Matthew

Christian Perfection

Matthew 5-7 (Series)

  1. PERFECT CHARACTER (5:1-16)
    • Humility without pride
    • Tenderheartedness without hardness
    • Submission without Rebellion
    • Hunger for God without Indifference
    • Purity without Impurities
    • Peacefulness without quarrelsomeness
    • Willingness to Suffer without Bitterness
  2. PERFECT LAW (5:17-20)
    • Promise of Fulfillment
    • Prescription of Falsehood
  3. PERFECT LOVE (5:21-48)
    • Anger = Murder
    • Lust = Adultery
    • Divorce = Selfishness
    • Loophole living = Dishonesty
    • Vengeance = Bitterness
  4. PERFECT PIETY (6:1-18)
    • Piety must be private
    • Piety must be personal
    • Piety must be sincere
  5. PERFECT PERCEPTION (6:19-34)
    • On Treasures
    • On Trusting
  6. PERFECT DISCERNMENT (7:1-23)
    • Regarding good judgment

      • Judgment should be with careful self-inspection
      Judgment should be with brotherly affection
    • Regarding good gifts
    • Regarding the good way
    • Regarding good fruit
  7. PERFECT OBEDIENCE (7:24-27)
    • Wisdom
    • Security

Don D. Callaway

Christian Perfection

Matt. 5:48

  1. Exordium
    1. Introduction.
      1. In Christianity realization of basic need of heart. Likeness to God.
      2. Its saving power makes Christianity greater than any other system. No other can realize perfection or its ideal.
    2. Proposition: Christian Perfection.
  2. Body
    1. The beginning of perfection is in God.
      1. His Fatherhood and fatherly relation and revelation bring the realization of our need and our desire for perfection. We are directed to Him. From Him we can receive.
      2. The meaning of the experience is seen in: "As your father." Thus begins in God as to criterion and injunction.
      3. Qualitatively, our state comparable to His. Drop of water and the ocean.
    2. The power of perfection is in God.
      1. Necessity of divine power in effecting perfection.
        1. As testified.
        2. Human power not suffice; must experience transcendent
      2. The power of God suffices:
        1. As in Abraham (Gen. 17:1).
        2. For us in our day. Twentieth century and its problems.
    3. The end of perfection is in God.
      1. The force of the injunction and the experience are seen relative to God and His will (1 Thess. 4:3, 7; 5:23).
      2. Not for selfish purposes. Example of Simon (Acts 8). But for God's idea for us and plan for our lives. Lives of consistent experience, preservation, fruit bearing and realization of God in us.
  3. Conclusion

    "Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it."

J. Prescott Johnson

Christian Perfection

Matt. 5:48

  1. Exordium
    1. Introduction.
      1. Jesus reinterprets five ancient maxims.
      2. His analysis of the last maxim as contra-distinct from the gross sins teaches perfection is evident by deliverance from retaliatory disposition.
    2. Proposition: Christian Perfection.
  2. Body
    1. Negatively. It is not:
      1. Infallibility, or perfect faultlessness. Belongs only to God.
        1. We can lapse.
        2. We possess faults, hereditary in causation, and entailed upon us by original sin.
      2. Angelic perfection. For no lapse has weakened them and their powers. Hence their intense affection.
      3. Not preclude physical disease and the effect upon the mind.
      4. Does not involve perfect knowledge and freedom from misjudgment and error.
    2. Positively.
      1. Meaning of telios: "Brought to an end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness, perfect" (Thayer).
      2. Signifies moral perfection.
        1. Definition of term. Rises out of sensibility and regards obligation.
        2. Consists of:
          1. Deliverance from sinfulness.
          2. Possession of perfect love, the fulfillment of the Law, as taught in this instance.
          3. Government of the outward life by this inner standard.
    3. How obtained. (It is evident that we cannot procure it ourselves, as in philosophic perfectionism.)
      1. On God's part. By His power and influence of His never-failing love. Illust. by Gen. 17:1.
      2. On our part.
        1. a. Sense His Fatherhood.
        2. Moral disposition of faith.
  3. Conclusion

    He is able and willing to make us perfect. We are not able.

