Sermon Outline Mar 23, 2008 Evening Service

Topic: The Last Days: Be Devoted to One Another 

Text:   2 Peter 3:3-5                      

Introduction

I.        We all understand the idea of a clock counting down.

II.       The clock on this world is running out.

A.       Remember to stay focused because we’re living in the last days.

B.       The Bible makes this clear.

III.      How should we handle the last days?

A.       Sometimes we forget or grow complacent.

B.       The significance of our living in the last days must be understood.

C.      That is why we want to reemphasize the importance of the relationships you have in this world.

Text

I.        In the life of a Christian becoming actively involved in a local church congregation and building strong, loving relationships with other believers isn’t optional.

A.       God requires our involvement.

B.       Christians are commanded to build strong, loving relationships with other believers (1 Corinthians 12:20-27; Romans 12:1-21).

C.      Building strong, loving relationships with other believers isn’t optional.

II.       We have God-given directions as to how to go about building relationships.

A.       Thankfully we’re not left in the dark as to how to get the job done.

B.       God’s given us much to go by (1 Peter 4:8-11).

C.      The “one another” commands challenge us to seek first to understand then to be understood.

III.      The church’s ability to reach outsiders is directly proportional to her ability to love insiders.

A.       When a church begins to experience a steady decline in the number of first time visitors who return there’s a very good possibility that some insiders are living in disobedience to Christ and have traded their love for venom.

B.       “The common denominators in growing churches are attitude and atmosphere” (Phil LaMaster).

1.       When people encounter a sense of acceptance and witness love between members they want to go back.

2.       When they walk in and encounter a sense of negativism and see anger between members they don’t want to go back.

C.      God commands us to develop loving relationships for our own good as well as the good of those outside the church.

Conclusion

I.        God uses numerous examples of family life to teach us about Christian life.

A.       Those examples show us a lot of good things (paternal love, forgiveness, encouragement, etc.).

B.       Practice that love in the ways God tells you to in His word.

II.       Do what you must do to see that God’s love flows between you and others in this body.

A.       Do it so the lost will be won to Christ.

B.       Do it so you won’t be lost to Christ.

C.      Do it so God will receive the glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).