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: Jeremiah 40-41

Jeremiah 40-41
Character in the Midst of Change

I.  Respect vs. 1-6
     “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the bodyguard had released him from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. [2] Now the captain of the bodyguard had taken Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God promised this calamity against this place; [3] and the LORD has brought it on and done just as He promised. Because you people sinned against the LORD and did not listen to His voice, therefore this thing has happened to you. [4] “But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains which are on your hands. If you would prefer to come with me to Babylon, come along, and I will look after you; but if you would prefer not to come with me to Babylon, never mind. Look, the whole land is before you; go wherever it seems good and right for you to go.” [5] As Jeremiah was still not going back, he said, “Go on back then to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people; or else go anywhere it seems right for you to go.” So the captain of the bodyguard gave him a ration and a gift and let him go. [6] Then Jeremiah went to Mizpah to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.”


II. Relationships vs. 7-12
     “[7] Now all the commanders of the forces that were in the field, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been exiled to Babylon. [8] So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, along with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, both they and their men. [9] Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, “Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans; stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, that it may go well with you. [10] “Now as for me, behold, I am going to stay at Mizpah to stand for you before the Chaldeans who come to us; but as for you, gather in wine and summer fruit and oil and put them in your storage vessels, and live in your cities that you have taken over.” [11] Likewise, also all the Jews who were in Moab and among the sons of Ammon and in Edom and who were in all the other countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant for Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. [12] Then all the Jews returned from all the places to which they had been driven away and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered in wine and summer fruit in great abundance.”


III. Rebellion 40:13 – 41:3
     “[13] Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah [14] and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them. [15] Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and not a man will know! Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered and the remnant of Judah would perish?” [16] But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “Do not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.”” 
     [41:1] In the seventh month Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family and one of the chief officers of the king, along with ten men, came to Mizpah to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. While they were eating bread together there in Mizpah, [2] Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him arose and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword and put to death the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land. [3] Ishmael also struck down all the Jews who were with him, that is with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war.”


IV. Rationalization 41:4-10
     “[4] Now it happened on the next day after the killing of Gedaliah, when no one knew about it, [5] that eighty men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria with their beards shaved off and their clothes torn and their bodies gashed, having grain offerings and incense in their hands to bring to the house of the LORD. [6] Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went; and as he met them, he said to them, “Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam!” [7] Yet it turned out that as soon as they came inside the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the men that were with him slaughtered them and cast them into the cistern. [8] But ten men who were found among them said to Ishmael, “Do not put us to death; for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil and honey hidden in the field.” So he refrained and did not put them to death along with their companions. [9] Now as for the cistern where Ishmael had cast all the corpses of the men whom he had struck down because of Gedaliah, it was the one that King Asa had made on account of Baasha, king of Israel; Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain. [10] Then Ishmael took captive all the remnant of the people who were in Mizpah, the king's daughters and all the people who were left in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard had put under the charge of Gedaliah the son of Ahikam; thus Ishmael the son of Nethaniah took them captive and proceeded to cross over to the sons of Ammon.”


V.  Rescue 41:11-18
     “[11] But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done. [12] So they took all the men and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and they found him by the great pool that is in Gibeon. [13] Now as soon as all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah and the commanders of the forces that were with him, they were glad. [14] So all the people whom Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah. [15] But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men and went to the sons of Ammon. [16] Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him took from Mizpah all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, after he had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, that is, the men who were soldiers, the women, the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon. [17] And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, which is beside Bethlehem, in order to proceed into Egypt [18] because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, since Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.” 


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Hosea 8

“Replacement Religion”
Hosea 8

Introduction: 2 Corinthians 13:5; John 8:31-32; Matthew 15:8-9
     Hosea 8:1-3, “Put the trumpet to your lips! Like an eagle the enemy comes against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law. [2] They cry out to Me, “My God, we of Israel know You!” [3] Israel has rejected the good; the enemy will pursue him.”
   

I.  They replaced Divine leadership with human leadership.  vs. 4-7
     “[4] They have set up kings, but not by Me; they have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, that they might be cut off. [5] He has rejected your calf, O Samaria, saying, “My anger burns against them!” How long will they be incapable of innocence? [6] For from Israel is even this! A craftsman made it, so it is not God; surely the calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces. [7] For they sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up.”

