Sermon Starters for February 6, 2018

Each week, preachers face a daunting task of speaking to people of every age and background seeking to assist each one of them in following Jesus better than they had the previous week.  It is a job of encouragement, correcting and motivating to keep pressing on in the world. Upon the responsibility, tack on the other factors of visiting, outreach, hospital visits, church errands and the like and the week for a preacher might draw to a close faster than he wishes.

Below are some “starter outlines” to assist you in developing lessons and classes. Some will be able to take these outlines and preach them as they are, but I ask you to develop these outlines yourself.

Anyway, here you go…

Outline #1 – Attitude Determines Altitude

• Why is Attitude Important?
  • Attitudes are always forming
  • Attitudes are formed when we are young
  • Attitude problems are the result of heart problems
• What must My Attitude be?
  • Not as the rich young ruler.
  • The Attitude of Christ
  • We need an attitude of “Yes! We can!”
• How is your attitude?
  • Is it Christ-like?
  • Since attitude problems are heart problems, where is your heart?
  • Have you learned to be content?

Outline #2 – Do Not Mumble or Grumble

• The Dangerous Attitude of Complaining
  • How can we be blameless and shining as lights in the world, if we complain?
  • Complainers bring others down.
• The Dangerous Attitude of Disputing
  • Some people try to dispute, stir up anger and arguments
  • “All that is needed to make a mountain out of a molehill is a little dirt.”
• Our Attitudes and Words
  • Do words affect people?
  • Replace complaining and disputing with good things (i.e. – thankfulness, faith, kindness, etc)
  • What will your words do today

Outline #3 – Taking it all in and letting none of it out

• The Most Followed command?
  • Matthew 8:4 – “See that you tell no one…”
  • Why did Jesus say that phrase?
  • Do many people follow it today?
• Why do many follow those words today?
  • Fear
  • Specifically, fear of rejection
  • Some are afraid they will be wrong
• What is the solution?
  • We need to get off our “buts.” (ex. – I really know I should but…)
  • Isaiah 6:8 – “Here am I, send me”

Outline #4 – Simply Trusting God

• Simply trusting God means you are like Joseph
  • Remember Joseph’s words to his brothers? (Genesis 45:5)
  • Joseph kept confidence by relying on God’s providence
• Simply trusting in God means you are like Daniel
  • Daniel was a man of principles
    • He refused the kings food.
    • He refused not to pray.
  • God admires principles. (Psalm 15:1-5)

Outline #5 – Christian Repentance

• Why would a Christian need to repent?
  • Sin
  • Isaiah 1:18
• Christians can stray away
  • Demas (2 Timothy 4:10)
  • Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:13; 18-23)
• What is your reaction to sin?
  • Do you deny it?
  • Do you try to cover it up?
  • Do you justify it?
  • Do you take responsibility?
• You must live a life of action
  • “Faith without works is dead.”
  • You are salt and light
• Christian’s Change
  • They change as they grow
  • Psalm 51

Outline #6 – “Lord I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:34)

• The situation: the disciples were not able to cast out a spirit of a boy, so the Father appealed to Jesus.
• “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”
  • Note the verse is not a contradiction.
  • It may be better rendered, “Lord, I believe. Help my unfaithfulness.”
• Do you believe but lack faith?
  • Are you in need of an increase of faith?
  • The father had belief, but he needed more faith.
• How can you increase your faith?
  • Romans 10:17
  • Start now. (Matthew 4:18-20)
  • Attend uplifting events. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
  • Find contentment and joy in God. (Philippians 4)
  • When in doubt, pray. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Once again, these are just starter outlines. Do your due diligence to make these a complete outline for your sermon or your personal study.

Just my thoughts,