Sermon Starters

Sermons from Matthew 003- "Fools and Wise Men"

2008-07-07T17:58:00.005-05:00

The birth of Christ has become so much a part of children's programs and Christmas cantatas that Christians have lost the awe and the wonder of this miraculous event. Sometimes we as believers need to step back and take a fresh look at the "all too familiar" or our faith and ask God to open the story to us with "fresh eyes". The birth of Christ leads men to become either fools or wise men. Which will you be?

“Fools and Wise Men”

Matthew 2:1-12

August 11, 2002

I. Intro

A. The Birth of Christ: The Scene.

B. The Birth of Christ: The Symbolism.

1. The Manger Birth: His Humility

2. The Shepherd’s Presence: God’s call to the Least.

3. The Wise Men’s Pilgrimage: God’s call to the Gentiles

C. The Wise Men’s Pilgrimage.

1. Look closely & carefully.

2. Look deeper than before.

3. Gain a new perspective.

II. Body

A. The Way of the Wise.

1. Note Where they Came. V1a

a) “Bethlehem” - (Hebrew) - “house of bread”

John 6:35, 47-51

2. Note Who Came. V1b

a) “Wise Men” - (Greek) - Magi or Magoi

b) How many? (Trad.: Casper, Malchior, Balthasar)

c) Who? Magi - A scholarly priestly cast of educated men. Studied

nature, astrology, & medicine. Advisors and counselors to kings.

d) Where from?“East” - probably from Persia, familiarwith Daniel & the
Prophets!

3. Note Why they Came . V2

a) Why? - seeking “he” - “King of the Jews”

- They had “seen his star”

- “to worship him”

B. The Way of the Fools.

1. They were Troubled! V3

a) Herod - an Edomite, Vanity or Threat?

b) Jerusalem - Jews, Romans, war? - stayed away!

2. They were Uninformed! 4-6

3. They were Unmoved! V7-8

C. The Differences in their ways.

1. They Followed their Guide! V9

2. They Rejoiced at finding the King! V10

3. They Worshipped the King! V11a

4. They Gave their best! V11b

a) Gold - a gift to a king.

b) Frankincense - sweet incense offered to a God!

c) Myrrh - used for embalming the dead!

III. Closing

A. Are you a light to guide men to Christ?

B. Are you wise or a fool?

1. Will you be guided? 2. Will you rejoice?

3. Will you worship Him? 4. Will you give your best?

COPYRIGHT 2005 by Micah J. Mauldin. (All Rights Reserved)
Micah J. Mauldin Ministries
8008 Clear River Lane Denton, TX 76210
nbbcdenton@gmail.com (email)

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A Study in the Psalms - A Godly Man - Psalm 1

2008-07-03T14:36:00.004-05:00

We live in an age when the biblical view of manhood and fatherhood is ignored, ridiculed, and rejected. Psalm 1 offers us God's blueprint, His "How to Guide" on not only being a Godly man, but on staying a Godly man. A powerful contrast is given between the Godly and the Ungodly man. Few passages of scripture offer such sharp and concise wisdom on surviving and thriving in the wicked world around us.

A Study in the Psalms: A Godly Man

Psalm 1

June 15, 2005

I. Intro

A. The State of Fatherhood.

1. In the Media

2. In the Government

3. In the Home

B. What God expects from a Man.

1. A right relationship with the world.

2. A right relationship with the Lord.

II. Body

A. His Relationship with the World.

Ex. Contrasting Characteristics of Godly VS UnGodly.

* “Blessed”- Lit. Spiritually Prosperous, Happy! VS “ungodly” “sinners” “scornful”

1. Is not led by the world. V1

a) “walketh not”- both physically and spiritually

b) “counsel”- Advice

c) “ungodly”- wicked or living in sin

2. Is not found among the world. V1

a) “standeth”- stationary or found

b) “way”- path or found

c) “sinners”- lawless ones

Ex. Immoral Places.

3. Is not among those who mock God . V1

a) “sitteth”- idea is permanence

b) “seat” -their place of mocking

c) “scornful”- to scorn or mock

Ex. Schools, Churches, Groups

Ex. Note Downward Spiral.

Walking - Around them

Standing - Among them

Sitting - At Home w/ them

B. His Relationship with the Lord.

1. His Delight. V2

2. His Habit. V2

III. Closing

A. The Success of the Godly Man.

1. He will stand strong! V3

2. He will bear fruit! V3

3. He will survive! V3

4. He will prosper! V3

a) “prosper” – lit. “to push forward”

A. The Contrast of the Ungodly Man.

1. His Instability! V4

2. His Life’s Fruit! V5

3. His Final Destination! V6

COPYRIGHT 2005 by Micah J. Mauldin. (All Rights Reserved)
Micah J. Mauldin Ministries
8008 Clear River Lane Denton, TX 76210
nbbcdenton@gmail.com (email)

Sermons from Matthew - 002 Trusting God's Way - Matthew 1:18-25

2008-06-28T11:18:00.001-05:00

Matthew 1:18-25 is a beautiful example of God's faithfulness in the time of trouble. We find Joseph with a terrible dilemma. Does he take Mary to be his wife, despite her being with child, or does he try to put her away as quietly as possible. Most of us, when we have trouble, try to fix the problem as quickly as possible. Matthew 1:18-25, teaches us that we need to stop and give God the opportunity to show us the better way, His way.

