Sermon and Seminar Sparks
Begun on 9/26/02 and last
revised on 11/17/03
INTRODUCTION
Here is a collection of suggestions that could spark sermons and/or seminars.
The sparks could set off a fire in the mind and heart of the preacher or teacher.
These could become single messages and/or a series.
Seminar could be a simple as a Sunday school class or home Bible study.
Or the seminar could bloom into a separate event that is held at a special time and place.
Preaching and teaching are not the same.
The following clusters of concepts can be preached and/or taught.
There is not one right way to preach or teach these.
These are clustered this way because each one relates to the others.
Together they bring a collective understanding.
Also any single one of the items is worthy of much attention.
There are times that a preacher or teacher needs inspiration about what message to develop.
This is a list of clustered concepts intended to spark a person seeking to preach or teach.
Each item can be a key point in a sermon outline.
Each item is better understood in the context of the other concepts in the cluster.
These clusters can be addressed in one message and/or a sermon series.
These are vital concepts that are useful to understand the whole message of the Bible.
These concepts are needed to better know who God is.
These concepts are rarely emphasized from the pulpit individually or together.
The main categories for systematic theology are used as a useful organizational tool.
This provides a context for each cluster and relates the clusters under each heading.
There are various books, tapes, Web sites and seminars that go into depth on each item.
AUDIENCES
Here is a list of the kinds of people that may be interested in these materials.
There are many and various people looking to them to feed them the Word of God.
Over the course of years they need to prayerfully present the whole counsel of God’s Word.
Using the following list they can include messages to compliment what they have been doing.
This is just a sample of the kinds of people who can use this list.
Sunday school teacher
Small group leader
Pastor
Missionary
Chaplain
Personal Bible study
Home schoolteacher
Parents
Grand parent
Those who will use OSU’s Ears to Hear for inspiration to teach and preach over the web
These can become messages on the Web and later, sets of audiotapes, CDs, videos, DVDs etc.
Thus there will be a large selection of options for those that God brings into their ministry later.
Also this is just the beginning of the index that will be needed to create a search engine so that the hundreds of Christian messages online at OSU can be searched.
This also serves as an initial outline for the OSU curriculum that will be developed in the coming months and years.
This began years ago as the Table of Contents of a set of books that the founder hopes to write during his lifetime.
Revelation
General revelation
Nature
Providence
Conscience
Special revelation
Bible
Jesus
Inspiration
God working in the human author’s mind
All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2Tim. 3:16)
Inspiration = Greek noun theopneustos = “God-breathed”
Prophesy of scripture came as holy men of old were moved by the Holy Spirit (2Pet. 1:20-21)
History of how we got the Bible
Oral tradition
Moses
Scribes
NT method
Canonicity
What is canonicity?
Why, when, where, by who and how were
the OT and NT made cannon?
What was the criteria?
How does this relate to the rejection of the Apocrypha?
Collection of the 66 books
Overview of OT
Overview of NT
Translations
History of each major translation
Why they are different
Basic strengths and weaknesses of each major translation
Issues about translation
Literal word for word
Contemporary
Theological slant
Audience
Changes in our lives
Communication
All scripture is profitable for (2Tim. 3:16)
Doctrine
Reproof
Correction
Instruction in righteousness
That the man of God may be (2Tim 3:17)
Perfect
Throughly furnished unto all good works
Preservation of the texts
How it was done during different eras
Oral tradition before Moses
Moses
Dark Ages – monks
Hebrew
Greek
Latin
How can we know that the Bible is reliable?
Archeological evidences
Dead sea scrolls
Major finds
Many minor finds
Why this is important
Historic evidences
Thousands of places and events were mentioned in the Bible
All have been confirmed by a wide variety of secular sources
There have been zero errors in what can be verified
This is unlike the Book of Mormon.
Historic and archeological evidence have not confirmed
the claims of what happened in the USA before the colonial days.
