Sermon Central
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Don't Get Sidetracked
Contributed by Sherman Gordon on Aug 30, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: LIFE WILL THROW MANY CHALLENGES OUR WAY, BUT THE TASK AT HAND IS TO NOT GET SIDETRACKED. JESUS WAS CONFRONTED BY A GROUP OF PHARISEES TRYING TO DERAIL HIM OF HIS PURPOSE, BUT HE EXEMPLIFIES HOW TO PRESS FORWARD.
DON’T GET SIDETRACKED
FEW WEEKS – LESSONS OF PERSEVERANCE
OLYMPICS – MICHAEL PHELPHS
SHAWN JOHNSON
REBECCA SONI (HEART SURGERY)
DNC – SENATOR BARACK OBAMA . . .
RNC – SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN/GOV. SARAH PALIN (PAY-LIN) . . .
LONG BEFORE THERE WAS A SEASONED JOHN MCCAIN
LONG BEFORE . . . BARACK OBAMA
THERE WAS A YOUNG, CHARISMATIC, ENERGETIC, AND ARTICULATE JESUS OF NAZARETH.
IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 12 WE FIND THIS JESUS OF NAZARETH - MNIDDLE OF HIS CAMPAIGN TOWARD CALVARY.
A CAMPAIGN THAT COMMNENCED IN CAPERNAUM, BESIDE THE SEA OF GALILEE WITH THE MESSAGE OF MATTHEW 4:17 “TURN FROM YOUR SINS AND TURN TO GOD, BECAUSE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR.”
A CAMPAIGN THAT SAW LARGE CROWDS ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 4:25 WHERE PEOPLE FOLLOWED HIM WHEREVER HE WENT.
A CAMPAIGN WHERE JESUS ANNOUNCED IN MATTHEW 5:17 “I DID NOT COME TO ABOLISH THE LAW OF MOSES . . .”
A CAMPAIGN FILLED WITH TEACHINGS ON:
SALT/LIGHT
LAW
ANGER/ ADULTERY
DIVORCE/VOWS
REVENGE
LOVING YOUR ENEMIES
GIVING TO THE NEEDY
PRAYER/FASTING
MONEY/POSSESSIONS
THE DANGER OF JUDGING OTHERS
A CAMPAIGN WHERE IN MATTHEW 8, WE SAW JESUS HEALING A MAN WITH LEPROSY, A ROMAN OFFICIAL’S SERVANT, PETER’S MOTHER-IN-LAW, THOUSAND OTHERS, A PARALYZED MAN, A SYNAGOGUE RULER’S DAUGHTER.
A CAMPAIGN THAT SAW JESUS SELECTS A CABIN OF 12 MEN WITH NOT SUCH GLAMOUROUS PASTS, YET COMMITS THEMSELVES TO BEING MOLDED INTO THE MEN, LEADERS, AND VESSELS HE WOULD DESIRE.
IT IS WITH THESE SELECT MEN WE FIND JESUS IN OUR TEXT.
MATTHEW 12:1 – SABBATH . . .
DISCIPLES BECAME HUNGRY (WALK WITH JESUS – AFFECTED LIFE ISSUES) : HUNGRY, MONEY – FUNNY, TRIALS, TROUBLES, AND TRAGEDIES.
WALKING WITH JESUS – HUNGRY/NEED . . .
GOOD POINT . . . ANSWER WAS NEAR
12:1(B) – “THEY BEGAN BREAKING OFF HEADS OF WHEAT AND EATING GRAIN.” IF YOU’RE GOING TO AVOID GETTING SIDETRACKED:
1. WHATEVER YOU NEED IS READILY AVAILABLE
a. NOT ONLY WAS THE FOOD NEAR, JESUS WAS PRESENT
12:2-8 (WALK THROUGH)
2. REFUSE TO BE ENSLAVED TO TRADITION
a. EMBRACE TRADITION (MEANINGFUL HISTORY)
b. ENSALVED TO TRADITION (DETRIMENT TO ADVANCEMENT)
c. EXAMPLE OF HAM
12:9 (READ)
3. YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO IGNORE SOME THINGS.
12:10 – ENCOUNTERS A MAN WITH A DEFORMED HAND . . .
12:10(B) – 12 (WALK THROUGH)
4. SET YOUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER
a. SHEEP/PERSON
b. GOLD
c. VEHICLE
d. OTHERS
12:13 (READ)
5. ONE MOVE AWAY FROM YOUR CHANGE
