Sunday Sermon Outline: Resurrection Participation

“Resurrection Participation”

 

Introduction:

John 11:25-27, “Jesus said to [Martha], "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world."”

I. Baptism

Matthew 7:24, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.” 

Mark 16:16, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

Acts 2:38, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 

Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Galatians 3:26-27, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” 

Romans 6:4-11, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:8-11, “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” 

Romans 6:17-18, “thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:22, “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”

1 Peter 3:20-21, “... the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 2:12, “having been buried with Him in baptism, [we will be] raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

II. The Lord’s Day

Revelation 1:10, John “was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.” 

Mark 16:9, “Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene.” 

John 20:19-20, “When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”  

Acts 2:41, “… there were added that day about three thousand souls.” 

Leviticus 23:15-16, “You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. 16 You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD.”

Acts 2:42, “they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” 

Acts 20:7, “on the first day of the week, they were gathered together to break bread.” 

1 Corinthians 16:2, “On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper.”

Hebrews 10:25-26, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.”

III. The Lord’s Supper

Acts 20:7, “on the first day of the week, … to break bread.” 

Matthew 26:26-29,  “while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.”

1 Corinthians 11:20-26, “Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you. 33 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.”

John 14:3, “I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” 

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21).

John 6:53-54, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Conclusion:

Hebrews 10:19-27, “Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.”

Hebrews 9:27-28, “it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 [but] so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” 

 

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Sunday Sermon Outline: The Samaritans' Religion

"The Samaritans' Religion"
2 Kings 17:24‑41

Introduction: 2 Kings 17:24-41, “[24] The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sephar-vaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel. So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities. [25] At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them. [26] So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have carried away into exile in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land; so he has sent lions among them, and behold, they kill them because they do not know the custom of the god of the land.”
     “[27] Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Take there one of the priests whom you carried away into exile and let him go and live there; and let him teach them the custom of the god of the land.” [28] So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.”
     “[29] But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the houses of the high places which the people of Samaria had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived. [30] The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, [31] and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim. [32] They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who acted for them in the houses of the high places. [33] They feared the LORD and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile.”
     “[34] To this day they do according to the earlier customs: they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances or the law, or the commandments which the LORD commanded the sons of Jacob, whom He named Israel; [35] with whom the LORD made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down yourselves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them. [36] “But the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, and to Him you shall bow yourselves down, and to Him you shall sacrifice. [37] “The statutes and the ordinances and the law and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall observe to do forever; and you shall not fear other gods. [38] “The covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods. [39] “But the LORD your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.””
     “[40] However, they did not listen, but they did according to their earlier custom. [41] So while these nations feared the LORD, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.”

I. A Religion of Fear  vs. 25, 28-29
     Verse 25, “At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them.”
     Verse 28, “So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.”
     “[29] But ...” “They worshiped the LORD, but …” (v. 33, NIV).
     Verse 34, “To this day they do according to the earlier customs: they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances or the law, or the commandments which the LORD commanded the sons of Jacob, whom He named Israel.”

     “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).
     Ecclesiastes 12:13, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.”
     “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
     1 John 4:16‑18, “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. [17] By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”

II. A Religion of Form  vs. 33-34
     "[33] They feared the LORD and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile. [34] To this day they do according to the earlier customs: they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances or the law, or the commandments which the LORD commanded the sons of Jacob, whom He named Israel."

     Matthew 15:7‑9, “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: [8] ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. [9] BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
     “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! [2] I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. [3] Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. [4] His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish. [5] How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, [6] Who made heaven and earth, The sea and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever” (Psalm 146:1-6).

III. A Religion of Futility  vs. 40-41 
     “[40] However, they did not listen, but they did according to their earlier custom. [41] So while these nations feared the LORD, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.”

     Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.”
     “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. … “You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, [15] for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 6:5, 14‑15).
     “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 6:17-18).
     “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
     “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Conclusion: 1 Kings 18:21, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 33

Jeremiah 33
The Kingdom Restored

I.  Reputation Restored vs. 1-9
     “Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard, saying, [2] “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it, the LORD is His name, [3] ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ [4] “For thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah which are broken down to make a defense against the siege ramps and against the sword, [5] ‘While they are coming to fight with the Chaldeans and to fill them with the corpses of men whom I have slain in My anger and in My wrath, and I have hidden My face from this city because of all their wickedness: [6] ‘Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth. [7] ‘I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and will rebuild them as they were at first. [8] ‘I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me. [9] It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.’”

Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1


II. Worship Restored vs. 10-11
     “[10] “Thus says the LORD, ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, “It is a waste, without man and without beast,” that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, [11] the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, “Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting”; and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD.”

2 Corinthians 9:10-12


III. Leadership Restored vs. 12-18
     “[12] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘There will again be in this place which is waste, without man or beast, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds who rest their flocks. [13] ‘In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who numbers them,’ says the LORD.”

Ephesians 4:11-13

     “[14] ‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. [15] ‘In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth. [16] ‘In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.’ [17] “For thus says the LORD, ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; [18] and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to prepare sacrifices continually.’””

Acts 13:22-23; 1 Peter 2:9


IV. Order Restored vs. 19-26
     “[19] The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, [20] “Thus says the LORD, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, [21] then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers. [22] ‘As the host of heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.’” [23] And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, [24] “Have you not observed what this people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families which the LORD chose, He has rejected them’? Thus they despise My people, no longer are they as a nation in their sight. [25] “Thus says the LORD, ‘If My covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have not established, [26] then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.’””

1 Corinthians 14:40; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 2:10


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 33

Jeremiah 33
The Kingdom Restored

I.  Reputation Restored vs. 1-9
     “Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard, saying, [2] “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it, the LORD is His name, [3] ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ [4] “For thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah which are broken down to make a defense against the siege ramps and against the sword, [5] ‘While they are coming to fight with the Chaldeans and to fill them with the corpses of men whom I have slain in My anger and in My wrath, and I have hidden My face from this city because of all their wickedness: [6] ‘Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth. [7] ‘I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and will rebuild them as they were at first. [8] ‘I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me. [9] It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.’”

Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1


II. Worship Restored vs. 10-11
     “[10] “Thus says the LORD, ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, “It is a waste, without man and without beast,” that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, [11] the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, “Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting”; and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD.”

2 Corinthians 9:10-12


III. Leadership Restored vs. 12-18
     “[12] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘There will again be in this place which is waste, without man or beast, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds who rest their flocks. [13] ‘In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who numbers them,’ says the LORD.”

Ephesians 4:11-13

     “[14] ‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. [15] ‘In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth. [16] ‘In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.’ [17] “For thus says the LORD, ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; [18] and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to prepare sacrifices continually.’””

Acts 13:22-23; 1 Peter 2:9


IV. Order Restored vs. 19-26
     “[19] The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, [20] “Thus says the LORD, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, [21] then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers. [22] ‘As the host of heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.’” [23] And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, [24] “Have you not observed what this people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families which the LORD chose, He has rejected them’? Thus they despise My people, no longer are they as a nation in their sight. [25] “Thus says the LORD, ‘If My covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have not established, [26] then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.’””

1 Corinthians 14:40; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 2:10


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Jeremiah 7

Jeremiah 7
“A Message to the Body”

I.  True Worship vs. 1-2
     “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, [2] “Stand in the gate of the LORD's house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!’””

John 4:23


II. A True Word vs. 3-11
     “[3] Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. [4] “Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’ [5] “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, [6] if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, [7] then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. [8] “Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail. [9] “Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known, [10] then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—that you may do all these abominations? [11] “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it, ” declares the LORD.”


III. A True Witness vs. 12-15 
      “[12] “But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I made My name dwell at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. [13] “And now, because you have done all these things,” declares the LORD, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you but you did not answer, [14] therefore, I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave you and your fathers, as I did to Shiloh. [15] “I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, all the offspring of Ephraim.”

1 Corinthians 10:5-6


IV. A True Worker vs. 16-19 
     “[16] As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you. [17] Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? [18] The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods in order to spite Me. [19] “Do they spite Me?” declares the LORD. “Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?”” 

Romans 16:17; 2 Timothy 3:1-5


V. A True Warning vs. 20-26 
     “[20] Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, My anger and My wrath will be poured out on this place, on man and on beast and on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground; and it will burn and not be quenched.” [21] Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat flesh. [22] “For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. [23] “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ [24] “Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. [25] “Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them. [26] “Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers.” 

John 3:36


VI. True Wrath vs. 27-34 
     “[27] “You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer you. [28] “You shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth. [29] ‘Cut off your hair and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on the bare heights; for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.’ [30] “For the sons of Judah have done that which is evil in My sight,” declares the LORD, “they have set their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. [31] “They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, and it did not come into My mind. [32] “Therefore, behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when it will no longer be called Topheth, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of the Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place. [33] “The dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the sky and for the beasts of the earth; and no one will frighten them away. [34] “Then I will make to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; for the land will become a ruin.” 

