Complete Sermon Notes

Theology Can Be Condensed Into 4 Words – CH Spurgeon

FINISHING MATTHEW 17: Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection 22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

He predicts His death and resurrection: many say, “Yeah but they wrote that later and made it up.”

• PLINY THE YOUNGER (112 A.D.) was governor in Asia Minor who wrote a letter regarding how to deal with Christians who worshiped Christ.

• CORNELIUS TACITUS (55-117) A.D.) is regarded as the greatest historian of ancient Rome. Writing on the reign of Nero, Tacitus mentions the death of Christ and the Christians in Rome, “Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace.”

• LUCIAN (120-180 A.D.) spoke scornfully of Christ and Christians, “The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day … the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account….You see, these misguided creatures start with the general conviction that they are immortal for all time, which explains the contempt of death and voluntary self-devotion which are so common among them.” – READ MORE HERE: http://www.nelsonprice.com/early-secular-writings-regarding-christ/

The death, burial, and resurrection is a historical fact –

“My entire theology can be condensed into 4 words: ‘Jesus died for me’!” C.H. Spurgeon

• The denial of Christ has little to do with facts and everything to do with PRIDE – we have issues with authority, submission, and surrender.

Everyone is under authority: they are submitting to something – they already surrendered their soul – they just don’t know it yet.

• Christ has come to set us free –

The MESSAGE is very Inclusive: “Whosoever…” But the road is narrow.

         a] How exclusive is oxygen? You either conform to the natural laws or you die.

24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

• The truth offends but our attitude shouldn’t – offense shouldn’t excite

• We are not bound – there is a greater authority above Caesar. Nevertheless…let us submit to earthly authority since we have dual citizenship (cf. Romans 13).

Rom. 13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Who Is the Greatest? 18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

• Strepho – It’s not saying a prayer; it’s not raising your hand; it’s not coming forward; it’s not getting baptized; it’s not going to church; it’s not being raised in a “Christian” home …

ESV nails it – “Unless you turn and become like children”

• THE SIDE-EFFECT OF CONVERSION IS CHANGE

PARAPHRASE: “Unless you humble yourself like a child and turn from your sin…

Jesus Warns of Offenses 6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.

• Does removing a hand or foot save a person? NO…The action simply reveals what’s going on in the heart.

– I’m cutting off my pride – i’m getting help [Covenant Eyes]

– I’m cutting off all relationships and media venues that are hurting me or my family

SIN – skandalizo – “to put a stumbling block in someone’s path”

• What habit or attitude is hurting others, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN?

KIDS are moldable and impressionable – food, drink, attitudes, disciplines…

A 2005 American Medical Association (AMA) survey of teens age 13 to 18 found that minors can easily obtain alcohol, often from family or friends:

• Two out of three teens say it is easy to get alcohol from their homes without parents knowing.

• Two out of five teens say that it is easy to get alcohol from a friend’s parents.

• One in four teens has attended a party where minors were drinking in front of parents.

• Nearly one in four teens, and one in three girls, say their own parents have given them alcohol.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep- 10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. 12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

• But when we say a person is lost without Christ we’re labeled a homophobe, bigot, narrow-minded, arrogant, judgemental…

God the Pursuer: Too many mistakenly believe that they’ve done too much damage; that God can’t use them now. But that’s not true…God is always pursuing.

• “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Even when I was living like hell heaven was beaconing. Even when I was denying My Savior He never denied me.

Its not His will that you perish.

• “Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good” (Psalm 25:7). “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:5).

My Theology Can Be Condensed Into 4 Words –​ Christ died for me.