J. Prescott Johnson

Righteousness Checkpoints

Matthew 7:13-29

  1. The Checkpoint of Motive - vs. 13-15
  2. The Checkpoint of Consistency - vs. 16-20
  3. The Checkpoint of Priority - vs. 21-29

Dr. Gayle Woods

"What it takes to Follow Jesus"

Matthew 8:18-22 (Luke 9:61-62)

  1. Follow Jesus - Wherever! 8:19 - 20
    • The "scribe" makes a commitment
    • Jesus says, "Will you follow WHEREVER?" - even if it is not convenient, comfortable or as refined as others?
  2. Follow Jesus - Whoever! 8:21 - 22
    • The "disciple" makes a (partial) commitment - "but let me first go and bury my father. I will serve You but first I must be concerned with my family."
    • Following Jesus means to put Him ahead of "whosoever."
    • Jesus said, "Follow Me" - not others! "let the dead bury the deaddd" - they will be cared for!
  3. Follow Jesus - Whatever! Luke 9:61-62
    • Another person committed to Christ but first had to attend things at home. The things behind: ta opisw - vs. 62
    • A true follower of Jesus must surrender his "whatevers" to God. "I will not let whatever - anything - hinder me!
    • His followers must never "look back."

Wayne Steury

Matthew 9:35 - 38

  1. The Compassion vs. 36
  2. The Call vs. 38
  3. The Concern vs. 38, 37

Jack Smith

Consistency

Matthew 12:33-35

  1. Purity - Matthew 12:33-35
  2. Perspective - James 1:16-18
  3. Perfect Trust - Rom 11:33 - 12:1
  4. Prayerfulness - Matt 26:41
  5. Perseverance - Job 12:9-10

Larry Doyle

"When Life Falls Apart"

Matthew 14:22-23

  1. Christ Brought Me Here vs. 22
  2. Christ Is Praying For Me vs. 23
  3. Christ Will Come To Me vss. 24-26
  4. Christ Will Help Me Grow vss. 29-30
  5. Christ Will See Me Through Eventually vss. 32-34

Dr. Gayle Woods

"Lessons to Learn from the Feeding of the 5000"

Matthew 14:13-21

  1. We must be responsible in our service for God
  2. We must be dependent on God as we serve
  3. We must realize how urgent it is to give ourselves in service to God

Julio Gonzales

The Spirituality of the Church

Matt. 16:13-19

  1. Exordium
    1. Introduction.
      1. Definition of the Church: "body of saved believers possessing certain essential attributes: spirituality, unity, universality, and visibility; in which the pure word of God is preached and the ordinances administered."
      2. Spirituality, composed of saved people. Personal sanctity, spiritual life.
    2. Proposition: The Spirituality of the Church.
  2. Body
    1. The foundation.
      1. Meaning and force of "petros." Loose stone.
      2. Meaning and force of "the petra."
        1. Solid, unbroken rock foundation of seas and continent. It is definite.
        2. Christ's question, Peter's answer and then Christ's declaration. Analyze it.
        3. "The petra" is the rock of revealed truth: the messiahship and divine sonship of Christ - the truth being given in spiritual experience.
      3. This solid foundation of the Church accounts for its ability to remain intact. Endurable foundation.
    2. The founder.
      1. Figures of temple (living) and body suggest vital, dynamic relation of body to its head - Church to Christ. Instinct with him and divine life. Homogenous.
      2. On this rock Christ builds, edifies; hence increase spirituality - continued tense. How we ought to grow spiritually under the care of the divine founder. "I will build my church." Nothing can interfere. A certainty for us.
      3. The spirituality of the Church seen by the fact that this a likeness-producing relation. Engenders holiness. Full moral likeness, which is necessitated.
    3. The character.
      1. Defensive.
        1. Hell's forces cannot destroy it.
        2. Meaning of "gates of hell." Figure of military forces sallying forth out of the gates. But the Church will not go down.
      2. Offensive.
        1. Instrumentality of bringing men to God. Hence its spiritual nature necessitated and involved. An evidence of it.
        2. This we must preserve to fill our calling and destiny in this age. Vital.
  3. Conclusion

    We are "called out ones."

    J. Prescott Johnson

    "His Coming"

    Matthew 24

    1. The Sureness of His Coming
      • The Prophets foretold it
      • Christ proclaimed it
      • Angels declared it
    2. The Signs of His Coming
      • False Prophets
      • Wars - Rumors of Wars
      • Return of Jews to Israel
      • Earthquakes - Natural Disasters
      • Diseases
      • Religious falling away
      • Gospel preached to all nations
    3. The Suddenness
      • As the lightning
      • As the Twinkling of an eye
    4. The Sadness
      • Not every one will be prepared
      • He is only coming for those who are ready