Trusting God'’s Way

Matthew 1:18-25

August 4, 2002

I. Intro

A. We are a TV Generation!

1. We want all of our problems rapped up in less than 30 minutes!

a) We want it EASY: n/t too difficult!
b) We want it FAST: n/t too long!
c) We want it NOW: don’t wait!

B. We must learn to trust God’s Way.

1. The Dilemma

2. The Deliberation

3. The Deliverance

II. Body

A. The Dilemma. V18

1. To be espoused was to be engaged!

2. Engagement was legal marriage!

a) Outcome : @ worst stoning, @ best heartbreak

3. Joseph had a dilemma!

Ex. A Dilemma is a choice b/w unpleasant alternatives!

4. Joseph had trouble!

a) Some teach that if you get saved you won’t have trouble!
b) Jesus taught the opposite, he said you will have trouble!

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

c) “tribulation” - lit. “a pressing” or “a/t that presses” -

TROUBLE - AFFLICTION - PRESSURE - ANGUISH - BURDEN - DISTRESS- PERSECUTION - TRIBULATION

d) Timothy had stomach trouble, John got old, Paul had a thorn in the flesh - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Joseph had trouble!

B. The Deliberation. V19-20a

1. His first thought was to have Mary “put away” privately!

a) Death, Disowning, Shame?

2. He did not just react, he stopped and thought!

a) “thought” - to reflect on, to ponder! - lit. to be infused with spirit or encouragement!

Ex. While he was thinking, God was working!

C. The Deliverance. V20b-23

1. You must give God the opportunity to deliver you!

2. Step out on faith and trust God to deliver you!

III. Closing

A. The First and Hardest thing is Obedience! V24

B. To be Obedient requires real Faith! V24

C. Real Faith brings Divine Deliverance! V25

Sermons from Matthew - 001 Why Your Past Doesn't Matter to God - Matthew 1:1-17

2008-06-24T16:00:00.001-05:00

The Gospel of Matthew is the story of The King. Throughout this amazing book, we see Jesus teach, heal, and minister, with every story pointing to that one inescapable truth, Jesus is the King. Matthew begins with the lineage of the King. Unfortunately many preachers and teachers will give only a brief mention or a cursory reference to Jesus's lineage. They might mention that He was descended from Abraham or David. They might bring out the point that the lineage listed in Matthew and Luke differ and tell us why. (Matthew's lineage is considered by most to be Joseph's lineage, while the lineage in Luke is thought to be Mary's line.) Most won't, however, stop long enough to bring out the underlying message found in this opening passage. Matthew 1:1-17 is a brief glance at Jesus's legal line, in that legally He was the son of Joseph, though not biologically, due to His virgin birth. The line records the significant players in the story of the Jews, taking us from Abraham, through David, through Joseph, to Jesus. The story, however, that speaks to me most, is not just the "greats" in Jesus's line, but the entirety of Jesus's line. Jesus Christ was descended from great people, godly people, common people, evil people, truthfully, all kinds of people. All make up His line. All make up the story of the Gospel. All make up the story of the King.

Here is the first Outline in my study of The Gospel of Matthew:

Why your Past doesn't matter to God!

Matthew 1:1-17

July 28, 2002

I. Intro

A. Personal Illustration

1. My Great Great Grandfather was Henry Perry Treas. He was born April 26, 1869. He died on July 25, 1903, of rabies, after being bitten by a stray dog. He was 34 years old. His oldest son, my Great Grandfather, John William Treas, was 7 the day his Daddy died. His life changed forever. They were poor before his father died, they were even poorer after. Henry's wife, after the loss of her husband, found herself forced to hand wash other peoples clothes for a living, just to survive. It was a desperate situation. It was a hard life. It made John William Treas a hard man. This one tragic event changed one child's life forever. His life impacted his daughter, my Grandmother's life. Her life changed mine. What happened between each life is the real story. A single tragedy impacted a child's life, well into adulthood. The effects of that same tragedy, a generation later made for a difficult early life for my Grandmother. Out of that difficulty, rose a living and vibrant Christian faith. My Grandmother chose to take a different path than her father. My Grandmother made all the difference in my life. My Grandmother was not bound by her families past, neither was Jesus Christ, neither are you! Let's take a look at Jesus's family past, lets take a look at that story.

B. Jesus Genealogy

Abraham: Covenant Man

Isaac: Miracle Baby

Jacob: Birthright Thief

Judah: Incest with Daughter-in-law

Rahab: Prostitute listed in Hall of Faith

Ruth: Gentile, Gr/GM of King David

David: King, Adulterer, Liar, Murderer, but Man after Gods Own Heart

Solomon: Wisest Man but played the fool with sin

The Kings: Some of worst, mixed with best

The Nobodys: Unknown, but important enough to be included

Joseph: Poor Carpenter

Mary: Pregnant Teenager

Jesus: Poor Infant, yet the Son of God

II. Body

A. Call to Come

1. Anyone may come, regardless of past!

a) Rahab was a prostitute Joshua 2:1,9-13

2. Anyone may come, regardless of race!

b) Ruth was a Moabite Ruth 1:4

B. Call to Repent

1. Anyone may come, but they must confess and turn from their sin!

a) David was not perfect, but forgiven!

C. Call to Choose

1. Anyone may come, but each must choose!

a) Josiah chose God! 2 Kings 22:1-2, 23:25

III. Closing

A. Gods Call: Come!

"Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance"

2 Peter 3:9a

"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
1 Timothy 2:4

"Whosoever will may come"
Romans 10:13

B. Gods Call: Confess and turn from sin!

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " 1 John 1:9

C. Gods Call: Choose Christ!

Romans 10:9-13