Sunday Sermon Outline: Behold My mother and My brothers

Behold My mother and My brothers!
Matthew 12:46-50

Introduction: 
     Matthew 12:46-50, “While [Jesus] was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. [47] Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” [48] But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” [49] And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.””

     “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

I. Spiritual Relationships
     “I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99).
     “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
     “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— [13] for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:12-14).
     “Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; [52] for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. [53] They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law” (Luke 12:51-53).

II. Spiritual Leadership
     John 7:1-5, “Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. [2] Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. [3] Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. [4] For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” [5] For not even His brothers were believing in Him.” 
     “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
     “Obey your parents in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1).

III. Spiritual Priorities
     “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and ... run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
     “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37).
     “Keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them” (Romans 16:17).

Conclusion:
     “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1).
     “Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Colossians 4

Colossians 4
Making the Most of Your Ministry

I. Communication with your Father vs. 1-4
     “[4:1] Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven. [2] Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; [3] praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; [4] that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.”


II. Communication with your friends vs. 5-6
     “[5] Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. [6] Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”


III. Communication with your family vs. 7-18
     “[7] As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. [8] For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; [9] and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here. [10] Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas's cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); [11] and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. [12] Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. [13] For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. [14] Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. [15] Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. [16] When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. [17] Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” [18] I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.” 


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Sunday Sermon Outline: 1 Timothy 5

The Administration of God’s Household
“A Righteous Family”
1 Timothy 5

Introduction: 1 Peter 2:5


I.  Righteous Relationships vs. 1-2
     “Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, [2] the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.” 

Malachi 2:10


II. Righteous Responsibilities vs. 3-16

     A. Dealing with those who cannot care for themselves vs. 3-10
     “[3] Honor widows who are widows indeed; [4] but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. [5] Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. [6] But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. [7] Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. [8] But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. [9] A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, [10] having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.”

     B. Dealing with those who should be caring for themselves vs. 11-15
     “[11] But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, [12] thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. [13] At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. [14] Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; [15] for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. [16] If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.”


III. Righteous Rulers vs. 17-25

     A. Honoring the leader who rules well. vs. 17-18 
     “[17] The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. [18] For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.””

Hebrews 13:17

     B. Correcting the leader who rules poorly. vs. 19-25
     “[19] Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. [20] Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. [21] I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. [22] Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. [23] No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. [24] The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. [25] Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.”

2 Peter 3:14


Conclusion: 1 John 3:7-12


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"Behold My mother and My brothers!"

Much is said of the family relationship. It is said that “blood is thicker than water.” One person says, “Whatever happens, always remember that we're family.” I have also heard it said, “There is nothing more important than family.”

If any of those statements are true, then how exactly would you explain the following comments by Jesus? Taken from Matthew 12:46-50, “While [Jesus] was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. [47] Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” [48] But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” [49] And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.””

Were the disciples of Christ REALLY Jesus' family? And was He dismissing His human mother and brothers as no longer being His family? To accurately assess the passage, one must understand that it has been God's intent from the beginning to move man to a higher order than that which is merely physical. So much of the Bible is misunderstood – or not understood at all – because it is spiritual in nature. As it is written, “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Is a Bible college education valuable? Sure, under the right conditions. But if a man has a Ph.D. in theology yet does not have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, then his teaching cannot be correct or profitable. Thus David said, “I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99). It wasn't that his teachers lacked education … they lacked the Spirit of God.

What does that have to do with our text? Everything. To many people, family truly is their all in all. I know those who spend an exorbitant amount of time hauling their kids to every extracurricular activity under the sun. Yet those same people will rarely spend time in prayer or Bible study. No matter what the lips say … the evidence says clearly that family is more important than God.

In our text, Jesus was making a very clear distinction between the physical and the spiritual. He was NOT saying that physical family is unimportant, but that the spiritual family relationship supersedes the physical one. When one is worldly, the family relationship can indeed be everything. But when one is spiritual, the blood relationship is reevaluated and reconsidered in light of the heavenly relationship.

