Download AFTER WE BEGIN, WHAT THEN? - Hebron Lane Church of Christ

Part One
[By Ron Halbrook]
• Introduction
1.
Corinth made a commitment,
but…
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus,
that as he had
,
so he would also
in you
the same grace also.
2
• Introduction
2.
Fulfill the commitment
Macedonians gave
“beyond their power”
3
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace
Macedonians gave
of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
“beyond their power”
2 How that in a great trial of
the abundance of their joy and their
abounded unto the riches of their
.
3 For to their power, I bear record,
yea, and
they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty
that we would receive the gift,
and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering
to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped,
but
and unto us by the will of God.
,
4
• Introduction
2.
Fulfill the commitment
Titus will remind them
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had
so he would also
in you the same grace also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith,
and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence,
and in your love to us,
see that ye abound in this grace also.
,
5
• Introduction
2.
Fulfill the commitment
Finish what you started
8 I speak not by commandment,
but by occasion of the forwardness of others,
and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that, though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor,
that ye through his poverty might be rich.
6
Finish what you started
10 And herein I give my advice:
for this is expedient for you,
who have
before, not only to do,
but also to be forward
.
11 Now therefore
of it;
that as there was a readiness to will,
so there may be a
also
out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind,
it is accepted according to that a man hath,
and not according to that he hath not.
7
• Introduction
3. After we begin, what then?
Finish what you start for Christ
The sinner begins to hear Christ
The Christian begins to follow Christ
The church begins to serve Christ
8
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
A. The Soldier’s Spirit
John Paul Jones of Le Bonhomme Richard
to British captain of Serapis:
“Sir, I have not yet begun to fight.”
9
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
A. The Soldier’s Spirit
Face hardships
10
Face hardships
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner:
but be thou partaker of the
according to the power of God;
3 Thou therefore endure
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
of the gospel
,
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer
.
11
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
A. The Soldier’s Spirit
Christ’s love motivates us
14 For
because we thus judge,
that if
,
then were all dead:
constraineth us;
12
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
B. The Athlete’s Determination
Don Schollander, 5 Olympic gold medals,
37 U.S. records, 22 world records
13
Don Schollander, 5 Olympic gold medals,
37 U.S. records, 22 world records
In top competition a whole new ingredient
enters swimming—pain. You learn the pain
…in every race.
You can back off, or you can force yourself to
drive to the finish, knowing that the pain will
become excruciating. Right there, the great
competitors separate from the rest….If you
push through the pain barrier into real agony,
you’re a champion.
[Don Schollander, “Not the Triumph But the Struggle,”
Reader’s Digest (June 1971):222-257; p.224]
14
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
B. The Athlete’s Determination
Go for the prize
15
24 Know ye not that they whichGo
runfor
inthe
a race
run all,
prize
but one receiveth the prize?
.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery
is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown;
but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly;
so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body,
and bring it into subjection:
lest that by any means,
when I have preached to others,
I myself should be a castaway.
16
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
C. “Agonize” to Sustain Relationship with Christ
Greek agonizomai: strive as soldier, athlete
 Contend, strive, labor fervently
 Strain every nerve
 Do one’s utmost
 Practice rigid self-control
 Struggle one’s hardest
 Exert all one’s strength
17
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
C. “Agonize” to Sustain Relationship with Christ
100% commitment
18
100% commitment
24
to enter in at the strait gate:
for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in,
and shall not be able.
25 And every man that
for the mastery
is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown;
but we an incorruptible.
12
the good fight of faith,
lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called,
and hast professed a good profession
before many witnesses.
19
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
C. “Agonize” to Sustain Relationship with Christ
Yield all to God’s power & love
20
Yield all to God’s power & love
7
.
the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
your hands, ye sinners;
and
your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be
, and
, and
:
let your laughter be turned to mourning,
and your joy to heaviness.
10
in the sight of the Lord,
and he shall lift you up.
