Christian Priorities from Matthew’s Gospel (July 9, 2023)
Sermon Outline for Sunday, July 9, 2023
Pastor Andy Lambert
PASSAGES: Matthew 5:21-24; Matthew 6:14-15; 2 Corinthians 6:3-4; Matthew 18:15-20; Matthew 6:31-34; Matthew 7:1-5; 1 Corinthians 11:31; Romans 14:12; John 7:24; Matthew 8:21-22; Colossians 1:18; Acts 10:13-14
Think about some of your first things from the past. Your First:
Bicycle—Car—Date—Home—Bible—Etc.
These first things were important to you.
I want to discuss some priorities that are given as Principles to govern the believers life.
• Brother First Then Your Gift
Matthew 5:21-24 ~ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
• The Reason of Our Forgiveness for Offences
• For My Sake
Matthew 6:14-15 ~ “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
• For Ministry Sake
2 Corinthians 6:3-4 ~ “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,”
• The Recognition of the Formula for Offenders
• To Win Them
Matthew 18:15 ~ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”
• To Warn Them
Matthew 18:16 ~ “But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
• To Withdraw From Them
Matthew 18:17 ~ “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
• Essential Step – Bathe the matter in Prayer
Matthew 18:18-20 “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.””
• Spiritual First Then Material
Matthew 6:31-34 ~ “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
• A Divine Responsibility
Matthew 6:31 ~ “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’”
Do Not Worry About your Needs. God will supply them.
• A Divine Regulation
Matthew 6:34 ~ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Do not worry about the evil that you face. God will deliver you.
• Judge Yourself First Then Others
Matthew 7:1-5 ~ “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
We have two standards to judge by. One For you—One for others.
• Your Judgment Is to Be Self Ward
• For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1 Corinthians 11:31 ~ “But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.”
• So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Romans 14:12 ~ “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
• Your Judgment Is to Be Spiritual
John 7:24 ~ “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.””
• God’s Will First Then Your Wants
Matthew 8:21-22 ~ “Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.””
• A Reverence of Christ
Colossians 1:18 ~ “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”
He Demands First Place—He Deserves First Place
• A Revelation of Carnality
Acts 10:13-14 ~ “And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
“Not so, Lord” This is why people want Dress -Live-Give—Right.
• Cleanse Inside First Then the Outside
• The Place Cleansing Begins
Matthew 23:25-26 ~ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.”
Just as God did in the plans for the Tabernacle, He started from within.
• The Product Cleansing Begat
A Christian—A Christian can only find happiness in Holiness.
Pastor Andy Lambert ~ pastorandy@cvcog.church
Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101