Jesus told Nicodemus, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). This is not hyperbole, but truth. The physical must give way to the spiritual, because the physical is tied to a world destined for destruction. “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— [13] for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:12-14).

Jesus spoke frankly, “Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; [52] for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. [53] They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law” (Luke 12:51-53). If the physical relationship is more important than the spiritual one, then it proves a misplaced priority. How easy it is for family to become a god!

In the case of Jesus' own family, they did not correctly evaluate Him or the heavenly cause He represented. In John 7:1-5, we read, “Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. [2] Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. [3] Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. [4] For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” [5] For not even His brothers were believing in Him.”

His family gave Him good worldly advice … which was of no heavenly value at all. They believed in Jesus the Man, but not in Jesus the Son of God. They evaluated His situation only with physical wisdom, lacking any spiritual wisdom.

The same thing is true of so many leaders in the contemporary church. They raise their hands in agreement on physical issues, because the world tells them that a majority vote is a proper method for laying out a course … even though the Bible has never suggested such a method as a pattern for spiritual leadership. They think physically and act physically … and prove by their actions that they are not spiritual men.

This is also true within families. “Because I said so” was good enough for me as a child under my parent's authority, but now I have given all allegiance to a higher authority. What my heavenly Father says is of far greater weight than what my earthly father says. “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Even the physical command, “Obey your parents,” is qualified by the spiritual parameter, “in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1).

When I was adopted into God's family, I was removed from my earthly family. In fact, if my earthly family is not also a part of my spiritual family, then I owe them nothing at all. Perhaps blood IS physically thicker than water, but it was not the blood of my parents or siblings that purchased my salvation.

God is my Father, Jesus is my elder Brother, and – according to Christ – “whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Thus my consideration of any real family connection is tied directly to their behavior … it is associated with their response to God … it is obligated not by the blood of my progenitors, but by obedience to the One who is “the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

The word of the Lord says that we are to “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and ... run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Earthly family is such an encumbrance if they hold you back from full fellowship with the Lord. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). And if the agenda of a physical family is prioritized over the agenda of almighty God, then it becomes a “sin which so easily entangles us.”

“But I love my family!” Do you love them more than you love God? And if you TRULY love them, will you not do whatever is necessary to save their souls from hell … even if that means sharing hard spiritual truth which might cause them to withdraw from you?

Ultimately, we will all stand before the Lord on the Day of Judgment. On that day, I will be held accountable for my actions … and for my associations. The Spirit of God has commanded, “Keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them” (Romans 16:17) … which includes, if necessary, even my own flesh and blood.

I look forward to the splendor of heaven, in which I will have eternal fellowship with my REAL family … with my REAL brothers and sisters … with those who have placed the Spirit above the flesh … with those who have denied themselves and accomplished the will of God.

But until that day comes, I will “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1) … even if they share my DNA. “Forgetting what lies behind” (that which is earthly, even if it is family) “and reaching forward to what lies ahead” (heaven, and the real spiritual family into which I have been adopted), “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). I will let nothing – not even family – deter me from that goal.

Forgive and Forget

On my birthday, a relative who had spiritually wounded me sent a card that contained a reference to Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

The implication is that I should forget the past and move forward. First, I would be remiss if I did not correct the misinterpretation of the Scripture. Paul is not suggesting we forget the past, he is telling us to forget the sinful life we left when choosing to accept Christ and walk the narrow path to salvation. “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). He is giving us an eternal recipe for success: Forgetting the old man of sin that should be dead and buried, and reaching forward to what only a new creation in Christ can attain.

So Paul's text is not about forgetting the past. It is not about forgetting grievances against you. In fact, Paul is the first to warn against those who have proven to be “dogs” and “evil workers” - those who have received a “false circumcision” (Philippians 3:1). He implores us to examine the evidence which our past contains in order to make a determination between those who “walk according to the pattern” and those who are “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:17-18). As the apostle examines his own life, he remembers distinctly which single congregation supported him when he first began to preach and the fact that every other congregation neglected to help him (Philippians 4:15).