21
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
C. “Agonize” to Sustain Relationship with Christ
Single-minded focus in life
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive
any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
22
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
C. “Agonize” to Sustain Relationship with Christ
No merit: receive His grace
8 For by
are ye saved through
;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
23
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
C. “Agonize” to Sustain Relationship with Christ
Relationship rewarded
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me,
Write, Blessed are the dead which die
from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit,
that they may
;
and their works do follow them.
24
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
D. Always Looking to Christ
Deny self daily as he did
23 And he said to them all,
If any man will come after me, let him
and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
62 And Jesus said unto him,
No man, having put his hand to the plough,
and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
,
25
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
D. Always Looking to Christ
Overcome trials as he did
21 To him that
will I grant to sit with me in my throne,
even as I also
,
and am set down with my Father in his throne.
26
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
D. Always Looking to Christ
Power
of his love sustains us in every trial
27
Power
of his love sustains us in every trial
32 And I,
if I be lifted up from the earth,
will
all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death
he should die.
14 For
because we thus judge,
that if
,
then were all dead:
constraineth us;
28
I. Finish What You Start for Christ
D. Always Looking to Christ
Macedonians empowered
by this power
29
Macedonians empowered
by this power
3 For to their power, I bear record,
yea, and
they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty
that we would receive the gift,
and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering
to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped,
but
and unto us by the will of God.
,
30
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
A. Hearing Is the 1st Step, What Then?
Some turn away
31
Some turn away
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth;
the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit,
and they are life.
+++++
+++++
+++++
+++++
66 From that time many of his disciples went back,
and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve,
Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him,
Lord, to whom shall we go?
thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ,
the Son of the living God.
32
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
A. Hearing Is the 1st Step, What Then?
Some listen & learn
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,
,
then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.
33
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
B. Believing Is the 2nd Step, What Then?
Some turn away
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?
I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul,
Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
34
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
B. Believing Is the 2nd Step, What Then?
Some willing to act
on their faith
35
Some willing to act
on their faith
,
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel
that God hath made that same Jesus,
whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this,
they were pricked in their heart,
and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren,
36
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
C. Repenting Is the 3rd Step, What Then?
Faith leads to repentance:
change of heart causing change of life
38 Then Peter said unto them,
,
and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
37
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
C. Repenting Is the 3rd Step, What Then?
Repentance changes conduct
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus,
and at Jerusalem,
and throughout all the coasts of Judaea,
and then to the Gentiles,
that they should
and turn to God,
and
.
38
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
D. Confessing Christ Is the 4th Step, What Then?
Open confession of Christ
9 That if thou shalt
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth
is made unto salvation.
39
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
D. Confessing Christ Is the 4th Step, What Then?
Faith leads to confession
40
Faith leads to confession
35 Then Philip opened his mouth,
and began at the same scripture,
and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way,
they came unto a certain water:
and the eunuch said, See, here is water;
what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart,
thou mayest.
And he answered and said,
.
41
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
E. Being Baptized Is the Last Step to Be Saved
Receive salvation
by obedient faith
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is
shall be
but he that believeth not shall be damned.
;
42
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
E. Being Baptized Is the Last Step to Be Saved
Salvation: all sins forgiven
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and
every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ
,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
43
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
E. Being Baptized Is the Last Step to Be Saved
Saved: added to church
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
and the same day there were
unto them
about three thousand souls.
+++++
+++++
+++++
+++++
+++++
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people.
And
daily
such as should be
.
44
II. The Sinner Begins to Hear Christ
F. Our Souls Conquered by the Love of Christ
His love wins our love
14 For
because we thus judge,
that if
,
then were all dead:
constraineth us;
45
• Invitation
1.
Corinth made a commitment,
but…
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus,
that as he had
,
so he would also
in you
the same grace also.
46
• Invitation
2. After we begin, what then?
Finish what you start for Christ
The sinner begins to hear Christ
3.
Receive salvation now!
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and
every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ
,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
47