As Paul says, “The law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good” (Rom. Thus Christian worship services should include both the message of the gospel and answers to the question What shall we do? But, most of A.J. Reformed Worship © 2020 by Worship Ministries of the Christian Reformed Church. Even on that first Pentecost, Peter’s message was not just “repent and be baptized.” Acts 2 continues, “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’” Peter’s very first sermon, his Pentecost sermon, called those first responders not merely to repent and be baptized, but also to reform their lives. Download our free booklet Change Your Life! In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus upheld the commandments and magnified their application and intent. The way we love God is explained by the first four commandments (Exodus 20:1-11). Obeying the covenant is meant to be a source of blessing, prosperity, joy, and health for God’s people. It begins with repentance and accepting Christ as Savior. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts and updates. The gospel called them both to saving faith and to faithful living. We offer 30,000+ outlines and 10,000+ free sermon illustrations from top Christian pastors and communicators. Sermon on Obedience and Disobedience 2 years ago admin 1 Samuel 15 Chapter Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now, therefore, hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. Let’s begin by making clear what we mean when we speak of the law of God. The word translated fulfill means to “make full, to fill up and to fill to the full” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). Used by permission. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. John is not teaching that salvation is conditional on obedience. 2. All three of these can and should find a place in the worship of the church. In pedagogical use, the law is the teacher of sin. SermonSearch.com is an online resource for sermon outlines and preaching ideas. God gave commandments to Adam, Gen. 1:28; 2:16–17. The law is the rule and guide for how true faith works itself out in the life of the Christian. God does. When Calvin came into contact with Bucer’s practice in Strasbourg, he changed the position of the reading of the law. Scripture: 1 … The scribes and Pharisees were known for obeying the letter of the law. In their cultural context this was the beginning of their obedient service to God and to others. Outlines That You Can Use "Preach The Word" The Benefits of Obedience. Ten Counsels: Richard Foster on Spiritual Formation, Pioneer of Reformed worship: celebrating the 500th anniversary of Martin Bucer, Lectionary Resources for Lent and Holy Week. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams Peter obeyed what Jesus had commanded the disciples in the great commission: “. I encourage you to take time to read this article, to think it through, and to discuss it with your worship planning group or others in your church community. James says that the Jews were zealous for keeping the law. His disciples should not even harbor hateful attitudes and demeaning thoughts about another person (Matthew 5:21-22). Text: 1 Sam.15:12-24. 2. John is teaching that salvation is evidenced by obedience. What about other calls to obedient living found in Scripture? Simply put, the law does not dictate our ethics. Foyt Must Obey The Law (illustration) A.J. But ever since you started obeying God, life has been one trial after another. Sermon Illustrations provides sermon illustrations, sermons, eulogies, funeral helps, and counseling aids for ministers. When the Reformers talked about the law, they generally had in mind the Ten Commandments. This sermon describes what salvation produces. This passage naturally divides into two parts, verses 17-18 and verses 19-20. Then, in a society that assumed that the scribes and the Pharisees were the epitome of law keeping, Jesus made the even more surprising claim, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (verse 20). The command to “love your neighbor as yourself” goes all the way back to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 19:18). They are anxious to avoid the error of thinking that obedience to the law in some way contributes to salvation, so they cleanly separate law and gospel. Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to your inbox. The Importance of Obeying God’s Law ——————— 17 1. Christians are already forgiven, adopted heirs of Christ. In this article I will offer some theological reasons why Christian worship should challenge people to hear and obey God’s law and show how the commandments are to work in the Christian life. This morning I want to talk to you about the blessings of obedience. The issue of requiring any law as part of Christian faith, whether from the Old Testament or from the 21st century, is contrary to genuine Christian faith. Lecture 4, The Meaning of the Law: The scribes and Pharisees attempted to make God’s law easier by adding to it. In response to Peter’s altar call several thousand repented and believed. As Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. There is a righteousness that exist outside of obeying the Law. Jesus’ Disciples have new hearts characterized by: a) … Throughout His ministry Jesus taught the importance of God’s commandments. Obedience is a sign that we know God, recognizing that God expects his people to live a certain way - … Becoming a Christian takes an act of God called justification. The Apostle Peter said in 1 Pet 2:13-17, "Then be obedient to every law of man for the Lord's sake…honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor him who rules." Jesus did not teach that the 10 Commandments were done away but that they are grouped under two great laws. teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Each person needs to