Sermon Central
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A.d.d.
Contributed by Tony Searles on May 31, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: This is an "Absolutely Dangerous Doctrine!" Being a sold out Christian for the Lord...denying ones self.
A.D.D.:
ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS DOCTRINE!
State: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ?Something To Die For?.
Definition of Dangerous: ?Likely to cause harm, not safe, risky.?
This is what we as Christians can be to satan?s kingdom. Dangerous and very likely to cause harm to it. We are the church and we must go forward in strength and victory if we allow for ourselves to walk in this fashion.
You may say that this isn?t really a doctrine of the church and I agree. It isn?t stated in the A/G?s Statement of Fundamental Truths, but a doctrine is ?anything that is taught to be true by a church or other sort of institution.? This is something that is taught as true. We are to give our very lives for the cause of Christ. Completely, and Wholly.
?Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.?
Phillipians 3:7-8
?But what things are gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.?
Church, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is something that is worth giving our very lives for if the need would ever arise. Missionaries throughout time have been martyred for the cause of Christ at the hands of the very ones they were trying to reach with the ?Good News?.
The Gospel is ?Something To Die For?!
Text: Acts 7:54-8:1
Read the text and pray for the Message.
Introduction:
Do you remember back when you were younger and started to want things like a new bike or a first car? You may have been willing to do anything for that item. ?Mom, dad, I will wash it and take very good care of it and I will never ask for another thing, EVER! I?ll do the dishes for a whole year, and I?ll never talk back again, PROMISE!?
Maybe you wanted something else, like and ice cream sundae when you were on a diet or just cutting back. ?Oh, I would die just to have a taste of that banana split, or some of that chocolate cake.?
How about when you started to like others of the opposite sex. ?They are so beautiful, and cute. I would give anything to just have him talk to me. Couldn?t she just look this way so we could make eye contact. She is something to die for!?
Embellish this!!!
Does that sound familiar? How about this one?
?I would give my very life for Jesus, and the advancement of His Kingdom. I would do anything for Jesus my Lord and Savior.?
?I would do anything just to hear Him speak to me.?
I hope that this is our hearts cry and soul?s desire. If not, I hope that this message will help you out tonight.
I would argue tonight that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Power of God to save the world is worth giving our whole lives to. It is a very worthy cause and one that is life changing.
Many people say that they only give their valuable time, and heartfelt efforts to worthy causes. (Like blood drives at the church.)
I proclaim to you tonight church that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a worthy cause, and is the most worthy of all causes!
Won?t you give Him your all in all?!
Talk a bit about the Olympics. They began on Friday.
What do you think makes up an Olympian? There must be some strong characteristics in them.
The same would go for a young man named Stephen!
Go through the characteristics:
-We Can?t Be Fearful!
-We Can?t Be Half-Hearted!
-We Can?t Be Easily Defeated!
Point One:
WE CAN?T BE FEARFUL!
?...Fear not, I am thy shield...?
?...Fear not for I am with thee...?
?...I will fear no evil, for thou art with me...?
?...fear not them that kill the body...?
?For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.?
?There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear...?
Fear is something that we cannot allow to hold us back.
ILLUSTRATION:
Tell of the story about the disagreement between compassion and fear for the lost. Him>>>Fearful Me>>>Our Compassion is Gone
If we look at the example that Stephen has given us tonight we see that he was not moved by the fear of what would happen to him. He had just preached a very hard message to the Sanhedrin, and stepped on many toes. They got so angry that they stoned him to death.