 Hebrews 10:26-31


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Real Worship

"Real Worship"

Introduction: Psalm 100; Deuteronomy 6:5-7; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27; John 4:19-24; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Micah 6:6-7


I.  Renew your Reverence for God

Psalm 29:1-2, "Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in holy array." 


II. Practice the Presence of God 

Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”


III. Develop a Sense of Community

Hebrews 10:24-25, "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." 

Psalm 133:1; Psalm 26:4-8


Conclusion: Matthew 15:9


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Ecclesiastes 5

“Watch What You Worship”
Ecclesiastes 5

Introduction: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. [14] For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”


I.  Empty Words vs. 1-7
     “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. [2] Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. [3] For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words. [4] When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! [5] It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. [6] Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands? [7] For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.”

1 Samuel 15:22-23; 1 Kings 18:25-40; James 5:16


II. An Evil World vs. 8-9
     “[8] If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them. [9] After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.”

1 Corinthians 2:14-16; 1 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 7:18; Matthew 6:20


III. Earthly Wealth vs. 10-20
     “[10] He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. [11] When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? [12] The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. [13] There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. [14] When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. [15] As he had come naked from his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. [16] This also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind? [17] Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.”

1 Kings 5:13-16; 1 Timothy 6:7-10; 1 John 2:15-17

     “[18] Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. [19] Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. [20] For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.” 

 Matthew 6:2, 5, 16; 2 Corinthians 10:18; John 9:4; 2 Timothy 2:15; Philippians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 7:31; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 11:16


Conclusion: Mark 7:7; Isaiah 32:6; John 4:23; Hebrews 11:16; Hebrews 11:10


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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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Sunday Sermon Outline: Hosea 7

“Wrong Choices”
Hosea 7

I.  Living a Lie  vs. 1-7
     “When I would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, and the evil deeds of Samaria, for they deal falsely; The thief enters in, bandits raid outside, [2] and they do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds are all around them; they are before My face. [3] With their wickedness they make the king glad, and the princes with their l ies. [4] They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker who ceases to stir up the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. [5] On the day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; He stretched out his hand with scoffers, [6] For their hearts are like an oven as they approach their plotting; their anger smolders all night, in the morning it burns like a flaming fire. [7] All of them are hot like an oven, and they consume their rulers; all their kings have fallen. None of them calls on Me.”

Matthew 15:14; Acts 5:29; Exodus 1:15-17; 1 Samuel 14:29; Daniel 3:18; 6:10; Acts 4:19-20; Matthew 23:37


II. Religious Tolerance  vs. 8-10
     “[8] Ephraim mixes himself with the nations; Ephraim has become a cake not turned. [9] Strangers devour his strength, yet he does not know it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, yet he does not know it. [10] Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, yet they have not returned to the LORD their God, nor have they sought Him, for all this.”

Exodus 33:16; Malachi 2:11; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; Psalm 106:35-36; John 15:19; Hebrews 11:13; 1 John 2:15; 1 Corinthians 15:33; 1 John 4:17; Hebrews 11:16; Matthew 13:20-21


III. Chasing Contemporary Trends  vs. 11-13
     “[11] So Ephraim has become like a silly dove, without sense; they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. [12] When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them in accordance with the proclamation to their assembly. [13] Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.”

Hosea 2:12; Matthew 23:10


IV. Incomplete Worship  vs. 14-16
     “[14] And they do not cry to Me from their heart when they wail on their beds; for the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, they turn away from Me. [15] Although I trained and strengthened their arms, yet they devise evil against Me. [16] They turn, but not upward, they are like a deceitful bow; their princes will fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.”

John 4:23-24; Matthew 23:27-28


Conclusion: Joshua 24:15


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How serious is God?

Somewhere along the line … somewhere between the fallacy of unconditional love and the constant desire for programming that is the product of human wisdom and reasoning … man has lost his fear for God. Everything about the modern church suggests that God is weak and compliant to the whims of His creations.

Mere men – calling themselves religious leaders – sit behind closed doors and make decisions about the life and progress of their congregations. They discuss their ideas for hours, finally taking a vote to ratify their will upon the flock. A closing prayer invokes God's blessing upon the product of their collective wisdom. Meanwhile, the few Bibles in the room remain closed.

Paid ministers – professional “pastors” – sit behind office desks. They scour the internet searching for tips and tricks on how to tweak body programming in order to bring in more people and generate more revenue. They download graphics for their Powerpoint presentations, and cut and paste all the appropriate stories, jokes and illustrations for Sunday's message. They turn off the screen only long enough to read the book on their desk … not the Bible, but the current religious bestseller from which they are drawing their latest sermon series.

