Because Jesus Died For Me | Sermon Outlines

1 Because Jesus died For Me A Five Lesson Series of Sermons Emphasizing How Our Lives Are to Honor Christ Gene Taylor Preface This series, Because Jesus died for Me, focuses on Jesus and our responsibilities to Him. Since He made the supreme sacrifice for us by leaving heaven, coming to earth, living a sinless life, then dying a sacrificial death on the cross, we should live our lives for Him and His glory. Hopefully, these sermons will help us do that. We will look to five different areas in which we should give Jesus His due. Because Jesus died for me, I want to Learn His Word, Stand Up for Him, Respect His Authority, Be Forgiving, and Be a Worker for Jesus .. These sermons may be presented as a series or independently for each lesson is complete in and of itself and does not build on previous lessons. Gene Taylor Because Jesus died For Me Gene Taylor 1.

2 Table of Contents Preface .. 1. Table of Contents .. 2. Because Jesus died For Me: I Want to Learn His Word .. 3. I Want to Stand Up for Jesus .. 5. I Want to Respect His Authority .. 8. I Want to Be Forgiving .. 12. I Want to Be a Worker for Jesus .. 15. Gene Taylor, 1995. All Rights Reserved. Because Jesus died For Me Gene Taylor 2. Because Jesus died For I Want to Learn His Word Text: 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17. I. The Word of Jesus : The Authoritative Word of God A. Jesus is God's exclusive spokesman today. (Hebrews 1:1-2). 1. Such is fitting for He has all authority in heaven and on earth. (Matt. 28:18-20). 2. His word will endure until time is no more and then will judge mankind in the last day. (Matt. 24:35; 1 Peter 1:24-25; John 12:48). 3. Therefore, everything done in religion must be in accordance with the word of Christ.

3 (Col. 3:17). B. The word of Jesus is expressed in the gospel. (Romans 1:16-17). 1. Since the Christian is to hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6), he must hunger to fill himself with a knowledge of the word of Christ. (Col. 3:16). 2. In relation to that word, Christians are, according to James 1:19-25, to: a. Be swift to hear it. (18). b. Be slow to speak against it. (18). c. Not become angry at it. (18). d. Receive it with meekness. (21). e. Be doers of it and not just hearers. (22). II. The Word of Jesus Meets the Spiritual Needs of the Christian A. The gospel contains all the Christian needs to live as God would have him to live. (2. Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3; Titus 2:11). B. An analysis of 2 Peter 1:3. 1. All leaves out nothing. 2. Life includes things pertaining to physical life. 3. Godliness pertains to one's spiritual life and needs.

4 C. The gospel: 1. Reveals man's purpose in being. (Rev. 4:11). 2. Provides forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38; 22:16). 3. Clears the conscience. (1 Peter 3:21). 4. Provides food to grow on. (1 Pet. 2:2; Heb. 5:12-14). 5. Stabilizes one's life and faith. (1 Thess. 3:2-3; 2 Pet. 1:12; Rom. 16:25). 6. Gives joy in living. (1 Pet. 1:8-9). 7. Gives comfort in sorrow. (I Thess. 4:18; 2 Cor. 1:3-4). 8. Gives hope in death. (Titus 1:2). Because Jesus died For Me Gene Taylor 3. III. The Practical Nature of the Word to the Social Issues and Problems of Today A. Aids. (Rom. 1:26-27; Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 7:1-5; Gen. 2:24). B. Race relations. (Mark 16:15; Acts 10:34-35; Col. 3:11). C. Rights. Solved by the golden rule and love. (Matt. 7:12; 5:44; 22:39; Rom. 13:10). D. Freedom. Equality of all in Christ. (1 Cor. 7:22; 9:19). E. Security a constant concern for all.

5 1. Civil security. Afforded by the state. (Rom. 13:1-4). 2. Social security. A security in society afforded by the home from the cradle to the grave. (Eph. 5:25, 28, 33; 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 5:4, 8, 16). 3. Material security. Promised to the faithful. (Matt. 6:33; Heb. 13:5). 4. Spiritual security. In Christ. (Eph. 1:3; John 10:27-28; 2 Tim. 1:12). F. Labor and management. (Eph. 6:5-9; Col. 3:22 - 4:1; 1 Tim. 6:1-2). G. Jobs and housing: resolved by combining previous points. H. Crime. (Rom. 13:3-4; Gen. 9:6; Eccl. 8:11). When rulers are a terror to evil works, crime diminishes. I. Broken homes. (Rom. 7:1-3; Matt. 19:5-9). J. Abuse and alcohol and drugs. (Eph. 5:18; Rom. 14:21; 1 Thess. 5:22). K. Morals. (1 Cor. 6:18-20; 3:16-17; 1 Thess. 4:3-7). Because Jesus died For Me Gene Taylor 4. Because Jesus died For I Want to Stand Up for Jesus Text: Ephesians 6:10-20.

