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Pastor Henecke's Sermon and Devotional Outlines

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Pastor Henecke's PM Sermon Outline

The Woodland Street Pulpit

Gary Allen Henecke DD

April 2, 2006 PM Lent

How To Truly Live

 

John 15:1-11

I am the real vine, and my Father is the farmer. You are already clean through the word, which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, as I in you. Just as no branch is capable of yielding fruit unless it lives in the vine, you cannot unless you dwell in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Anyone who abides in me, as I dwell in him, is abundantly fruitful. Cut off from me you are not able to do anything. Anyone who does not abide in me is thrown away and withers as a branch; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire, and burned. If you dwell in me, and allow my teachings to live in you – you may demand whatever you desire, and it will happen to you. In this my Father receives glory so that you may keep being abundantly fruitful and may become my disciples. Just as the Father loves me, you are loved by me; live in my love. If you observe my commandments, you will live in my love, just as I have observed my Father's commands and live in his love. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, so that your joy may be full.

  1. Moving Beyond Theoretical Speculation

    1. So much of the time we live in unreal mind games

      1. We deal with all subjects segregated in specialization

      2. Rarely do we look at the whole

        1. The result is fragmented truth

        2. We have created a world flooded in diversity

    2. Anything, in such a life, is subjective (as we see it –opinion)

      1. To be Christian is to profess an absolute

      2. The believer views all through and in Christ

        1. Sees beyond the momentary

        2. Looks at the foundational before the specific

  2. What is Truth?

    1. The Person of the Lord

      1. Truth is a person, is the great revelation of Christianity—"I am . . . the Truth."

      2. Our Lord did not say he was "all truth"

        1. He is absolute truth

        2. He is the test of all that appears to be reality

      3. Christians know Jesus Christ to be God, not as the equivalent of God; but that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is God, from all Eternity into all Eternity. If I am ever going to get to God as Father I must come to him through the miraculously provided way: Jesus in the Spirit

      John 14:6

      I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

    2. Jesus (claims to be) is unique – the one and the only

      1. "I am the Way!"

        2. John 10:8

        All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the (true) sheep did not listen to them.

      2. What our Lord presents by his life on earth is the goal to which we have to attain by means of his death

        1. God in Christ reconciles us to himself

        2. God in Christ transforms life

    3. All else steals from us – robs us of reality

      1. He is truth - he gives to us fulfilled life

      2. Without him we are incomplete

    4. The issue for us is always: "Who do you say that I am?"

      1. We must be prepared to accept facts of who he is, and not try to build facts into our preconceived fancies

      2. That he is God expressing himself

        3. 2 Corinthians 5:19-21

        God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not holding anyone's sins against himm, but entrusting to us the word of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s representatives. God is making his appeal through us; in the name of Christ we summons to you, "Be reconciled to God." For our sake he causes the sinless one to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

      3. "The Word became flesh . . ."

        1. What DID WE KNOW OF God before Christ?

        2. What do we know of God through Christ?

        3. What are we to do and be "in Christ"?

      Matthew 11:27

      My Father has delivered all things to me; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

    5. As Christians we approach the truth as found in him

  3. The Message of Life

    4. VEgw, eivmi h` a;mpeloj h` avlhqinh.

    1. "I am the true vine"

      1. This is in opposition to all else

        1. Jesus is "alpha and omega"

          2. Colossians 2:15-16

          Christ discarded the rulers and authorities, and paraded them publicly in his triumphal procession. Then never let anyone criticize you for what you eat or drink, or about observance of annual festivals, New Moons or Sabbaths. These are but a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality is found in Christ.

        2. This makes him the reality over all else

    2. Israel is not the vine (Psa 80:8; Isa 5:7; Jer 2:21; Eze 15:8)

      1. Paul (Rom 11) sees us as grafted as wild branches

      2. Christ alone is the heir -Galatians 3:16

        3. Galatians 3:16

        Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring (seed), it does not say, " to offsprings (seeds)," as referring to many, but as referring to one, "And to your descendant (seed)," who is Christ.

      3. All of God’s promises are yes in him

      2 Corinthians 1:20

      All the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

    3. Jesus said these words immediately after instituting the meal

      1. His is the grape for he is the vine

        2. 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood.

      2. All reality is in him!

        1. All biblical history is fulfilled in him

        2. Also, all salvation is in him

    4. He is life – those who live – must live through him

      5. Any branch in me that is unfruitful he removes; every branch that is fruitful he prunes so that it may be more abundantly fruitful.

    5. In all God is active:

      1. To produce a fruitful life through his offspring (branches)

      2. He is active to remove those who do not abide

        1. The key is to live to him

        2. The goal is to live for him

    6. He removes anything that diverts vital energy

  4. How to live

    1. Realize the centrality of the Word - Jesus

      1. The universe has its origin in the word

      2. That eternal word is Christ – not just in Christ

      3. We are sanctified in and by the word (Christ)

        4. John 1:14

        The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

        John 17:17

        Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth.

        Ephesians 1:13

        In him you who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. This is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.

        1 Corinthians 1:30

        God is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption;

      4. To be holy is to be wholly in him (all else is idolatry)

    2. Refuse all that will distract or add to him

      3. Proverbs 3:6

      In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

      Hebrews 12:1-2 NJB

      With so many witnesses in a great cloud all around us, we too, then, should throw off everything that weighs us down and the sin that clings so closely, and with perseverance keep running in the race which lies ahead of us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: for the sake of the joy which lay ahead of him, he endured the cross, disregarding the shame of it, and has taken his seat at the right of God's throne.

    3. Learn – discipline your self - to abide

      1. Focus upon him

      2. Look away to him

      Hebrews 13:12-15

      Jesus suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people with his own blood. Let us go to him, then, outside the camp, and bear his humiliation. There is no permanent city for us here; we are looking for the one that is to come. Through him, let us offer God an unending sacrifice of praise, the fruit of the lips of those who acknowledge his name.

    4. Bring all idols out of your house and destroy them!







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