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March 17

Sermon Series - 2013

Trinity United Methodist Church - Rev. Dr. David N. Wentz


No Plan B

Part 3: Mud!


Mud 1: The Church’s Warning: Hey, You’re Stuck in the Mud!

Scripture lesson: Romans 3:10-20

Key verse: Romans 3:23 All have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. 


·       We are all covered with mud

  •    God created us for love, but we use our freedom to wallow in mud
  •    “Cleanliness is next to godliness” – there’s no mud allowed in heaven
  •    Staying out of the mud in the future doesn’t remove the mud from the past
  •    Only God’s living water can wash off the devil’s mud

·       What people don’t need

  •    Condemnation: “You’re bad because you’re stuck in the mud!”
  •    Hypocrisy: “My mud is better than your mud!”
  •    Self-help strategies: “Improve your mud-wallowing in 10 easy lessons.”
  •    Feel-good whitewash: “Don’t call it mud, call it ‘hydrated plant growth medium.’”

·       What people do need

  •    A warning: “Hey, you’re stuck in the mud!”
  •    A testimony: “I used to be stuck in the mud, but Jesus helped me out.”
  •    An invitation: “Let Jesus help you out, too.”
  •    A welcome: “Former Mud-Wallowers of the World welcome you!”


Mud 2: The Church’s Job: Help People Out of the Mud 

Scripture lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:10-21

Key verse: 2 Corinthians 5:18 God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. 


·       God will judge every person for how they live this life (verses 10-14)

  •    The bad we’ve done deserves punishment
  •    The good we’ve done will be rewarded
  •    It’s serious business
  •    If we love others, we’ll warn them

·       God offers a new life (verses 14-18)

  •    Die to your old life of pleasing yourself
  •    Live a new life of pleasing the one who took your punishment on himself
  •    You’ll have a new perspective on life and people
  •    You’ll have a new start with a clean slate

·       God calls us to offer new life to others (verses 18-21)

  •    Know the good news
  •    Live the good news
  •    Urge the good news

Mud 3: The Church’s Offer: Help People Wash Off the Mud

Scripture lesson: Ephesians 2:1-10

Key verse: Mark 16:15 Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. 

 

·       The situation: Mud!  Ephesians 2:1-10

o   We started off dead, drowning in mud (verses 1-3)

  •   Doomed by our sins
  •   Dominated by Satan
  •   Deceived by our passions and desires
  •   Deserving God’s anger

o   God offered us life, pulled out of the mud (verses 4-6)

  •   Through his mercy and love
  •   Through his forgiveness and grace
  •   Through his resurrection power
  •   Through one-ness with Jesus

o   God fit us for glory, washed from the mud (verses 7-10)

  •   Blessed as an example
  •   Saved as a gift
  •   Re-made as God’s masterpiece
  •   Restored to God’s plan (and there’s no Plan B!)

·       What we need to do about it: help folks! – Mark 16:15

o   Go find somebody who’s stuck in the mud

o   Tell them about Jesus Christ and his Good News Tow-Truck Company

o   Help them get hooked up, hauled out, hosed off, and headed right

Mud 4: The Church’s Support: Help Each Other Stay Out of the Mud

Scripture lesson: Romans 6:5-23

Key verse: James 5:19-20  My dear brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back again, you can be sure that the one who brings that person back will save that sinner from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. 

·       There’s always mud – Romans 6:5-23


  Jesus brought us freedom

  •   Jesus Christ defeated sin
  •   When we unite with Christ we die to sin’s power

  We need to live in that freedom

  •   Sin no longer controls us, but it can still persuade us
  •   We can live in the freedom of Jesus
  •   We can live as if we’re still slaves to sin
  •   Living for God leads to eternal life
  •   Living for sin lead to eternal doom

  Every thought, word, and action is a choice between freedom in God and slavery to sin

  •   Genesis 4:7 Sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.
  •   “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance” (Thomas Jefferson)

·       Help each other stay out of the mud – James 5:19-20

  •    Pray for each other
  •    Teach each other
  •    Look out for each other
  •    Speak the truth in love to each other
  •    Be accountable to each other
  •    Forgive each other
  •    Support each other

Title: The Church’s Wisdom: Mud Isn’t Chocolate

Scripture lesson: Galatians 2:11-16

Key verse: 2 Corinthians 6:14 Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?


·       Mud isn’t chocolate

  •    The devil disguises himself (2 Corinthians 11:14)
  •    The devil disguises sin (Genesis 3)

·       Chocolate and mud don’t mix

  •    A little bit of mud will ruin a lot of good chocolate
  •    How to tell chocolate from mud
  •    You can’t change mud into chocolate

·       Righteousness and sin don’t mix

  •     A little bit of sin will ruin a lot of good righteousness
  •    How to tell righteous from sinful

                   Where did it come from?              

                   Who is enjoying it?

                   What’s in it?

                   What does it smell like?

                   What do people do when they try it?

                   Who’s trying to get you to do it?

  •    You can’t change sinful into righteous

·       Christians and unbelievers don’t mix (Psalm 1)

  •    One bad relationship can ruin a lot of your life
  •    How to recognize a good partner

                   Christian faith

                   Moral integrity

                   Mature character

                   Encouraging attitude

                   Mutual synergy

  •    You can’t change a bad match into a good one

No Plan B: Part 4 - Reach Your Potential