Meanwhile, the members of the congregation simply go about their daily lives. They get up and put on their Christian t-shirts, drink their coffee from a mug that has a picture of Jesus on it, turn on the computer screen and wiggle the mouse to take off the inspirational screen saver, then proceed to check the internet for sports scores and recipes, and to surf Pinterest and Facebook. The amount of God's word they digest in a day is limited to the random “verse of the day” that is sent to their email account.

Forgotten is the fact that God so detested sin that He attached to it from the beginning of creation the death penalty (Genesis 2:17). Forgotten is a flood which destroyed a world which had ignored God and become corrupt and violent (Genesis 6:11). Forgotten is the destruction of wicked Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24). Forgotten is the God who brought devastating plagues against Egypt (Exodus 7-11), and buried their military strength in the Red Sea (Exodus 14:27). Forgotten is the God who ended Korah's rebellion by causing the ground to open and the earth to swallow up the offending leaders (Numbers 16:32), and then sent a plague to wipe out those who followed his false leadership (Numbers 16:49). Forgotten is the God who sent poisonous serpents among His rebellious people (Numbers 21:6).

“Oh, but those are all Old Testament references. The New Testament God is a God of love!”

Oh, really? Is that what your religious leaders are teaching you?

Forgotten is the declaration of Jesus, “I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:5).

Forgotten is the judgment against those who would ignore His word, “Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. [15] Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city” (Matthew 10:14-15).

Forgotten is the verdict delivered against those who fail to repent, “It will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:22). “It will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you” (Matthew 11:24). “Repent or perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).

“You shouldn't take things so literally! You make God sound so serious.”

Was Jesus serious when He said “that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36)? Was He serious when He sent His Spirit to “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8)?

Was God serious when He caused Ananias and Sapphira to drop dead for lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-10)? I believe it produced the intended result, as “great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things” (Acts 5:11).

“Well, our church is a church of love, acceptance and forgiveness! If you don't believe me, just check our signboard out front. It's printed in big letters.”

Meanwhile – in not so big letters – comes the warning of the apostle Paul, that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18) … that “because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:5).

“So what's the problem, Paul? Why are so many congregations failing to produce real Christians? Why are so many religious leaders compromising with the world? Why are preachers preaching watered down, crowd pleasing half truths?”

“THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES” (Romans 3:18).

“Stop it, Jonathan! You're just trying to scare people!”

There's only one problem with the logic of such an assessment. I wasn't the one who wrote, “If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, [27] but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES” (Hebrews 10:26-27). “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

“Well, I'm just glad my Sunday School teacher doesn't teach like that!”

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment” (James 3:1).

“But you're making it sound like I should spend more time scared than happy!”

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth” (1 Peter 1:17). “IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?” (1 Peter 4:18).

For those of you who regularly attend a congregation focusing on strong emotional content and positive, uplifting messages, what exactly should we do with the entire chapter of 2 Peter 2? It isn't that pesky Jonathan Ingram, but an apostle of Christ who states that “false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. [2] Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; [3] and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. [4] For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; [5] and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; [6] and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; [7] and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men [8] (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), [9] then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, [10] and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, [11] whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. [12] But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, [13] suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, [14] having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; [15] forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; [16] but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet. [17] These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. [18] For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, [19] promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. [20] For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. [21] For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. [22] It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.””

Oh, and by the way, did you catch that Peter was speaking not about worldly people, but about religious leaders? That's some pretty strong language he uses about supposed Christians. But you've probably never even heard that chapter read in the non-threatening, non-judgmental atmosphere of most contemporary congregations.

I find it ironic that churches create their own worship traditions which have no biblical basis, while ignoring completely the very few passages that actually DO refer to corporate worship. The greatest example I can think of is in relation to non-believers who attend our assemblies. Today, it is believed that you must not offend non-believing visitors, but instead to placate and woo them. Yet the apostle Paul – writing to a congregation that was exalting the soaring emotionalism of tongues over the sober message of prophesy – says that we must keep the main thing the main thing! The word of the Lord must be declared in such a way that when “an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; [25] the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).

Where are the men today like Abram, who “fell on his face” when God spoke (Genesis 17:3)? When God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush, “Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6). Where are the Christians today – when they read the revealed word of God – who “work out [their] salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12)?

Today's worship services are designed to inspire and entertain, to produce sentiment and solidarity. There is nothing at all to be afraid of!

Maybe that's the problem. Perhaps we need to reintroduce the concept of “the fear of the Lord,” which – according to God's word – is “the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7) and “the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10).

To those congregations which continually struggle to please both men and God, Jesus makes it clear, "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters" (Matthew 12:30). To those who try to walk that imaginary line, your Master says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. [16] So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16).

Do you still think that the New Testament God is a God of love? Certainly there is love available for those who would accept the Lord's terms and accept Christ as both Lord and Savior. But this world has already been marked for demolition. “By His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7).

This is nothing new. The God of the Old Testament is not a different God than the One presented in the New Testament. Jude writes that “Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, [15] to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him”” (Jude 14-15).

Kind of neat, huh? A writer at the back of the New Testament directs our attention to the front of the Old Testament … to a prophesy that directs our attention back to the end of the New Testament.

OR … we could just sum it all up by saying, as written in the Revelation, “if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty serious to me.

Five things that are killing the Restoration Movement: #4, Fellowship

Ours is supposedly a Restoration Movement, dedicated to restoring New Testament principles. There are few areas in which deviation has occurred more than in the realm of so-called fellowship.

What a grand New Testament word! Fellowship … koinonia! Oh, if only the modern church understood what it meant. Acts 2:42 gives us the traditional “big four” of worship in the early church. “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Preaching? Check! Lord's Supper? Check. Prayer time? Check! But what do we do with fellowship?

For most congregations, “fellowship” is the mish-mash of what's left over. We sing together, therefore it's fellowship. We have a time when the people can shake hands and greet one another, therefore it's fellowship. We have a potluck dinner after church. That's real fellowship! The ladies' quilting club is fellowship. The mom's exercise class is fellowship. The men's basketball team is fellowship. The coffee shop out in the foyer next to the book store is fellowship. The kids' trip to the corn maze is fellowship. It is this emphasis on the physical which is killing the Restoration Movement. We are fellowshipping ourselves to death, all the while missing the point of real New Testament fellowship.

Let's take a look at how the word is utilized in Scripture. Koinonia is used of fellowship with Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3, 6), the lack of fellowship between light and darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14), fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1), the right hand of fellowship offered to those being sent out to preach (Galatians 2:9), the fellowship of suffering with Christ (Philippians 3:10), the fellowship of faith within a home congregation (Philemon 1:6), fellowship with the apostles by the acceptance of their word (1 John 1:3), fellowship with God (1 John 1:3), and fellowship with one another IF we walk in the Light (1 John 1:7).

Koinonia is also translated as participation, sharing or contribution. In those senses, it speaks of sharing in the body and blood of Christ (i.e., communion, 1 Corinthians 10:16). The church is instructed to share sacrificially with others (Hebrews 13:16). We are told of the “favor of participation in support of the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:4; or “contribution,” 2 Corinthians 9:13). We read of contributions to the poor (Romans 15:26), and of participation in the gospel (Philippians 1:5).

That's it. No mention of dinners, concerts, praise bands, retreats, sports teams, exercise classes, or coffee and donuts. In fact, when you take a good look at those references, you see three particular ways in which the word is utilized: 1) Our spiritual fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; 2) the fellowship we have with one another through our acceptance of God's word; and 3) the fellowship that we share as we participate in financially contributing to the work of Christ.

Hmmm. If we take a look at our worship services then, the offering time would be more “fellowship” than the meet and greet time. The Lord's Supper would be more “fellowship” than the bagel bar. The preaching of the word would produce more “fellowship” than the stories, jokes and illustrations. Seeing an increase in faith and righteousness would be more “fellowship” than increases in the attendance and offering.

But as it stands now in a majority of contemporary congregations, fellowship is purely physical. It means the same thing to the church as it does to the people at the country club. It's about getting together and doing the things you like with the people you like. Our leaders are not shepherds … they're event promoters! With such an earthly view – and with so little focus on our spiritual fellowship with heaven – it is no wonder that the Restoration Movement is slowly but surely dying.

Five things that are killing the Restoration Movement: #3, Music

I can hardly think of a more beloved Scriptural topic than music. As early as Genesis 4:21 we learn of “Jubal … the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.” From that starting point, music fills the Bible from beginning to end. It is amazing to me that there are even such a thing as “non-instrumental brethren,” considering the overall volume of God's word dedicated to those who sing and play music.