repent of sin and follow the words of Jesus Christ. Worship must both tell the story of God’s saving work through Jesus and provide instruction on how to respond to the grace of God with obedient lives. But we need to be careful that we do not dismiss the law because of its misuse, particularly because the law has several uses. An expository sermon from James 1:22-25 which examines the need to examine Scripture very carefully and then obey that same Word. In RW 84 we’ll look at practical ways to do this. Jesus continued, “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (verse 19). Session One – Hearing and Obeying God’s Word Instructor: Bill Patton B. ... Sermon. My sermon is really about all that stuff that happens after we get out of bed and the struggles we have each day to obey God. The law perfectly tells us what God expects of us. Places To Order Good Books. Equally important, he changed the practice from the reading of the law by the minister to the singing of the law by the congregation. Are the sermons aimed only at another altar call? Also, we see all of the famous, successful people in the world who disobey God but seem to be having a great life. Romans 13:1-5 - Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. The law of Moses was a preparatory law to bring men and women to Christ. Jack Hendren and his wife, Mary, met at Hanover College in southern Indiana and have been married over 50 years. I encourage you to take time to read this article, to think it through, and to discuss it with your worship planning group or others in your church community. Like the Mosaic Law, it marks out the distinctive characteristics of God’s Covenant people: 1. Race Car Driver A.J. Jesus’ perfect example of love is the new standard—the new commandment! For Sermon Building. The spirit of the law. With a good foundation and understanding of why the law of God ought to be included in worship, we will be better prepared to apply the practical suggestions Van Reken will lay out in RW 84. —JB. For, by obeying the law of God, he will often overcome every root of wickedness; and it would be a ridiculous thing if he, who is but the production, ... /kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xvii music christmas day.htm. 7:12), and “Love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. And what does the Sermon on the Mount tell us about Jesus and the law? ... he speaks of the sheer stupidity of looking into Scripture but not obeying. Free Sermon Series for Preaching : In Sermon Series: "obeying-the-law" Application to modern life is made. So, how does one repent? First, I’m going to assume that most of us on one level truly want to obey God. 3. Never miss a post! Foyt is a remarkable race-car driver. Christ said, “If you want to enter into [eternal] life, keep the commandments.” He made sure everyone knew He meant the 10 Commandments by naming several of them in this passage of Scripture (Matthew 19:16-19). In other words, how do you underscore that obedient living isn’t just about what you should. This level of commitment requires an active choice. Even Christians are troubled by the idea of a God who issues commands and calls for our obedience. He expects them to observe the law, and he says it won't pass away until every word is fulfilled, and Christ came to fulfill the law. Being convicted of our sin, then, we look for the Savior, Jesus Christ, who can deliver us from our just condemnation. The historical practices of churches in the Reformed tradition support the notion that there are good reasons for regularly incorporating God’s law, in one way or another, in weekly worship. Why might some people have thought that Jesus came to abolish the Law and the Prophets (v. 17)? These people apparently fail to understand that God’s law is a law of love. The apostle John defines sin as breaking or not keeping the commandments (1 John 3:4). He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4). In preaching this sermon I’m going to make two assumptions. Now imagine this first church of Jerusalem gathering for weekly worship after Pentecost. Today the law of Christ, which fulfilled the law of Moses, is the fulness of the gospel or “the perfect law of liberty” . Since all have sinned, the only way any of us can be righteous at all is to have our sins paid for by Jesus Christ. We’d rather see God as an accepting and understanding friend who offers suggestions or advice from time to time. But Jesus set the example and taught that we must also obey the spirit of the law. Contact Us. Obeying The Law . When Jesus was asked if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar, he answered, "Give to … This is an important truth, since the idea of obedience has fallen on particularly hard times in our postmodern setting. Some Christians object to any liturgical use of God’s law in order to be absolutely clear about the doctrine of salvation by grace alone. He revealed its spiritual purpose and intent. The subject is gradually worked up to the preceding admonitions in vers. Obedience to the law has no role in justification; God alone justifies. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord …’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23). Obedience sermon outline by Tom Moore. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”. Resources for planning and leading worship, In part one of this two-part article, Calvin Van Reken argues that the church ought to reclaim the practice of calling God’s people to obedient living. This practice originally began in the late Middle Ages, when worship services in the vernacular included the reading of the law along with the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer as catechetical devices. What does each part emphasize? Instead of doing away with or replacing God’s laws, Jesus affirmed the law, stated His commitment to it and built His sermon on that foundation. The apostle John also talked about this new commandment, but he said it was not really new (1 John 2:7-10). The end of Acts 2 describes the reformed lives of those first Christians: they gathered together; they learned from the apostles; they prayed; they ate together; they shared all things. Thus, Jesus summarized the 10 Commandments under two great summary laws: love God and love your neighbor. Throughout history, the preaching of the Word has also explained and encouraged obedience to God in worship. For example, in magnifying the Seventh Commandment Jesus stated, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28, emphasis added throughout). Romans 2:13 ESV / 61 helpful votes He had strong words for any who claimed to worship Him and failed to obey God’s commandments, both in the letter and the spirit.What is clear about Jesus’ teaching is the intensity He gave to loving God. Finally, God’s will for obedient living was also taught in the songs and prayers used in worship. In part one of this two-part article, Calvin Van Reken argues that the church ought to reclaim the practice of calling God’s people to obedient living. What did Jesus really say about the law? John stated that keeping God’s law is one of the identifying characteristics of a Christian. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. The long history of psalm singing in Reformed churches reinforced the call to obedient living since so many of the psalms celebrate and recite parts of God’s law. Confusion begins when some conclude that demonstrating love  somehow replaces keeping God’s law. Lectionary Resources for Lent and Holy WeekÂ. So in the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus said that He fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17), what did He mean? (Read More...) Titus 3:1 - Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, Romans 2:13 - (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version (© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.). The most important use, though, is to guide God’s people so that by knowing what is right and good they can show their gratitude to God by following God’s will more closely. The most obvious way believers were instructed in the way of obedience in the history of the church was by the reading or singing of the Ten Commandments. The purpose of the Law was, basically, to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). In this lesson, Dr. Ferguson explains how Christ corrected their misinterpretations of God’s law and emphasized the Christian life as one shaped by reconciliation and the gospel. The scribes and Pharisees were known for obeying the letter of the law. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:13-14). In fact, those who claim righteousness on the basis of their keeping of the Law only think they’re keeping the Law; this was one of Jesus’ main points in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:20–48; see also Luke 18:18–23). In other words, since heaven and earth continue to exist, the law remains unchanged and will continue to be in effect. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus explained that the commandments speak to our innermost thoughts in addition to our actions—because thoughts are the doorway to actions. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus explained that the commandments speak to our innermost thoughts in addition to our actions—because thoughts are the doorway to actions. SERMON POINTS Obedience is doing what God says, when He says it, how He says it, for whatever reason He says it, or with whom He says it. Your unbelieving, immoral girlfriends have good-looking hunks for boyfriends, while you sit home alone ever since you committed yourself to obey the Lord! How Should a Christian Deal With the Coronavirus Pandemic? Righteousness Apart From Obeying The Law Series. For this they need to be regularly reminded of God’s law. Most of the Ten Commandments are prohibitions (do not do “X”) which imply positive actions (do “Y”). He brought forward the teaching of the Old Testament to love Him “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). What Christians need to work on is sanctification, the outworking of a life of faith in the world, a process that ebbs and flows (Canons of Dort, Fifth Head of Doctrine, Art. Partial obedience is … In his commentary on Colossians written in 1534, Philip Melancthon was the first to identify that the law has three uses: pedagogical, civic, and normative. All rights reserved. An expository sermon from Deuteronomy 4:1-9 which explores how the Israelites the need to obey the Law of God. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus also magnified the Sixth Commandment that forbids murder by explaining the spirit of the law. He had strong words for any who claimed to worship Him and failed to obey God’s commandments, both in the letter and the spirit. Understanding the commandments and obeying them is the basis for a relationship with Christ. How do His comments about God’s law relate to a new commandment? The disciples surely wondered how this could be and what Jesus meant in these teachings about the law. As the Word is carefully explained, and as it is applied to worshipers’ lives individually and communally, it shapes their minds and hearts to act in accord with God’s will. Under the law, the people’s obedience was required, first, before God could bless them. At the same time, we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Didn’t Jesus give a “new commandment”? Jesus magnified the law in His Sermon on the Mount. You'll write powerful and fresh messages every week with our preparation tools on a number of sermon topics, including expository preaching. When you put that guy in a racing car on the Indianapolis 500, get out of the way. 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