Classic Sermon Outlines
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — Alexander Maclaren
3. The order of the names. Note, the most remarkable order in which these two names occur—Jesus first, God second. The reason for the order may be found partly in the context which has been naming Christ, but still more in the fact that while he writes, the apostle is realizing the mediation of Christ and that the order of mention is the order of our approach. The Father comes to us in the Son; we come to the Father by the Son.
B. The Distinct Address to Christ as the Hearer of Prayer.
1. The grammatical peculiarity. The words which follow, that is, "comfort" and "establish," are in the singular, while these two mighty and august names are their nominatives and would therefore, by all regularity, require a plural to follow them.
2. The truth expressed by this grammatical peculiarity. The phraseology is the expression of the great truth, "Whatsoever things the Father doeth, these also doth the Son likewise? And from it there gleam out unmistakably the great principles of the unity of action and the distinction of person between Father and Son in the depths of that infinite and mysterious Godhead.
3. The testimony of this grammatical peculiarity. Now all this is made the more remarkable and the stronger as a witness of the truth from the fact that it occurs in this incidental fashion and without a word of explanation or apology, as taking for granted that there was a background of teaching in the Thessalonian Church which had prepared the way for it and rendered it intelligible, as well as a background of conviction which had previously accepted it.
II. THE GREAT FACT ON WHICH THIS PRAYER BUILDS ITSELF.
A. The Implication of a Definite Historical Act.
1. The statement of the implication. The form of words in the original, "loved" and "given," all but necessarily requires us to suppose that their reference is to some one definite historical act in which the love was manifested, and, as love always does, found voice in giving.
2. The act implied. The gift of Jesus Christ is that in which everlasting consolation and good hope are bestowed upon men. When our desires are widened out to the widest they must be based upon the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ.