The Key To Personal Influence
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Series: Citizen Christians
DescriptionCitizen Christians #3 “Let It Begin in Me” Matt. 7: 1-5Intro: Make a List of three Sins that are destroying our nation. • Three corrupt character traits, practicing, lifestyles that cause the moral, spiritual fiber to decay…Darkness. (first three to come to mind!) • Set your list aside Matthew 5: 13-16 Review: Our Call to Influence our Culture/World! Penetrating, Distinctive, Preserving… 1) Gospel Influence! (Rom. 1:16) 2) Political Influence – Using all authority God has Given Us Values, Vocation, Vote & Voice The World does not listen to our Voice! ILL – Remember the Voice of Adults in Charlie Brown? Garbled, Indistinct, …. t/s – Why Does our Voice have so little Impact? Like Salt without Flavor Like Lamp under a Bushel… Today, Key to Personal influence on Neighbors And the Church’s impact on Culture! Matthew 7: 1-5 Context = Influence…flows from a Greater Righteousness That Righteousness Describes…Disciple’s Character Read Text t/s – The second most famous text in Bible… often quoted …Seldom Understood. The Common Distortion of this Text Exp – We cannot evaluate the character and conduct of people. • All Behaviors are acceptable without Distinction • There is no Good/Evil; Right/Wrong; Wholesome/Corrupt “You Can’t Judge Me!” “Salt” == Patterns of Behavior that are like Decay “Light” = Darkness in the Land ILL – Alexander MacClaren The power of seeing into character is to be coveted and cultivated, the absence of it makes us simpletons, not Saints. App – “Righteousness Exalts a Nation, and Sin is a Disgrace to Any People.” • We must be Clear Voice for what is True, Good and Right; confronting the destructive Lies & lifestyles of our Culture. The Careful Application of this Text (Teaching of Our Master) Exp – I must Judge myself First and more Carefully than I judge the people around me and the problems in my Culture. • The World’s most Common Complaint about Us?! “Hypocrites” Vs. 5 --- Jesus makes the same accusation! Judge Yourself First! ILL – Recall your List of three Corrupting Sins….Decay in the Land • Our Tendency is to Focus on the Sins of Others! • Consider the Focus of Jesus’ Correction in this Sermon! Angry Words; Lustful Hearts; Careless Divorce; Dishonesty; Hatred; Hypocrisy; Greed; Materialism • Did any of these Make your List? Are any in Your Life? App – Our Voice Will be Easier to Hear, when we are more • Quick and Careful to Judge Ourselves • Slow and Generous in our Judgment of Others Conclusion Here I the Beginning of Christian Belief; Christian Behavior and Christian Influence…. First, See the Plank in Your Own Eye. • I know He is Calling Your to Service • I know He is Challenging you to Deeper Walk • I know He is Drawing you to Faith in Jesus.. A Holy Dissatisfaction with Your Own Way of Life! We Need a Powerful Move of God in Our City, Our Land, like the Great Awakening…. Lives Changed by Jesus! I have been singing an Old Hymn… BB McKinney.. “Lord, Send a Revival!” (#468) Use Hymn book… Vs. 4 – World Vs. 3 – Lost People around me Vs. 2 – These rascals in the Church Vs. 1 – “Let It Begin in Me!” |