My sermon for 1/31/10

DeaconDean

γέγονα χαλκὸς, κύμβαλον ἀλαλάζον
Jul 19, 2005
22,183
2,677
61
Gastonia N.C. (Piedmont of N.C.)
✟100,334.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
The Anatomy of a Backslider


Learning from one who knows from experience
2 Pet. 2:20-22​




Introduction: In the later years of his life, Robert Louis Stevenson was a man of deep and profound faith. It was not always like that though. Like many young people he rebelled against his upbringing. He was raised up in Scotland in a very strict Calvinist home. As a college student, he quickly shed his ridgid upbringing which he called "the deadiest gag and wet blanket that can be laid on a man," and adopted a throughly Bohemian likestyle. He called himself a "youthful atheist."​

As he became older, however, he began to have "doubts about his doubts." He came to see that for all its claim to wisdom, the world had no satisfying answers to the deepest questions of life. Still later, he would describe his own religious outlook as a "cast iron faith."​

As we think of backsliding, we cannot help but to think of the Apostle Peter. Why is that? I guess it is because of Peter's denial of knowing and being associated with the Savior. But, should we do that? Or should we feel that way because Mt. 26:56 says that after they took Jesus away; "all the disciples forsook him and fled." But certainly, Peter knew first hand the dangers of backsliding.​

The process of backsliding is a gradual one, often overtaking a person by suprise. You wake up one day and wonder how did I get this way? Lets look at the events that led up to Peter's denial of Christ, and use them to learn from one who knows from experience.​

Scriptue Reading: 2 Peter 2:20-22 (KJV)

"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."​

Pastor's Prayer:

Division 1 Statement: Pride

During the battle of the Wilderness in the American Civil War, Union General John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapit, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapit. "Nonsense," snapped the general. "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist...." A monent later, Sedgwick feel to the ground fatally wounded.​

Jesus warned Peter about the dangers of backsliding. Jesus told Peter: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:" The word "sift" here means to try ones faith to the verge of overthrow. Take notice of Peter's response: "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death." Here is Peter's first step towards backsliding: "Pride goeth before destruction" (Prov. 16:18)You may ask: "Why would we say this is the first step"? Jesus calls us to humility. (Mt. 18:4) Pride goes against this principle. Solomon wrote: "An high look, and a proud heart,..is sin." (Prov. 21:4) So therefore. if we lose humility, it's usually the first step we take into backsliding. A little pride is not always a bad thing. By that I mean lets suppose you want to renovate your living room. A contractor gives you a price of $20,000. You check into it and find out you can do it for $14,000 saving yourself $6000 in the process. And when your done, it looks just as good as had a professional had done it. This type of pride is not always and not necessarily a sin. But when in the case of doing God's work it is. Remember that Paul said: "Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition," (1 Cor. 10:11) Now, lets look at the next step...​

Division 2 Statement: Laziness

Sheer laziness has probably been responsible for shortcuts, not to mention valuable inventions than we are ready to admit. Most of us are continually on the lookout at least subconsciously for easier, and the fastest ways to do the dull, boring, and repititous tasks we do as a routine. One example of pure outright laziness is in s story of an old mountaineer and his wife who are sitting in frount of a fireplace just whiling away the time. After a long silence, the wife says: "Jed, I think its raining, Get up and go outside and see." The old mountaineer continued to look at the fire for a few seconds, sighed, then said: "Aw Ma, why don't you just call in the dog and see if its wet."​

That is lazy.

Jesus took James, John, and Peter into the garden with Him while He went to pray. Before He left He told them: "tarry ye here, and watch with me." (Mt. 26:38) Jesus came back and found them asleep. He tells Peter: "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" (vs. 40) This happens three times with the disciples. Why do you think this happened? One reason may be a "lack of diligent preparation." The reason being: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." (Mt. 24:42) Isn't this exactly the same thing Jesus said to Peter in the garden? More often than not, it is a gradual drifting that catches us off guard. (Heb. 2:1) Ask yourself this question: Which one of the ten virgins would you want to be? One of the five wise virgins who took oil with them, or one of the five who just took their lamps? When we become proud, we become lazy. And that leads us to the next step...​

Division 3 Statement: Cowardice

During the years as Premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrueshchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrueschev was interupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. "You were a friend of Stalin's. Why didn't you stop him!?" "Who was that!?" roared Khreuschev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khreuschev replied quietly: "Now you know why."​

