1st Sunday in Lent
Introduction:
A. Today is the first Sunday in Lent. Our first scripture today was of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. Because God lived among us incarnate in Jesus Christ, God knows what it is to be tempted and can help us with temptation and sin.
B. During Lent, we think
of our sin that caused Christ to have to die. We examine ourselves. We think of our desires. Sometimes those desires are bad and result in sin.
C. This morning, I want
to suggest that not all desires are bad, and that sometimes we should be
driven by desire! We just have to decide whether or not the desire is something we should be
driven by!
D. It is a desire for
something and a dream that it can happen that causes us to do what we need to
do to see
it happen.
Trans.
But what desire should we be driven by? That is what
we want to look at this morning!
Prayer
Romans 10:1-4
I. What desire should we be driven by?
A. Paul was writing to
Christians in
B. Paul said, It was his heart's
desire for
C. We could substitute
someone's name that we know who isn't a Christian!
1. Is that truly our
heart's desire?
2. Or is our heart's
desire other things?
a. more
possessions?
b. pleasure?
3. What are the main
desires that we are motivated by?
II. Why does it matter what our desires are?
A. Luke 6:45 "The good man brings good things out of
the good
stored up in his heart, and the evil
man brings evil things out of the evil
stored up in his heart. For out of the
overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
What our desires are is what we become because that is what
we are shooting for!
B. Do we really desire to
see the people around us come
to Christ? If we do
and we act on our desires, it can happen!
1. If we don't act
and aren't driven by this desire
and although we have the desire, they still may
never come to Christ!
2. If we don't have
this desire at all, we for sure
won't do anything about it!
III. What action should this desire move us
toward? Notice Paul had a desire in his heart, but he didn't
leave it there!
A. He prayed to God.
1. Are we doing
something about it by taking it to
God in prayer?
2. God is our
greatest power source!
3. God can lead
people to the church and guide us in
what we should do!
a. We pray for
the sick.
b. We pray for
financial difficulties.
c. We pray for
personal problems.
d. How long has
it been since we prayed for someone to come to Christ?
B. Paul witnessed.
1. Paul tried to
take every opportunity at his
disposal to share Christ!
2. Paul was
motivated by a desire for people to come
to Christ!
3. Do we take the
opportunities that God gives us to share Christ?
a. not in a
pushy way!
b. but in a
sincere, concerned sort of way.
c. A witness can
be how we live, but it should
be accompanied by a spoken witness too! In
our membership vows, we vow to support the
church by our witness!
4. If we do not,
maybe it is because the desire
isn't there. It
should be!
5. Or maybe it is
because we just aren't acting on
our desires!
6. I like the way
John Wesley put it; he said, “Offer them Christ.”
a. We can offer
by sharing what Christ means to us!
b. We can offer
by saying Christ has made a difference in my life!
c. We can offer
by inviting them to church where they will hear the gospel
message!
d. An offer is
not pushy! It is not forceful!
7. Be driven by a
desire to offer them Christ!
Conclusion:
A. Whether or not the
people we know become Christians
makes a difference in this life and for eternity! We
have what they need!
B. As a church and as
individuals, is it our heart's
desire to see people come to Christ? Is this our
goal?
1. Do we follow our
desire up with prayer?
2. Do we
witness? Do we offer them Christ?
3. If not, as we encounter
Christ at the table this
Morning, let us also face the cross and pray,
asking God to forgive our sin that caused Christ
to have to die! Forgive our ways we have not
offered Christ!
Prayer
of Confession
Service
of Communion
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