Sermon Central
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Standing In The Spirit - Making The Most Of Transition Series Series
Contributed by Greg Buchner on May 21, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: This outline was used for a sermon given on Pentecost Sunday where we had numerous baptisms and new church members presented.
“Standing in the Spirit” ~ Making the Most of Transition
I Corinthians 10:1-13 (quotes taken from The Message translation unless noted)
Wakelee Church ~ Baptism/Membership Sunday
May 15, 2005
Theme: In the midst of transition it is better to be found standing in the Spirit than standing anywhere else!
Introduction – The Special Fund
Illustration - A pastor gets a humility check…
[Pastor finally gets an opportunity to speak at a large community association gathering. He feels rather proud that he was asked, so he refuses the check saying that "he felt special enough by being chosen" and that the check should go to a better cause. Relunctantly, the person giving the check did say that they had a special fund that this money could be used for. When the pastor inquired further about this special fund, the person said, "It’s so that we can get a better speaker next year."
source: Illustrations Unlimited]
I – Standing in the Spirit requires faith…(verses 1-5)
“Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea. They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life…But just experiencing God’s wonder and grace didn’t seem to much—most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased.” – I Corinthians 10: 1-5
Standing in the Spirit requires a deep faith.
II – Standing in the Spirit requires a sense of humility…(verses 6-10)
“The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did.” I Corinthians 10:6
Standing in the Spirit requires a constant check on our pride and greed.
III – Standing in the Spirit requires a sense of reality…(verses 11-12)
“These are all warning markers – DANGER! – in our history books…Don’t be so naïve and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence, it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.”
Conclusion – Standing the Spirit is a great place to stand! (verse 13)
“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.” – I Corinthians 10: 13
Other Scriptures to consider: Psalm 34:12 ~ Romans 12:13 ~ Matthew 5:25-26 ~ Ephesians 4:22-28; 5:15-16 ~ James 1:23-25 ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ~ Proverbs 14:29-30