Unfortunately, Satan is a master at taking what is good and right … and making it bad and wrong. Currently, music is killing the Restoration Movement. Forget whether music should be instrumental or non-instrumental. Let's set aside whether we should be using contemporary or traditional songs. Can we simply take a moment to discuss why the Lord finds music so important?

The New Testament church has been given clear commands. Ephesians 5:18-19 says, “be filled with the Spirit, [19] speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 likewise says, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Just a few verses of Scripture from the Lord is enough to learn! 1) Music is connected with the Spirit of God (“filled with the Spirit;” “spiritual songs”), 2) it is a means of our communicating with one another (“speaking to one another”), 3) it is a means of training and correction (“teaching and admonishing”), and 4) it is a means of communicating with the Lord (“to the Lord;” “to God”).

Our communication … our instruction … is via “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Regardless of what these words may mean or whether they imply the use or non-use of instruments, the key word has to be “spiritual.” These are songs that are byproducts of the Holy Spirit living within us. If we fail to understand that point, then our communication with one another and the Lord fails. We certainly cannot appropriately teach and correct Christians unless the Spirit is directing the process.

So let's take a look at what's happening in the churches today … and why it's killing the Restoration Movement.

Oh, we have music … and plenty of it! If you get out your stop watch and time each segment of your worship service, I'd bet that more time is given to music than to anything else. Most song services (or praise times, or whatever you want to call them) run longer by far than the time of communion, which is supposed to be central to our time of corporate worship. They also normally exceed the preaching of the word. But what do we achieve with the 30-45 minutes we dedicate to music?

Has someone thoughtfully selected “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” that reflect a common theme, or simply picked random songs that the musicians can actually play? Has more time been spent in finding a common key signature than in finding a common spiritual message? At the praise band practice, how much time is spent in determining whether or not a song will appropriately teach and correct as opposed to the time spent simply practicing the way the music is going to be played? Again, what do we plan to achieve with the HALF of our “worship service” that is dedicated to music?

Unfortunately, in most Restoration Movement congregations the music has become a sore spot … a bone of contention … a means of loss, rather than gain. Older people have been divided from the younger based on musical tastes. Leaderships have chosen to pursue musical services that they believe will best appeal to God to the masses. The pianos and organs have been sold and replaced with drums and guitars. Why? Is a drum and guitar better suited for playing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” or is it just more in tune with the popular culture?

I have been told often (really, really often) how we will never reach young people unless we play the music that they like. Is that our Biblical mandate … to reach young people? (Such thinking implies that we should care more about the youth that are NOT present than the older people who actually are.) And have we been instructed to imitate the world in order to reach people in general? A song may get the crowd clapping and tapping their toes … yet still fail to teach and admonish. So what if your rockin' praise band brings in throngs of young people? If they have not spiritually strengthened them, then what has been accomplished? And if the only thing you have accomplished in your praise time is to offend the ears of the aged, then someone has never learned Christ's first great Christian lesson … deny yourself (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)!

Almost every congregation I have visited over the last ten years has had a praise band … no matter how small the congregation. I have to shake my head in both sadness and disgust as I hear the latest popular contemporary song butchered in the hopes that maybe – just maybe – it will help build the attendance. Spoiler alert: It won't!

Let's get a few things straight: 1) Great music will never overcome poor leadership or poor preaching. 2) Music is a side issue, not the main issue. The early church (which we are supposed to be restoring) “were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Don't you find it a little odd that so much attention is given to music by the church today, and so little is said of it in the New Testament? And 3) what you win them with, is what you win them to. In other words, if it takes great music to get people in the door, then it's going to take great music to keep them. If the music quality falters, then they will attend elsewhere. I've heard “leaders” say they will “teach them once they get them!” Yeah. I've never seen it happen. Go ahead. Set up the walls of the house on a foundation of cotton candy. See how long those walls stand.

Oh, how I would love to see the heart of New Testament Christianity restored, with music taking its rightful place as a tool to assist in the instruction of sound doctrine. There's not one of us who don't know the words to songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” or “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” or “Happy Birthday to You.” We learned them as children … and have never forgotten them! Where are the "spiritual songs" we have memorized though? Where are the "psalms and hymns" of which we know every word … which are teaching us sound doctrine and helping us to maintain our relationship with the Lord? I don't see them.

All I see is that music has become divisive, and has opened the door to a casual attitude before the Lord and a dismissive attitude toward others who don't share the same musical tastes. At best, today's musical culture within the Restoration Movement is selfish and indulgent ... at worst, it's promoting false doctrines. Having said that, I ask this: Who will be the first to step up and make the necessary changes to restore New Testament principles?