2 Timothy 4:3; Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; Colossians 1:21-22; Galatians 6:7; Ephesians 1:22


II. They replaced a Divine relationship with human relationships.  vs. 8-10
     “[8] Israel is swallowed up; they are now among the nations like a vessel in which no one delights. [9] For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. [10] Even though they hire allies among the nations, now I will gather them up; and they will begin to diminish because of the burden of the king of princes.”

Deuteronomy 28:1, 9; 1 Peter 2:9


III. They replaced Divine worship with human worship.  vs. 11-14
     “[11] Since Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin, they have become altars of sinning for him. [12] Though I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of My law, they are regarded as a strange thing. [13] As for My sacrificial gifts, they sacrifice the flesh and eat it, but the LORD has taken no delight in them. Now He will remember their iniquity, and punish them for their sins; they will return to Egypt. [14] For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities, but I will send a fire on its cities that it may consume its palatial dwellings.”

Romans 1:25; Mark 7:8-9; Acts 2:42; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 John 1:7; 1 Corinthians 11:29


Conclusion: Luke 10:27; James 1:27


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Relationship

It is common today for certain words to be 'spiritualized' and made to mean either more or less than the context of the Scriptures would allow. This has always been the case though, as man has been warned consistently not to add to or take away from the revealed word of God (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Revelation 22:18).

One such word is relationship, misused by both the world and the church. For example, God has identified a proper physical relationship as between a man and a woman ... and within the boundaries of marriage ... yet the word relationship is regularly used by those engaged in sinful actions such as homosexuality, fornication and adultery.

The word is also misused within church circles. Many congregations have purpose statements that reflect the following: “We desire to bring all people into a saving relationship with Christ Jesus, and a family relationship with one another through Christ.” While that sounds wonderful, many such congregations present differing views of what it means to enter into relationship with Christ, and their relationship with one another is based solely on the fact that they call themselves Christians. In many cases, neither the truth of Scripture nor the evidence of righteous behavior come into play before declaring such “relationships.” To me, it is not unlike the first grade boy and girl on the playground who swap toys and call one another boyfriend and girlfriend. It is clear that in their immaturity they have no clue what they're talking about.

But there is a proper usage of the term … if we let the Scriptures speak. The primary definition of relationship is 'the state of being related.' Technically, all men who are the offspring of Adam and Eve are “related,” but that is only a physical relationship. I'm interested in the spiritual relationship.

According to the word of God, we become "sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26). We “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).

As Christians, we are reminded that we are "of God's household" (Ephesians 2:19). We "are no longer a slave, but a son" (Galatians 4:7). Right "now we are children of God" (1 John 3:2), and in fact considered "as beloved children" (Ephesians 5:1). "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16).

This was by God's design. We were "predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29). We "have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5-6). Even though we “were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds” (Colossians 1:21), now we are considered "heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17)..

Our relationship with one another though is not one “in name only,” as practiced throughout Christendom. Jesus taught us to pray to "our Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 6:9). The only thing then that could possibly make us brothers is having the same Father. If your Father tells you one thing to be saved yet tells me another, there's a problem. God has explained His will within His word. Only by submitting to God do we prove Him our Father, and by extension that we are brothers.

How do I enter into a proper relationship with God? I must be “washed ... sanctified, [and] ... justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). I must repent of my sin, be baptized into Christ, and allow His blood to wash away that sin, never to return to it again.

How do I enter into a proper relationship with my brothers and sisters in Christ? In like manner, as the Scriptures say, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? [15] Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? [16] Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE [17] Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; and I will welcome you. [18] And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

It is oh so popular to declare “a personal relationship with Jesus,” but the proof – as they say – is in the pudding. If you know nothing of God's word and live more like the world than like Christ, then I have to assume your relationship status is false. If you claim to be my brother, then act like it. “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).

But if you DO have a proper relationship with the Lord, well … “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. [14] For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold. [15] She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her” (Proverbs 3:13-15).

And if you DO find someone who has equally surrendered to the will of the Lord, someone with whom you can truthfully say you are in Christian relationship, then “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

"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.