After Jesus was arrested, the Bible says that: "Peter followed afar off." (Lk. 22:54) The fear the heckler felt in the story, surely must have been the same as what Peter was feeling. Fear of being at the very least thrown in jail, or at the most, executed by the KGB, kept the heckler from answering in cowardice. Jesus was being taken away to stand before the highest ranking "non-Roman" rulers in Israel. Fear for what they could not only do to Jesus but to Peter also, may have been one reason why Peter kept away from being with the Lord. Now that Jesus had become unpopular, Peter stays just far enough away so as to not be identified with Jesus. Peter was unprepared for the challenge of facing ridicule and persecution. Without diligent perparation, we too can become guilty of cowardice. Are you: ashamed to be seen with your bible, or ashamed to be seen saying grace, or ashamed when you pull up to a red-light and you turn your gospel music or radio preaching down, or are you ashamed to be seen with other Christians, or are you ashamed to even let others know that you are a Christian? Remember what Jesus said: "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." -Mk. 8:38 (KJV) When we become ashamed of Christ, it is getting easier to backslide. Soon we find we are at step four...​

Division 4 Statement: Worldiness

C.H. Spurgeon said: "The course of rebellion against God may be very gradual, but it increases in rapidity as you progress in it, and if you begin to run downhill, the ever increasing momentum will send you down faster and faster to destruction. You Christians ought to watch against the beginning of worldly conformity. I do believe that the growth of worldliness is like strife, which is as the letting out of water. Once you start, there is no knowing where you will stop. I sometimes get this question put to me, concerning worldly amusements, 'May I do so-in-so?' I am sorry whenever anybody asks this question because it shows that there is something wrong or the question would not be raised at all.​

When a persons conscious lets them say: "I can do A," soon he will go to B, C, D, E, and all through the alphabet. When Satan cannot catch us with a big sin, he will try a little one. Does it matter to him as long as he catches a fish, what bait he uses? Beware of the begining of evil, for many, who bade fair to go right, here have turned aside and perished amongst the dark mountains in the wide field of sin."​

Wise words from a hundred years ago.

Look closely at Peter now. Peter was among those who sought to take Jesus and accuse Him, and here was Peter sitting down beside them at the fire. Too ashamed to be seen with Christ, it becomes very easy for Peter, and us, to mingle with those who are of the world and enjoy their comforts. An old saying goes like this: "You play with fire, and sooner or later your gonna get burned". Prov. 6:27-29 says: "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent." What did Paul warn the Corinthians? "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." If you run with dogs, sooner or later your gonna get fleas. Once your friends with the world, it is only a very short step and your at step five...​

Division 5 Statement: Denial

"You don't look at where it happened," said a one time Indy driver, Scott Goodyear. "You don't watch the films of it on television, you don't deal with it. You pretend it never happened." The Indianpolis Motor Speedway encourages this approach. As soon as the track closes the day of an accident, a crew heads out to paint over the spot where the car hit the wall. Through the years, a driver has never been pronounced dead at the track. A trip to the Indainapolis Motor Speedway Racing Museum, located inside the 2.5 mile oval, has no mention to the 40 drivers who have lost their lives here. Nowhere is there even a mention. By the way, Scott Goodyear was the 33rd driver to lose his life at this race track.​

Denial, failure to face our problems is the easiest way to dismiss them. Look at what happened to Peter on his way to backsliding. He is just about to enter the final stage. Away from Christ, at comfort with these of the world, Peter is at home and very soon denying his Lord and Savior. (Lk. 22:56-60) Whether Peter knew it or not, he put himself in very grave danger. Mt. 10:32-33 says: "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."​

Even though we may never actually deny Christ in words, our backsliding can deny Him in action. We are called to worship Him, but make excuses why we cannot. We are called to serve Him, but we sit back and render no service or watch those who do. We are called to stand by His side and suffer with Him, but often enough we stand afar off in the safety of the world's comfort. For Peter, he realized his sin when the Lord turned and looked at him in the courtyard (vs. 60-62). Can you imagine the feeling in Peter's heart when he looked straight into the eyes of the Savior? Like Judas, Peter wept bitterly over his sin. But unlike Judas, Peter's sorrow worked true repentance. (2 Cor. 7:10-11) Learning from Peter we can take...​

Division 6 Statement: Advice from one who learned the hard way.

