is morally wrong. It's evil.

Jesus said, “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil” (Matthew 12:35). That means all we have to do is pay better attention, because “the tree is known by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). The fact that someone is related to you doesn't change the fact that their fruit is rotten. The fact that they sit next to you in church doesn't excuse the sins being committed out in the community.

The apostle Paul writes that “the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). Oh, and he wrote that to the church … not so that they could identify things that were happening out in the world, but things that were occurring within the church.

Modern congregations have somehow come to believe that they can live one way on Sunday and another way throughout the week … that their behavior on this earth doesn't really matter … that God's love will tell His justice to put its hands over its eyes and count to a zillion. Folks, these are nothing more than lies. This earth and it's works are going to be destroyed by fire. “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11-12, NIV).

For most of biblical history we read about the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews were Jews … the Gentiles were everyone else. It's the same way today for Christians. Either you are one or you're not. Either you're living a righteous life, or you're not. Either your life is holy and godly, or it's not. Either you belong to Christ or you belong to the devil … “the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious” (1 John 3:10).

Identifying evil isn't as difficult a task as some want to make it. The word of God is still our standard, and Christ our example. Fruit – or a lack thereof – still speaks volumes. This is a message that the world – and the church – so desperately needs to hear.