Message: Do You Believe This?
I.
Introduction
a.
Our goal this
year is to see you get more rooted in Christ as we grow together
b.
One way we are
doing this rooting is through sermons about questions found in the Bible.
II.
Body
a.
Tonight’s story
is found in John 11:1-44 and the question is: Do you believe this?
b.
We are often
asked to believe something (Columbus sailed in 1492, your alarm going off means
it is time to get up, 25 is the speed limit, a movie is worth seeing, etc…)
c.
Sometimes it is
completely a blind asking. We are asked
to take the word of a person we have never met, about something we have
experienced before.(Person twirling ad for furniture store on street)
d.
More often we are
asked to believe something by someone we know (try this food), or asked to
believe something we have had experience with before (smells like rain)
e.
Why do people try
to get others to believe something?
a.
To help them
obtain power or material goods
b.
To help us
f.
What does belief
in something or someone do for us?
a.
It moves us to
act
b.
It changes us
from the inside out (heals, restores, makes things better)
III.
Act out story
(see other paper or read John 11:1-44)
a.
What is Jesus
trying to get you to believe?
a.
That He has the
power to give life to the dead…if they believe in Him
b.
You are dead
(like Lazarus)…wrapped up in sin, as he was in his grave clothes. There is no way for you to get free of the
grave that is holding you…at least not on your own.
c.
Christ died, at
this death he took your sin upon him allowing for your forgiveness. He then rose from the dead himself, showing
his power over death…he can, not just unwrap you, but call you from the
grave…giving you life
d.
This can happen
if you allow him to be your Lord and Savior…if you believe in Him as the
resurrection and the life.
b.
Why does he want
you to believe?
a.
For his
sake…because he wants a relationship with you again, he wants you
b.
For your sake….so
that you are no longer entrapped by sin, living a hopeless, meaningless death
c.
If you choose to
believe, if you make him your Lord and Savior, you will be saved from the
spiritual grave yard and restore your relationship with God
c.
What will your
belief in Him do for you?
a.
Forgive your sins
b.
Change your view
of life and people
c.
Alter how you act
d.
Bring you into
relationship with God
IV.
Conclusion
a.
So….do you
believe this?
b.
Do you want to
believe? Will you believe? Will you tonight ask Jesus for forgiveness
for your sins, make him the one in charge of your life, and let him bring you
into life?
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