Classic Sermon Outlines
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — Alexander Maclaren their intensity, in their character, and consequences, unapproachable, incapable of repetition. But then, do not let us forget that the very books and ' J writers in the New Testament that preach Christ's sole, all-sufficient, eter-
nal redemption for the world by His sufferings and death, turn around and _ say to us, too, "Be planted together in the likeness of His death"; — up that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ."
1. Christ's sufferings caused by His contact with the world.
2. Christ's sufferings caused by His temptations. There was no sin
within Him, no tendency to sin, no yielding to the evil that assailed. But yet, ~ when that dark power stood by His side and said, "If Thou be the Son of _ Sotrere down, it was a real temptation and not a sham one. o The death of Christ spical of the believer' diy dying The death of "Christ [in addition to its rede ti } gtian's life, which is or badhelong-preteactedsatt elite dying to sin, to self, o the world.
B. The Companionship of Christ with the Suffering Believer.
1. It is a consoling fact that Christ is with us in our afflictions. We need not hold that there is no reference here to that comforting thought, "In all our affliction, He is afflicted." i. Sea SRI TET ire eO meh eta meneame all in some way, 'all in ihe rent way, none in too severe a way, none in too slight a way—to tread in the path of sorrow; and is it not a blessed thing, as. we go along through that dark valley of the shadow of death down into which the sunniest paths go sometimes, to come amidst the twilight and. gathering clouds, upon tokens that Jesus has been on the road before us?
3. It is a consoling fact that no affliction is too small for Him to bear with us. Whether it be a poison from an serpent sting, or whether it be poison from a million of buzzing tiny mosquitoes; if there be an affliction, go to. Him and He will help you bear it. He will do more, He will bear it with you, for if so be that we suffer with Him, He suffers with us. Our oneness with Christ brings about a community of possessions whereby it becomes true of each trusting soul in its relations to Him, that "all mine (joys and sorrows alike) are thine and all thine are mine."