Fulfilled prophecies
There were hundreds of specific predictions made in the biblical text
Many of those were fulfilled before the birth of Jesus
Hundreds of prophesies were fulfilled in exact detail concerning Jesus
Birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection
The fulfillment of prophecies is evidence for the divine authorship of the Bible
God has been 100% accurate so He has a perfect track record
This points to the fact the God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent
Also there are many prophecies that have not been fulfilled
These relate to the End Times and eternity
We can trust the predictions about the future
Rebuttal to accusations
Bible was changed
Bible has errors
Bible has contradictions
Hermeneutics
Observation
Interpretation
Application
Homiletics
Preparing the message
Message illustration
Verbal images
Visual aids
Handouts
Presenting the message
Fundamental doctrines of the faith
Authority of Scripture
Virgin Birth
Deity to Christ
Blood atonement
Bodily resurrection
Trinity
Second Coming
God is
Omnipresent
Omniscient
Omnipotent
God is both
Imminent
Transcendent
Divine Trinity is one in essence and three in persons
Father
Son
Holy Spirit
Names of God
There are lists of the names of God elsewhere on this web site
List of His names
http://www.hisstewardshipministries.homestead.com/files/Essays/Names_and_Nature_of_God/His_Names.htm
Nature of God
There are lists of the nature of God elsewhere on this web site
List of His attributes
Past Present and Future with God
Some very important attributes
Holy
Pure
Just
Righteous
Merciful
Eternal
Immutable
Especially
Loving
Faithful
Good
Present
Sovereign
Anthropomorphism
Ascribing human features to God
Hands
Arms
Feet
Eyes
Ear
Face
Anthropopathism
Ascribing human feelings to God
Angry
Jealous
Forget
Jesus Christ
Fully human
Fully divine
Dual Nature - God & Man
(Hypostatic Union)
Both at the same time without
compromise or confusion
Jesus Christ
Was with God as the Creator
Appeared in OT
Was the clearly prophesied Messiah.
Came the first time as the suffering
Servant
Will soon come again as the
conquering King
Will be the righteous Judge
Forever He is-was-will be the Lord
of Lords
Jesus Christ
Works of Jesus pointed to the
authority of His words
Words of Jesus pointed to
His deity
His identity as messiah
His authority of the only begotten
Son of God
His resurrection
His return to judge
His eternal reign in heaven
Jesus Christ the
same
Yesterday
Today
Forever
Jesus Christ is
Water of life
Light of the world
Bread of life
Way, truth and life
Good Shepherd
Door
Bread of Heaven
True Vine
Jesus Christ
Lair?
Lunatic?
Lord?
Jesus Christ offices
Prophet
Priest
King
Jesus Christ in the Holy Communion
Lamb of God
High Priest
Bread of life
True Vine
Jesus Christ is God
In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ]
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. (Jn. 1:1)
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we beheld His glory,
the glory of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:14)
No one has seen God at any time.
The only begotten Son [Jesus Christ],
who is in the bosom of the Father,
He has declared Him (Jn. 1:18)
To the Son [Jesus Christ}
He [the Father} says:
“Your throne O God,
is forever and ever.” (Heb. 1:8)
Jesus Christ is
Eternal (Jn. 1:1, 17:5)
Unchanging (Heb 13:8)
Everywhere (Mt 18:20, 28:20)
Creator (Col 1:16)
Upholder of all (Heb 1:3)
Names and Titles of Jesus Christ
Messiah
Son of God
Son of Man
Son of Abraham
Son of David
Lamb of God
Judge
Head of the Universal Church -- His Body
Last Adam
I am
Bread of Life
Light of the World
Door of the sheep
Good Shepherd
Resurrection and the Life
The Way, the Truth and the Life
True Vine
Why Jesus Christ came
Seek and save the lost
Fulfill prophecies
Bear witness to the truth
Serve as the Lamb of God
Obey God the Father unto death
What Jesus Christ chose
Obedience to the Father
Humbled Himself
Emptied Himself
Took on human flesh
Accepted rejection
Experienced sorrows and grief
Persecuted for righteousness
Did not fight back
Laid down His life for His friends/sheep
Was unjustly tried
Flogged
Crucified
Bore the sins of all humanity
Experienced the just punishment for all sins
Never sinned one time in thought, word or deed
Was fully submitted and obedient to God His Father
Future of Jesus Christ
Return
Conquer
Judge
Reward
Marry His Bride the Church
New Heaven and New Earth
Reign
Holy Spirit in the OT
Creation
On key OT leaders
Spoke through the OT prophets
Inspired the OT writers
Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus
Baptism
Wilderness
Holy Spirit in the Church