But my relative – who claims to love me – has suggested that I need to let go of the past and move on ... to forget any perceived sins against me. In effect, I am being asked to consider the family relationship as more important than whatever grievances I may have. This certainly is a popular thought. Modern psychologies – which have invaded both the world and the church – teach us that we cannot move forward – in our lives, in our relationships – unless we learn to forgive. It is said that we must not harbor resentments. “You have to forgive and forget!”

But is that the truth? Why then has God said to the churches three times, “I have this against you” (Revelation 2:4, 14, 20)? In fact, can you find even one passage of Scripture in which God forgets the past and overlooks sins committed against Him? Only one thing – ONE – causes God to forget sin, and that is repentance. In every other case, God has indeed harbored resentment. “I will set My face against you” (Leviticus 26:17). “I will act with hostility against you” (Leviticus 26:24). “I will act with wrathful hostility against you, and I, even I, will punish you seven times for your sins” (Leviticus 26:28).

““You who have forsaken Me,” declares the LORD, “You keep going backward. So I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am tired of relenting! [7] I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy My people; They did not repent of their ways”” (Jeremiah 15:6-7). Why didn't God just forget about the past? Because “they did not repent of their ways.”

Forget psychology! Forget Oprah Winfrey! What does Jesus say? “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. [4] And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4). According to the Master, there is no forgiveness apart from repentance.

I have made my grievances crystal clear against my family members. I would love for the family relationship to be restored. I long for the fellowship of those who desire to be my Christian brothers and sisters. But this isn't about a petty insult. This isn't about getting my feelings hurt. This is about the rejection of my ministry to Christ, and therefore Christ Himself.

I have been fired by “Christian” congregations four times. In each case, members who claimed to love me and my family believed lies and turned away from us. They would not support us. They denied the evidence of my life and my preaching. I cannot forget that. God does not forget that. A separation has been made. “Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them” (Mark 6:11).

Only once in almost thirty years has someone from a former congregation contacted me to say, “I was wrong.” Once. That brother I graciously accepted back into my life with tears. The repentance was sufficient to warrant forgiveness. For the rest – even from my family members – I'm still waiting.

I cannot forgive sinful behavior apart from repentance, because God does not. Not one unrepentant sin has blindly being overlooked by the Lord. He does not ignore our transgressions with a conspiratorial wink. Man is superior at excusing sinful behavior. “Oh, we're only human. We're all just imperfect people.” God never makes such declarations. Can you really imagine Him saying, “Oh, it's all right, you're only human. I'll ignore that sin since you're all just imperfect people.” Only by repenting will proper fellowship be restored.“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

My family treat me as if I have severed the ties that bind us as some sort of temper tantrum. Just the opposite. I take no pleasure in the separation, nor have I walked away from them lightly. What has been done was affected only after much prayer and consideration of the Scriptures. Before I ever considered their sins, I first considered my own, as Jesus says, “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye” (Matthew 7:5).

Also, they (my family and former congregations) have in effect – by their behavior and speech – suggested that no sin was committed. If they do not see their sin, that is their problem not mine. I am responsible to the Scriptures, which state, “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). I cannot force someone to understand, or even to listen. All I can do is speak truth.

God did so in abundance, yet His people – those who claimed to love Him – rejected His spiritual assessment. “How have we despised Your name?” (Malachi 1:6). “How have we defiled You?” (Malachi 1:7). “How have we wearied Him?” (Malachi 2:17). “How have we robbed You?” (Malachi 3:8). Jesus also warned of such blindness – and its repercussions – early in His ministry, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ [23] And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS’” (Matthew 7:22-23).

In fact, considering such Scriptures, it becomes all the more necessary for me to remove myself from such people. Overlooking the sin would only perpetuate the blindness. The right thing to do when unrepentant sin remains blatant and outstanding, according to the apostle of Christ, is to sever fellowship, “I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5). Sometimes it is only by an extraordinary measure that wickedness can be revealed and realized.

Our Declaration of Independence claims that when it becomes time to “dissolve the …. bands which have connected them with another … a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

Our founding fathers were following a biblical model … and so have I. As Jesus says, “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. [16] But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17).