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July 29, 2007

John 19:25-27                        WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS                SAL-17-07

SUBJECT: Salvation.
TITLE: When I Survey The Wondrous Cross.
PROPOSITION: To look at what we should see when we survey the cross.
OBJECTIVE: So we will learn how to view the cross.

INTRODUCTION:
1. Read the text.
2. Regarding the text.
       (1) Jesus is hanging on the cross and he looks down and sees his mother and the apostle John
and informs Mary that she is to go with Johan as her son, and he tells John to take Mary in as his
mother.
       (2) There were many looking on the cross that day.
               A. Mary, John and those who loved him were there.
               B. Those who hated him were there.
               C. The Centurion was there.
       (3) We will look at how each of these beheld the cross.
3. Reference To S.T.P.O.

DISCUSSION: IN OUR STUDY LET US NOTICE—
  I. HOW THOSE WHO HATED HIM SAW THE CROSS.
       1. There were those there who mocked him (Mt. 27:40,42).
               (1) Peter said that there would always be scoffers (2 Pet. 3:3,4).
               (2) Today there are still those who mock him.
                       A. Some mock him verbally (Psa. 14:1).
                       B. Some give lip service to him, but do not obey him (Mt. 15:7-9).
                               a. Some mock him by not attending services on a regular basis (Heb. 10;25).
                               b. Some mock him by their way of life (Gal. 5:19-21).
               (3) To these the cross was something to mock.
       2. There were those there who wanted him dead (Mt. 27:17,20).
               (1) They wanted him dead because of their jealousy of him (Lk. 13:14).
               (2) They wanted him dead so bad that they paid for his deliverance (Mt. 26:15).
               (3) To these the cross was a means to getting rid of someone they were jealous of.

II HOW THOSE WHO LOVED HIM SAW THE CROSS.
       1. Mary, John and those who loved Jesus saw the cross as that which took away their loved one.
               (1) Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for his death before it happened (Jno. 2:19-22).
               (2) Peter cut off Malchus’s ear to keep him from being taken (Mt. 26:51,52).
       2. How do we view the cross when we look at it?
               (1) We should view it with sadness because it represents the sacrifice that Christ made for
us (Phil. 2:5-8).
               (2) We should view it with joy because it represents the salvation that we have in Christ
Jesus (Eph. 2:16; 1 Cor. 2:2).

III. HOW THE CENTURION SAW THE CROSS.
       1. He saw the cross as the proof needed to cause him to admit that Jesus was the Son of God
(Mt. 27:54).
               (1) When Jesus died on the cross the sky darkened and there was an earth quake and this
caused the centurion to realize that they had killed the Son of God.
               (2) He was willing to admit this even though such an admission could have caused him
many problems.
       2. When we look at the cross we see it as definitive proof that Jesus was the Son of God.
               (1) We see it as fulfillment of prophecy (Isa. 53:5).
               (2) We must admit that Jesus is the Son of God and we can look at the cross for proof of
that (Jno. 8:24; Heb. 12:2).
       3. We are to look at the cross the same way that the centurion did. .

CONCLUSION:
       SUMMARY: We have seen in our lesson--\
               1. How those that hated Jesus saw the cross.
               2. How those that loved Jesus saw the cross.
               3. How the Centurion saw the cross.
       APPEAL: Let us survey the cross and see the wondrous blessings that we have from it.

Eph. 6:10-17                           SOLDIERS OF CHRIST ARISE                                       CHL-06-07

SUBJECT: Christian Living.
TITLE: Soldiers of Christ Arise.
PROPOSITION: To look at our responsibilities as soldiers of the cross.
OBJECTIVE: So we can know what these responsibilities are.

INTRODUCTION:
1. Read the text.
2. Regarding the text.
       (1) There is a war going on—
               A. I am not talking about the war in the Middle East.
               B. I am talking about the war between good and evil.
       (2) In that we are in a state of war with the forces of evil, we as soldiers—
               A. Must be willing to go into battle (2 Tim. 2:3).
               B. Must be willing to learn about the one weapon that we have (Eph. 6:17).
               C. Must be willing to continue to fight as long as we live (1 Tim. 6:12).
       (3) Let us look at our responsibilities as soldiers of the cross.
3. Reference to S.T.P.O.

DISCUSSION: IN OUR STUDY, LET US NOTICE—
I. THAT WE MUST REALIZE THAT THE CHURCH IS A MILITANT ORGANIZATION.
       1. Most in the church, in general, don’t want to think of the church as anything other than a
social club.
               (1) While it is a society of mutual love, it’s primary mission is not to be sociable (1 Pet. 1:
22; Prov. 11:30).
               (2) The church is not in the business of entertaining people (Mk.16:15,16; 2 Cor. 9:13;
Eph. 4:15,16).
               (3) Some get upset when you refer to the church as an army.
       2. The church is an army; it is the army of Christ.
               (1) As Christians we are to fight the good fight (1 Tim. 6:12; Jude 3).
               (2) We are to endure hardships as good soldiers (2 Tim. 2:3).
       3. The church in engaged in a war between God and Satan and it must fight.
               (1) We have those from within who are trying to destroy the church (Rom. 16:17,18; 2
Jno. 9-11).
               (2) We have those from without who are trying to destroy the church (1 Cor. 10:14; Col. 3:
5).

II. THAT WE MUST BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THIS WAR.
       1. We have no choice but to fight in this war.
               (1) Jesus said that whoever was not for him, was against him (Mt. 12:30).
               (2) We are to bravely stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:14).
       2. We only have one weapon and we must know how to use it (1 Pet. 3:15).
               (1) In order to do this we must study the scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15).
               (2) We must know the scriptures well enough to defend them from whoever attacks them.

III. THAT WE MUST WEAR THE ARMOR OF CHRIST.
       1. Name the parts of the armor.
               (1) Have your loins girt about with truth (Jno. 17:17).
               (2) Have on the breastplate of righteousness (Rom. 1:17).
               (3) Have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Rom. 10:15).
               (4) Take the shield of faith (Rom. 10:17).
               (5) Take the helmet of salvation (Rom. 10:10).
               (6) The sword of the Spirit—the Word of God (Mt. 10:34).
       2. If a Christian does not have all the uniform on, he is out of uniform and is derelict in his/her
duties as a soldier of Christ.
       3. Those who are out of uniform are easy prey for the enemy.

CONCLUSION:
       SUMMARY: We have seen in this lesson that—
               1. The church is a militant organization.
               2. We as soldiers are to be active participants.
               3. We are to make sure we are in uniform.
       APPEAL: Let us wear our uniforms proudly.

"Sanctify them through thy truth, they word is truth" (Jno. 17:17)
bellecofc@centurytel.net

Sermon Outline

Belle church of Christ