Arrived at Pentecost as Jesus has promised
Names of the Holy Spirit
Symbolic names
Fire
Wind
Water
Works of the Holy Spirit
Woos
Convicts
Sanctifies
Seals
Fills
Indwells
Renews
Refreshes
Inspires
Leads
Teaches
Guides
Comforts
Empowers
Unites
Illuminates the Word of God
Assists with prayers
Gifts
Other
Holy Spirit works
Conviction
Regeneration
Indwelling
Baptism
Sealing
Holy Spirit roles
Helper
Comforter
Counselor
Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts
List the gifts
Describe the gifts
How to know your spiritual gifts
Why and how to use your spiritual gifts
Where and when you will use your spiritual gifts this year
Fruits of the Holy Sprit
Love
Joy
Peace
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Holy Spirit convicts of
Sin
Righteousness
Judgement
ELECT ANGELS
They were created beings
Their activity in the OT
Their activity in the NT
Their current activities
Their future fate
FALLEN ANGELS
Satan
his creation
his intended service to God
his fall
his current activities
his future fate
Demons
they were created as elect angels
how they fell
their current activities
their future fate
Parts of humans
Body
Soul
Spirit
INNOCENCE
Humans (Adam and Eve) were created
In the image of God
innocent
Enjoyed perfect fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden
HARTIMOLOGY (Study of sin)
Adam and Eve disobeyed God
Cast out of the Garden of Eden
Every human inherits Adams sin nature
Sinners by nature
Commit sin because of fallen nature
Cannot become sinless apart from the
resurrection body
Evidence of sin nature today
Not need to teach a child to
Disobey
Lie
Steal
Cheat
Blame
Selfishness
Adult unbeliever
Does not keep all promises
Some thoughts, words and deeds bring shame
Pride and/or fear motivates key decisions
Shame and guilt point to sins
Knows that they are imperfect
Cannot completely control their tongue
Adult believer
Knows what to do and does not do it
Knows what not to do, yet does it
Cannot perfectly obey God, no matter how try
Fails to love God and others with a pure heart
Falls short of the Bible’s model for a
Spouse
Parent
Intercessor
Witness
Follower of Jesus
Kinds of sins
Lust of the flesh
Lust of the eyes
Pride of life
Sin of thought
Sin of word
Sin of deed
Sin of attitude
Sin of commission
Sin of omission
Biblical antidotes to sin
They Word have I hidden in my heart
that I might not sin against Thee
Put on the whole armor of God
Stand against the devil and his
wiles
Flee fornication
Keep self from idols
If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive and cleanse
Not conformed to the ways of this
world but transformed by the renewing of mind
As a believer you are
Saved
Sanctified
Sealed by the Holy Spirit
Graphed in to the Vine
As a believer your biblical
identity
Child of God
Sheep of His pasture
Branch in the True Vine
Member of the Body of Christ
An ambassador for Christ
Believer-priest
As a believer you are positionally in Christ
SOLAs
Salvation is
by grace alone,
through faith alone,
in Christ alone,
based on Scripture alone,
to the glory of God alone.
Passion week
Each key event
How relates to fulfilled prophecies
Why important for salvation
Gospel is unfair
Free gift of His amazing grace
From the heart of a loving Heavenly Father
Mercy triumphed over judgement
Salvation can NEVER be earned or deserved
Questions related to salvation
WHAT qualified Jesus Christ to be the Lamb of God?
HOW did Jesus Christ take away the sin of the world?
WHAT happened spiritually while Jesus Christ was on the Cross?
WHAT does it mean that He was the substitutionary sacrifice?
HOW does the blood atonement relate to the OT tabernacle & temple?
WHY did Jesus Christ need to actually die?
HOW can we know that Jesus Christ rose from the dead?
WHY is it important that He rose on the third day?
WHAT is the gospel of salvation?
WHAT must a person do to be born again?
HOW can a person know if they are born again?
WHAT happens at the moment of salvation?
HOW can a person know for sure that they are born again?
Can a person know without a doubt that they are going to Heaven?
WHAT can a person do to keep, loose and/or regain their salvation?
WHAT is evangelism?
WHY is evangelism important?
WHAT is the responsibility of the individual in evangelism?
HOW can a person participate in prayer evangelism?
HOW can a person’s time and talent contribute to evangelism?
HOW can a person share a brief testimony of their salvation?
HOW can a person present the gospel message one-on-one?
HOW can a person lead another to faith alone in Christ alone?
HOW can a person use their money to support evangelism?
WHAT is the responsibility of the local church in evangelism?
