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Sermon Starters

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Christian Ministry Professionals
Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor

The Fourth Sunday After Easter
Series C

From Rev. Kelly Bedard

"Sheepish--But Not Shepherdless!--Christians"
(John 10:22-30)

A. Eternally Perfected

    1. "Listen" = give audience to, understand; faith resulting in obedience

    2. "Know" = personal fellowship expressed in facts ("...for God so loved...that He gave")

    3. "Follow" = in the same way; total commitment and exclusive relationship; participation in both salvation and suffering

B. Eternally Affected

    1. "Eternal life" = a gift of full life evidenced by commitment to God

    2. Never susceptible to full destruction--an eternal future!

C. Eternally Protected

    1. "Snatch" = take by force

    2. "Once saved, always saved" true only insofar as we reject God

Notes

1. akouo (hear), v. 27: to give ear to a teaching or a teacher; to comprehend, to understand

2. akoloutheo (follow), v.27: to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him; to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple; side with his party

3. harpazo (snatch, pluck), v. 28: to seize, carry off by force; to seize on, claim for one's self eagerly; to snatch out or away

From Rev. Wayne Dobratz:

FACES IN THE CROWD
Rev. 7:9-17

People watching is almost as much a sport as baseball when you're watching a game. Think first of watching a game on TV. All you see of the crowd are a
few random faces. Then a foul ball goes screaming into the seats and suddenly you're very personally involved with the lives of people you didn't
think much about before.

Now think of the faces in the crowd when you're there in person. You get to
talk to a few of them. You may even have something in common. The Holy
Spirit wants you to think of the crowd pictured in Revelation in the same
way. You don't know them, but they're a lot like you. Look at them as
FACES IN THE CROWD

I. Where the people in this heavenly crowd have have been.
A. Everywhere-From every tribe, nation, people and language. Cf. Matt. 8:11
B. They have been through hardship (v. 13)-the palm branches point to their
victory. V. 9
C. They have been washed clean of sin in Jesus' blood. V. 15 & 1 John 1:7

II. Whose side they are on
A. They cheer their victory by grace-v. 10
B. They serve God here as they did in their earthly lives-v. 15

III. What's in their future
A. Shelter "under the tent"-a metaphor for no discomfort from heat, Ps.121:6
B. The Lamb will take care of their needs, v. 17,John 10:11ff.
C. Tears will be no more, Cf. Rev. 21:4

Matthew Henry writes: They are happy in the love and guidance of the Lord Jesus: He shall feed them, he shall lead them to living fountains of waters, he shall put them into the possession of every thing that is pleasant and refreshing to their souls, and therefore they shall hunger and thirst no more. 

They are happy in being delivered from all sorrow or occasion of it: God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. They have formerly had their sorrows, and shed many tears, both upon the account of sin and affliction; but God himself, with his own gentle and gracious hand, will wipe those tears away, and they shall return no more for ever; and they would not have been without those tears, when God comes to wipe them away. In this he deals with them as a tender father who finds his beloved child in tears, he comforts him, he wipes his eyes, and turns his sorrow into rejoicing. 

This should moderate the Christian's sorrow in his present state, and support him under all the troubles of it; for those that sow in tears shall reap in joy; and those that now go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless
come again rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them. 

Ministry Health Sermon Starters
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Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div. M.S.A., Director
Ministry Health, LLC
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