Subject: S>O to be Like Thee Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 07:52:41 -0600 From: Grady Scott To: ehenschel01@earthlink.net Brethren, I preached this sermon yesterday morning. Use as you see fit. I will send an attachment copy on request. - Grady “O TO BE LIKE THEE!”* INTRODUCTION: There are many passages which challenge us to be like Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:11; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6). There are many area in which we must seek to follow this command – growth, strength, steadfastness, and trust. Let’s look at three area that will help us to fulfill the mission of the church when it comes to the salvation of souls. BODY I. “O TO BE LIKE THEE” ....IN DESIRE AND GOAL A. Soul winning was the complete desire and goal of Jesus. 1. Luke 19:10 ""for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."" 2. Matthew 20:28 ""just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."" 3. Romans 5:6_9 "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7_ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8_ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9_ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." 4. 1 Timothy 1:15 - "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." B. Soul winning is all a matter of desire. 1. If we are not interested in it, there is no amount of pleading from the pulpit, no amount of setting up a program, no amount of purchased materials, that will get you motivated to take time out of your schedule to do it. How much do you want to win souls, like Jesus desired it? 2. Romans 9:3 "For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh," 3. Romans 10:1 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved." 4. 1 Corinthians 9:22 "to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." I. I“O TO BE LIKE THEE” ....IN COMPASSION. A. People were amazed at the compassion Jesus had for others in need. 1. Luke 19:41_48 "Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42_ saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43_ "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44_ "and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." 45_ Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46_ saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" 47_ And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48_ and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him." 2. John 11:34_36 "And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." 35_ Jesus wept. 36_ Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!"" 3. Jesus truly cared about people. His heart could be touched by the need of others. He was not selfish, thinking only of his own comfort, but was truly concerned about the needs of those whom he met. B. How much do we care about people? 1. If we do not care about people, about their hurts, their needs, their desires, their souls, you will never be able to draw yourself to go out of your way to teach them the gospel. 2. 1 Peter 3:8 - "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;" 3. Jude 22_23 "And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23_ but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh." III. “O TO BE LIKE THEE”.... IN SACRIFICE. A. Look at what Jesus sacrificed for us. 1. Isaiah 53:1-5 2. Philippians 2:5-8 3. Matthew 20:28 - ""just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."" B. Are we willing to sacrifice ourselves, sacrifice time, comfort, money, ease, in order to win the souls of those around us? 1. It takes a sacrifice of comfort, spare time, etc. to become a winner of lost souls. None of us will win a soul for Jesus if we would rather be at a ball game, concert, at the lake, on the golf course, or home relaxing watch television. It takes a sincere desire to sacrifice for the Master. 2. Mark 10:28_31 "Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." 29_ So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30_ "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 31_ "But many who are first will be last, and the last first."" 3. Luke 9:23_25 "Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24_ "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25_ "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?" CONCLUSION: A missionary sat on the patio watching a black ant crawl up a table leg until it reached some spilled sugar. It seemed to eat, then crawled back down the table leg. Soon the two black ants crawled up the table leg to the sugar. They ate and left. Soon a steady steam of black ants moved up and down the table leg to enjoy the sugar. The missionary thought to himself, "They must have some system by which they communicate, 'I have found something good and I want to share it!'" How about us? Have we found something that we are willing desire to share, have compassion on those with whom we are to share it, and willing to give ourselves in the effort? *Much of this sermon was taken from brother Jack Williams and an outline he had in his bulletin. Jack preaches for the 39th ST congregation in Independence, MO.