HOW can the local church clearly and boldly proclaim the gospel to
visitors
members
the community
those on the mission field
HOW can the local church train their members to
Understand the gospel message
WHAT is the responsibility of the individual in evangelism?
WHO is qualified to share the gospel?
WHAT is a personal testimony?
HOW is a personal testimony part of evangelism?
WHAT at the core concepts to be shared in personal witnessing?
HOW can a person deal with the typical objections?
HOW does a person lead another to saving faith?
WHAT are the guidelines for follow through?
WHAT are the core beliefs of these groups and proven ways to evangelize them
World religions
Hindu
Buddhist
Jew
Roman Catholic
Muslim
Cults
Jehovah Witness
Mormon
New Age
Secularist
Atheist
Essential issue in
evangelism -- ONLY two options after death
Heaven
Hell
NO third choice
Purgatory
Reincarnation
Dreamless sleep
Annihilation
Elements of evangelism
Live a Christ-like life
Produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit
Labor in the prayer closet
Offer selfless service
Testify to what God has done
Tell the story of Jesus and His love
Lift up Jesus in song
Boldly preach the mystery of the gospel
Make the eternal issues clear
Offer a compelling invitation
Emphasize that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone
Trust the Holy Spirit to draw, convict and convince
Thank God and rejoice for every small victory
Faithfully keep evangelizing no matter the difficulties
Quickly and gracefully follow up on each new believer
New believer follow through
WHAT are useful resources for the new believer?
Gospel of John and/or New Testament and/or new Bible
Literature of the basics for a new believer
Where and when there are opportunities to
Attend worship services
Meet fellow believers
Prayer and bible study with like-minded people
WHAT are the basic lessons that need to be learned?
WHAT just happened in rebirth?
WHO I was before salvation and WHO I am in Christ?
HOW do I communicate with God in prayer?
WHAT about these sins that continue?
WHAT does God expect of me in my daily lifestyle?
WHAT are the lessons that lead to a meaningful water baptism?
WHY water baptism?
WHAT does it mean?
WHO is qualified?
WHEN and WHERE is this available?
WHAT are the lessons that lead to a meaningful participation in the Lord’s Supper?
WHAT is the Lord’s Supper?
WHO can partake?
HOW do I prepare myself?
WHEN and WHERE is it available?
Healthy habits for spiritual growth
Prayer
Bible Study
Fellowship
Worship
Service
Purposes of the local church
Glorify God
Make disciples
Proclaim the gospel
Edify the Body of Christ
Equip the saints
Church government
Church leadership
Ordnances
Water baptism
Lord’s Supper
Worship
Teaching
Preaching
Fellowship
Body Life
Out reach
Missions
HOW does a new believer find a suitable church to join?
WHAT are the factors to look for?
WHAT are the factors to avoid?
HOW to understand and accept that there is no perfect church?
HOW does a believer that moved to an area find a suitable church to join?
WHAT are the factors to look for?
WHAT are the factors to avoid?
HOW to understand and accept that there is no perfect church?
WHAT does the local church have to offer my family and me?
WHAT do my family and I have to offer the local church?
WHY does the local church exist?
Glorify God
Cooperatively obey the Word of God
Great Commandment
Love the Lord with all Heart, soul, and mind
Love you neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:36-40)
Great Commission
Make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20)
According to the Bible, God’s holy Word:
every human being will privately give an account of his or her life
to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself
at either the Great White Throne of Judgment
(where the unbelievers will be condemned for rejecting Christ)
or the Judgment Seat of Christ
(where the works of believers will be evaluated and rewarded).
Eminent return of Jesus Christ
As a thief in the night
No person knows when
Blessed hope
Questions about the end times
WHAT can be known for sure about the End Times?
God will keep all His promises in exact detail.
WHAT cannot be known for sure about the End Times?
The exact date cannot be known.
WHAT are the basic theories about the End Times?
Postmillennialism
Amillennialism
Premillennialism
Pretribulational rapture
Midtribulational rapture
Posttribulational rapture
HOW can a better understanding of the End Times help me?
Know God more intimately and accurately
Pray and intercede better as a believer-priest
Represent Christ better are as one of His ambassadors
Serve the Body of Christ better
Improve the stewardship of my time, talent, and treasures
WHAT can be known about the coming judgments
of unbelievers
of believers
HOW can I prepare for the Judgment Day
As an unbeliever
As a believer
WHAT can be known about the millennial reign of Christ on earth?
WHAT can be known about what happens after the millennial reign?