4th of July Sermon

Keeping with the "R" theme
Today's pastoral message:

“Communion: Celebrating Dependence Day”
Text: I Corinthians 11:17-34

Why Do We Celebrate Communion?

1. To Remember – verses 23-25

2. To Rejoice – verse 26

3. To Repent – verses 27-28

4. To Reconcile – verse 29

Rob

 

Proverbs 14:34 - Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

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• The Righteousness of a Nation</font>
• The Reward of a Nation</font>
• National Rebellion</font>
• Reproach and Shame</font>

I got a little help with this one from a sermon-help, but I asure you all, I did my homework first!

 

A Christian Voice in A Pagan City
Acts 17:16-34

· America is past the point of revival, we need a new Reformation!

1. Truth in the Marketplace—Acts 17:16-21—

a. The equation

(1) The city was given over to false religion
(2) The church (synagogue) was silent, and
(3) Paul was stirred

b. Paul took it to the streets—out into public with his views!
(1) The Devil would love it if we would go in OUR closets!

c. Paul got the attention of the local PC crowd

d. The Areopagus—a combination of Harvard, Yale, the Supreme Court and the Oprah show.

2. America Doesn’t Know Who God Is, and neither did the Athenians—17:22-23

a. It isn’t that we don’t have any religion in this nation, we have ‘way too much of the wrong kind!

b. No authoritative Bible, No standard of Truth, No guideposts for living

c. Symptoms:
(1) Calling evil good and good evil (Is 5:20)
(2) Broken homes and families
(3) Gay rights, Gay marriage
(4) Murdering over a million babies a year

3. Who and What God Is—Acts 17:24-27

a. God is the Creator— “…God that made the world and all things therein…” Neh 9:6

b. God is the Sovereign Lord of all—“…seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth”—Ps 135:6

c. God is Independent—“…dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing…”

d. God: Universal Provider— “seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things”
e. God is not a Racist—“…And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth…”
f. God Controls History—“…and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation…”
g. God Is The Real Evangelist—That they should seek the Lord

4. Reversing the Mess

a. Fix our Thinking—“we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.”
b. Preach the Real Gospel—Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
c. Expect ridicule and rejection—Acts 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
d. Expect changed minds and hearts—Acts 17:34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

 

Avoided the whole "We Need Revival in America" sermonizing and wrapping Jesus in an American flag...
Instead went with Psalm 51 and spoke about The Road to Individual Revival
1. Recognition of God's Goodness
2. Recognition of Our Sinfulness
3. Recognition of Our Reward's
4. Recognition of our Responsibilites
5. Recognition of the Proper Attitude

Hey what's with all the R's?

 

I'm not sure if we should be offended. I know I didn't "wrap Jesus in an American flag," as you put it, and I don't see anything here to say anyone else did, either.

I guess I'm not offended... I think I know what you meant.

 

Jesus wounld not wrap himself in no American flag. How tacky.

My Sunday Sermon:
Psalm 1. 1-3
"what truely being blessed is"


Sincerely, Trapper

 

My message was entitled "This is My Country." I referred to such passages as 1 Timothy 2 and Romans 13 to remind us of I. Our Responsibility as Christians to be good citizens. I then went to 1 Peter 2:9-10 to demonstrate that II. Our Citizenship is in heaven, and that it is to Christ that our ultimate allegiance lies.

I used several personal illustrations in this one. For example, I was able to draw upon my mother's status as a naturalized American citizen (she is a native Filipina) to show how much we should appreciate our change in quality and improvement of life when we become part of what Peter calls "a holy nation." I also used my father's military service during Vietnam to illustrate how, just as a good American responds to the call even when unappreciated by those around him, a Christian must be obedient and faithful to his Savior as well.

I strove to incorporate the occasion of Independence Day, but not make it the end in itself.

 

Didn't mean to imply anyone had. But a short watch of TV church and you would've thought Jesus grew up in Kansas wearing Levi's humming the Star Spangled Banner!
God doesn't need a revived America to accomplish His work (how arrogant), He needs revived Americans, Mexicans, Canadians, Germans, Russians....or whatever country your from.

 

...that's what I thought you meant...