Years later, we find Peter writing about the sort of things that would help prevent us from making the same mistake. To guard against, pride, Peter says: "be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (1 Pet. 5:5) In other words, humility. To guard against laziness, Peter says: "be vigilant;" (vs. 8) In other words, be diligent. Instead of cowardice: "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:" (1 Pet. 4:14) Instead of worldliness, "abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" (1 Pet. 2:11) Instead of denial: "be ready always to give an answer" (1 Pet. 3:15)

Conclusion:

From one who learned by the road of hard experience, lets heed his advice, lest we one day backslide ourselves and in doing so, deny Christ, whether it is in words or deeds. Remember too, that when Peter saw the eyes of the Lord, he realized the error of his way. Fortunately for him, there was time to repent. But for us, once we see Jesus' eyes, it will be too late, it will be judgment time then.

Appeal:

If we realize we are guilty of backsliding, repent now! Do not wait until you stand before Jesus. Do it now, so that your face-to-face encounter with Him with Him will be terrible, not terrifiying!

God Bless​

Till all are one.​
 
Last edited:

JohnDB

Regular Member
May 16, 2007
4,256
1,289
nashville
✟46,421.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
OK...

Dunno if you will like this advice or not but...since you posted it I will offer it anyway.

Three point sermons are best.

If you can condense these fine points into three main points you will have a winner on your hands. There are those in the congregation who will see the other points by a mere allusion to them and not fleshed out so much. Others aren't so bright and will understand only what you directly point to....but they will be lost on all six points. It is too much information for them to absorb.

Gotta hit a middle ground for both camps and all points in between.
Some people can follow their own footpaths through the scriptures and find many of these endpoints on their own....others aren't so astute to the content of scriptures and get lost on even simple basic truths.

So...
Don't use too many scripture references. (it is a sign of unsureity of what it is that you are trying to say)

Don't read too many verses. (The audience will and can read them for themselves if interested...maybe even while you are speaking)

Keep it real and personal the whole time. Avoid big words. Point out what is really good news and comforting for those who struggle...

Above all else...relax and view it as a conversation. Even though the audience doesn't speak back.
 
Upvote 0

DeaconDean

γέγονα χαλκὸς, κύμβαλον ἀλαλάζον
Jul 19, 2005
22,183
2,677
61
Gastonia N.C. (Piedmont of N.C.)
✟100,334.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
You know, I read though this and timed it and its about 45 minutes long.

If a 45 minute sermon is too long, God help the churches of today.

I know my church won't be getting out early to beat the other Baptist churches to the buffet on Sunday.

I wasn't really asking for somebody to critique it. I was required to take Contemporary Christian Preaching in seminary.

Rather I thought some might like to read what I was going to preach on since some here think I'm an idiot and don't know what I'm talking about.

However, I shall remember what you said.

But I am not going to change a thing. It is the messsage the Holy Spirit led me to, so it can't be all that wrong.

God Bless

Till all are one.
 
Upvote 0

desmalia

sounds like somebody's got a case of the mondays
Sep 29, 2006
5,786
943
Canada
Visit site
✟18,512.00
Country
Canada
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Married
Nice job, Dean! :D

My one critique is that you got some facts wrong regarding the Indy Motor Speedway. Caught me by surprise too. I thought, "What? No! Scott Goodyear died?? I thought he retired!" I used to be a HUGE open wheel racing fan, but have not really watched many races since I got married. But no, Goodyear is still alive and well. I think maybe you got something mixed up there when quoting him. Not really relevant to the sermon, but thought you might want to know in case you want to use the example again. :)


I'm with you Dean. A most excellent sermon. Well done!

I too preached 40+ minutes today.

:thumbsup:
Preach until the point is made and forget the stop watch.
:amen:
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Andy S. Wright

Hiding In Plain Sight
Jun 6, 2009
758
145
Texas
✟11,256.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
If a 45 minute sermon is too long, God help the churches of today.

On the subject of sermon length, I preached at a church with a deacon who made it his job to let the preacher know "We let out at 12 pm here so you need to be done with your sermon by 11:50 at the latest to make time for the invitation. We've got elderly women who need to get home to take their medication."

He would enforce this rule by lifting his arm and shake his wristwatch to signal the two-minute warning during the sermon. I preached till I was finished (somewhere around the 12:15 mark). He made a beeline to me after the service to let me know he was not impressed with my choice to ignore the rules of the congregation. My response to him was a very polite suggestion that if he or anyone else needed to leave at twelve they were free to do so but I was going to preach the Word until I was led to finish. If that was too much of a change for him to handle then he could simply not invite me to speak at his church again.

To my knowledge they have been looking for a permanent pastor for several years. Can't imagine why no one wants fill their pulpit for them.

God help the churches of today, indeed.

Good word, Brother Dean. Sorry I missed it.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums