[Biblemat] S> My Unfaithfulness

Mon Oct 15 12:28:39 CDT 2007

Here's a lesson I first got years ago from long-forgotten sources. Hope you 
don't need to preach it!

       Zeke Flores
       Kiber Street church of Christ
       Angleton, TX
       www.angletonchristians.com
*******************************************************************
Who Is Hurt By My Unfaithfulness?

Intro:  We know what the term "faithful" means.
       A.   Many synonyms: Loyal, true, steady, firm, reliable, 
             dependable, committed, etc
       B.   We also have no problem recognizing when it's not there:
             1. Car doesn't always start - Not dependable
             2. Workers don't always show up - Not reliable
             3. Spouse who cheats - Not loyal
             4. Christian who continually sins - Not committed
       C.   Not a new problem
             1. "Help Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, For the 
             faithful disappear from among the sons of men." Psa 12:1
             2. "Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can 
                   find a faithful man?" Prov 20:6
       D.   It abounds in congregations everywhere
             1. Perhaps no one intends for it to happen, but it does.
                   a.   Prayers go unsaid, Bibles remain unopened, 
                   attendance becomes more & more erratic.
             2. Wish this lesson wasn't needed
                   a.   (See chart of year-to-date attendance)
       E.   Look at unfaithfulness from a different perspective.
             1. Ask yourself, "Who is hurt by my unfaithfulness?"

I.  I Am Hurt!
       A.   Note the picture Jesus paints – Matt 24:45-51
             1. Unfaithfulness stems from complacency
                   a.   "My master won't come today!"
       B.   The more one misses assembling, the harder your 
             heart becomes.
             1. Eventually hardened to the point of non-repentance
                   a.   Heb 6:4-6
      C.    Consider that no one is responsible for YOU but YOU!
             1. "Each one of us shall give an account of himself to 
                   God." Rom 14:12
             2. Maybe you don't care about yourself - Think of others
II. The Weak Or New Christian Is Hurt
       A.   They see the erratic conduct of the older member and 
             thinks that's OK!
             1. You become a stumbling block because the 
                   behavior is bound to rub off.
       B.   Jesus warns stumbling blocks!
             1. Mark 9:42
       C.   You're going to be an influence, why not be a good one?
III.    Other Older Christians Are Hurt
       A.   Paul spoke of Timothy's faith
             1. "I am mindful of the sincere faith within you..." 2 Tim 1:5
             2. Must have been great encouragement to Paul since 
                   he worried about the churches.
                   a.   Amid his physical sufferings, me mentions 
                   "the daily pressure of concern for all the churches."      

                   2 Cor 11:28
             3. What if Timothy had become unfaithful?
       B.   The fact is, we need to encourage one another to excel still 
more.
             1. Heb 3:12-13, 1 Thess 3:12, 4:1, 9-10
             2. How much more would we look forward to being 
                   together if we increased in real love and concern for 
                   one another? You can!
IV. My Family Is Hurt
       A.   Imagine the grief to your family if you died in an unfaithful 
state.
             1. All notions of happy, heavenly reunions gone!
       B.   Be the one who instills faith in your family.
             1. 2 Tim 1:5
       C.   It's your responsibility as a parent!
             1. Eph 6:4
             2. #1 reason the majority of college-age kids who said 
                   they had no real religion was that they'd never seen 
                   their parents practice it faithfully!
       D.   Young people can be example to their parents!
             1. 1 Tim 4:12
V.  The World Is Hurt
       A.   We are supposed to be light to the world.
             1. Matt 5:16 "Let your light shine before men..."
             2. This carries with it some responsibilities
                   a.   Phil 2:12-16
       B.   For many, you're the only real example of 
             Christianity some may ever see.
             1. Your writing a gospel, a chapter a day;
                   By things that you do and words that you say.
                   Men read what you write whether faulty or true;
                   So say, What is the gospel according to you.
             2. Who knows how many you may have turned 
                   off by your depiction of Christianity?
VI. God Is Hurt
       A.   It is NOT His will that we lose our souls!
             1. Ezek 33:11,     2 Pet 3:9   
             2. He's pleaded with His people under both covenants 
                   to change their ways and turn to Him.
       B.   Likewise His Son.
             1. Rejected by His own, Jesus grieves over their 
                   hard-heartedness.
                   a.   Matt 23:37-39
       C.   Is He saddened by your unfaithfulness and hardened 
             heart?
             1. Do people continually urge you to be better but 
                   you refuse?
Conc:   Faithfulness is obviously important to God for He warns us 
repeatedly.
       A.   Your attendance says a lot about you and your 
             commitment to God. It's not the only measure 
             of your faithfulness, but it's a BIG one!
             1. Heb 10:23-27
       B.   Remember the reward!
             1. "He who endures to the end will be saved." Matt 10:22
             2. "Be faithful until death and I will give you a crown of 
life." Rev 2:10
       C.   INV   
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20071015/742de82d/attachment-0001.html 