    Conclusion

    1. Are you ready?
    2. Good news - You can get ready now!

    Darrell Swearengin

    Matt 25:1-13

    The Wedding

    1. I'm Coming
    2. Get Ready
    3. Y'all Come
    4. Its Too Late

    William Snider

    The Catholicity of the Church

    Matt. 28:19-20

    1. Exordium
      1. Introduction.
        Continuation of the study of the attributes of the Church.
      2. Explanation.
        1. Early use of word "catholic."
        2. Its true meaning.
      3. Proposition: The Catholicity of the Church.
    2. Body
      1. The foundation of the Church is universal.
        1. Foundation is the blood atonement, which is universal.
        2. Thus the Church is capable of universal expansion.
        3. The fact that it does not include every man does not impair its universality. Still is a possibility. The fact that all men not saved not impair universality of the atonement.
      2. Ministry of the Church applicable to universality.
        1. Applicable to all times.
        2. Applicable to all peoples. It fits every age, people, circumstance, and need. It is for us all--yesterday, today, and forever.
      3. The two ordinances of the Church applicable to its universality.
        1. Show how baptism is, per se.
        2. Show how Lord's Supper is, per se.
        3. Suit the poor (not costly) as well as the rich. Thus its glory. God considers this, as he made provision for the poor to offer doves or pigeons instead of lambs.
      4. Mission of the Church is universal.
        1. The command and the promise is to the uttermost part of the world.
        2. Our vision and endeavor must be thus. Assured that we have His promise, vs. 20.
        3. To be selfish is to limit scope of vision and churchly mission, which is derogatory to the mission of Jesus.
    3. Conclusion
      God's Church is thus seen to be the only institution capable of universality.

    J. Prescott Johnson

    The Pioneer of Life

    Matt. 28:9; Acts 3:15; 4-11-49

    1. Exordium
      1. Introduction.
        1. Imperative that we know the essential meaning and deepest significance, for us, of the resurrection of Jesus.
        2. In the first text, Jesus is represented as leading, ahead of his disciples, beyond Gethsemane, Calvary, and the tomb, toward a time in which the disciples should fully recognize the meaning and message of resurrection Christhood. "He goeth before you . . . there shall he see him." This the pushing back of the horizon of human vision.
        3. In the second text, this same thought of Jesus' resurrection advance for us is expressed thus: "The pioneer of life".
      2. Proposition: The Pioneer of Life.
    2. Body In what respects is the Christ of resurrection the pioneer of life?
      1. Pioneered in godliness, character.
        1. Indicate his claims and example in reference to godliness.
          1. Taught that men were sinners, Matt. 23:25-28. In John 16:9 he defined sin. He made sin an issue.
          2. Taught the new birth and realities of the kingdom, John 3.
          3. Taught Christian perfection, Matt. 5:48.
        2. Indicate his death and resurrection as the means of securing subjective redemption for us.
          1. Opened the way of approach for guilty humanity. Secured pardon in his substitutionary death, Heb. 10:18-22a. This admits of new birth.
          2. Provided in his death, our death to sin; and in his life, our life unto holiness. The cause of our salvation, Rom. 6:11. Pioneered the way of holiness, by example, life, death, and resurrection. The way is open.
        3. Jesus went on into Galilee to assure disciples resurrection manifestation. To connect the wondrous present with the familiar past. So we must know him in experiential future of resurrection power and likeness. Transformed.
      2. Pioneered in vision.
        1. Indicate the selfish vision of past by Darius weeping at Hellespont.
        2. How Jesus pioneered in vision.
          1. Wept over a lost city, Matt. 23:27.
          2. Raised a fallen woman, John 8:3-11.
          3. Sight restored to a blind beggar, Mark 10:46-52.
          4. Vision of sacrifice in order to serve (rejected pagan pleasure and comfort), John 12:23-32.
        3. This vision in the disciples dimmed by the recent past. The apostolic band broken up. So now Jesus leads into Galilee to re-form the bank and renew the vision. Hence the Great Commission.
        4. We shall follow him in his vision as he looks out over a lost world and be caught up in the significance and demands of that vision. Dedicate to holiness and service.
      3. Pioneered in immortality, 2 Tim. 1:10.
        1. Indicate man's universal desire for immortality. Egyptian burial of a king.
        2. Christ gave this desire objective clarity.
          1. By triumph over death and becoming our forerunner, entering within the veil, Heb. 6:19-20. Hence a new and living way, Heb. 10:20.
          2. Jesus pioneered, as being the first fruit and the guarantee of our future. We shall realize in the resurrection life's deepest capabilities and demands. We must see significance of the future. A city prepared for us.
      4. Conclusion

        This pioneer is the only adequate way. Let us assume our cross and find experiential resurrection and march on to the light of resurrection morning and its glory of a new day. "and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

      J. Prescott Johnson

      The Sealed Stone

      Matt 27:50 - 66 (65,66)

      "Sealing a stone to hold in the Rock of Ages is an act in futility"

      1. As official as they could make it.... "God is dead"
      2. Set a watch to secure the situation.... "Maintain the Status Quo"
      3. All eyes on the stone... "Lost or Found?"

      Rex Scoles

"The mission of the Church of God (Holiness) is to exalt Christ, equip the Church, and evangelize the world."

© 2008 COGH.net