Sermon Outline July 20, 2008 Evening Service

Topic: Be On Your Guard

Text:        Luke 11:46-54                            

Introduction

I.       The latter chapters of Luke share the words and actions of a dying man.

A.      Jesus asked His disciples who they believed Him to be (Luke 9:20).

B.      From then on His ministry took a turn from popularity to rejection.

II.        In Luke chapter 11, Jesus hits his opposition head on.

III.       In chapter 12, Jesus is surrounded by a large crowd in the thousands.

A.      Try to picture the scene in your mind.

B.      But addressing this crowd He turns and tells the twelve; “Beware…”

Text

I.        Beware Of Hypocrisy (Luke 12:1-7).

A.      The word hypocrite comes from a Greek word that means “an actor”.

B.      How can we keep hypocrisy out of our lives?

1.      Recognize what hypocrisy is.

2.      Remember that hypocrisy is foolish and futile (Luke 12:2-3).

3.      Realize the root cause of hypocrisy (Luke 12:4-7).

II.       Beware Of Greed (Luke 12:13-21).

A.      Someone asked Jesus to solve a family problem (Luke 12:13-14).

B.      Do you believe that what Jesus said is true; that life doesn’t consist of what and how many things we have?

C.      To illustrate the folly of greed, Jesus told a parable (Luke 12:16-21).

III.      Beware Of Worry (Luke 12:22-31).

A.      Jesus is not suggesting that we not worry—He is commanding it!

B.      Jesus knows that worry is a very dangerous thing.

C.      There is a difference between worry and concern.

D.      Since we are commanded not to worry, how do we overcome worry?

1.      Remember that God knows our needs and can be trusted to meet them.

2.      Make sure that our heart is in the right place.

IV.      Beware Of Idleness (Luke 12:35-40).

A.      Let’s consider some questions:

1.      Do you want to be ready when Jesus returns?

2.      What would you like him to find you doing?

3.      If he comes on Sunday morning where would you like him to find you?

4.      Are you ever doing or not doing something that would embarrass you if he came right then?

B.      If we want to be ready for Jesus when He returns what are so many waiting for?

C.      Jesus will come as “a thief in the night” (2 Peter 3:10).

V.       Beware Of Peace (Luke 12:49-53).

A.      Jesus did come to bring peace, but He himself said the peace He brings is not like the peace the world brings.

B.      We must beware of the world’s kind of peace: the mere absence of conflict.

VI.      Beware Of Spiritual Dullness (Luke 12:54-56).

A.      Our society is so intelligent; it really is.

B.      But what about us; the church?

C.      It is sad to say, but our current generation of parents must shoulder much of the blame.

D.      Beware of spiritual dullness; it leads to a road of disaster.

Conclusion

I.        As we travel the road of the Christian life we will encounter many dangerous roads that we might be tempted to go down.

A.      Thankfully our Lord has warned us of serious dangers.

B.      Often we cannot see the danger, but He can.

II.        Now that you know what the warning signs are what will you do?