6 I. The Example of Gen. Thomas J. Jackson A. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. Jackson was one of the commanders at the first battle of Bull Run. 1. When both the right and left flanks of the confederate army fell back, Jackson's troops held firm. 2. Gen. Barnard S. Bee rallied his disorganized men by instructing them to, Look at Gen. Jackson: he stands like a stone wall.. a. It did not mean that Jackson stood there like a useless statue. b. It meant he and his men stood firm. They were neither running away nor running around, flittering around like birds. c. They simply stood and would not allow the enemy to advance. B. Christians are engaged in a great spiritual warfare. 1. The enemies of the Christian are real. (2 Cor. 10:3-5; 1 Pet. 5:8). 2. Sometimes we think we are waging war when all we are doing is flittering about, running up and down, to and fro, making a lot of noise thinking that activity is all that is necessary.

7 3. We must take a firm stand against the enemies of truth and righteousness (1 Pet. 5:9; 1 Tim. 6:12) with: a. Unblemished characters. b. Zeal that is tempered with wisdom. c. Significant knowledge of God's word. II. The Means to Stand: The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). A. Near the end of his life, the apostle Paul was constantly surrounded by Roman soldiers. It is said that on occasion he had even been chained to his guards. 1. He lived in the presence of the greatest military power ever known, therefore, he knew a great deal about the Roman legion and the distinctive armor they used to subdue the world. 2. Thus, in Ephesians 6:10-18, he drew upon his knowledge of the physical armor of the Roman soldier to demonstrate the spiritual armor God has provided for those waging the fight of faith. a. The armor God has provided enables the Christian to stand.

8 Because Jesus died For Me Gene Taylor 5. b. Since Christians are not fighting a fleshly battle but a spiritual one, the weaponry is not carnal. c. Six distinct pieces of armor which every Christian ought to be wearing are described. B. The Christian's armor. (Panoply: the whole armor of a heavily armed soldier). 1. The Girdle of Truth. a. The girdle was not an ornament, rather it was used to bind all other pieces of the armor together thus giving the soldier freedom of movement. b. The center of the Christian's armor is truth (John 17:17). c. The New English Bible renders this clause as Buckle on the belt with truth.. 2. The Breastplate of Righteousness. a. The breastplate of the Roman spearman was made of chain-link in order to protect the heart and other vital organs. b. The Christian's heart is protected by righteousness. c.

9 Someone has said, Words are no defense against accusations, but a righteous life is.. 3. Feet Shod With the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace. a. The sandals of the Roman foot soldier were composed of thick leather soles studded with cleats of iron. 1) They were designed to make it difficult for the soldier to walk backwards. 2) The soldier had no armor on his back so if he decided to flee from the enemy he would have to discard his honor and protection. b. The Christian's footing must be supplied by the gospel of peace. (Rom. 10:15). 4. The Shield of Faith. a. Roman shields were composed of leather or wicker and usually measured four feet long by two and a half feet wide. b. Their enemies often fired long arrows covered with burning pitch. 1) If an arrow were to strike the soldier, his breastplate would stop it from piercing him.

10 2) The pitch, though, could fly off the arrow and set the soldier on fire. c. The spiritual enemy does not always attack directly, thus the shield can protect from indirect hits. 5. The Helmet of Salvation. a. The Roman helmet was made of leather reinforced with bronze. The head needed great protection Because a head blow is usually fatal. b. The Christian is to take, receive, his salvation from God. (Eph. 2:8-9) and continue to wear it so that he will not receive a fatal blow. (cf. John 10:28- 29). Because Jesus died For Me Gene Taylor 6. 6. The Sword of the Spirit. a. This is the only offensive weapon the Christian has. (Heb. 4:12). b. It must always be sharp. 1) It must never be allowed to get rusty.. 2) Sharpening ones sword is not a waste of time. (I Tim. 4:13). C. The armor is to be donned with prayer. (Eph. 6:18). 1. Christians are mere foot soldiers.