Classic Sermon Outlines (continued)
§ The First Promise
2. Sin. Eve "took of the fruit and did eat and gave also unto her husband. " De eae ee eee eee Beene eccicorardecaleertieererm Never pean was a crime of such a complicated nature committed by anyone upon earth. Only the.
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — George Whitefield Satan was iw het puesur of Jesus because Jesus was cors tantly on ke
0". Sotan 1s Nov omn\ presedt . he Cannot be Cverywhere at Par same time.
meee EEA |
I. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE.
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The First Promise
AINGE Whitefield
SERMON TWO
WALKING WITH GOD
ENOCH is spoken of in the words of the text in a very extraordinary manner. We ere a short but full ehav U DU U ATIC PIO OUS d OU O S Derld O. The former is contained in the words, "And Enoch walked with God." The latter in the words, "and he was not, for God took him."
Walking with God v U TOU VJ Vid Prmyr 1s re¥ only ad uty a spoons bilihy Ga perv lags ;
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — George Whitefield
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Movin & °
Ons gotta run, (cee
Fee A ei reaeeim ditedareeiere
woeeld, we do nok WANT Ve
In order to walk closely with God, His children must watch the workings of His Spirit in their hearts. They must give up themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit as a little child gives his hand to be led by the parent. It is every Christian's duty to be guided by the Spirit in conjunction with God's written Word.
F, Faithfulness to God.
It is recorded of Zacharias and Elizabeth that they walked in all God's ordinances, as well as commandments, blameless (Luke 1:6). All rightly inpon ordinan we look into church history or observe our own times we shall find that as God's power prevails, Christian societies and fellowship meetings prevail.
§ Walking with God
CONCLUSION
What more can I say to you that are yet strangers to Christ to come and Malle with God. ee a erie
SERMON THREE
_ THE TESTING OF
ABRAHAM
And He said, "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything to him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me."
—GENESIS 22:12
THE APOSTLE Paul informs us that "whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4). And as without faith it is impossible to please God or be accepted in the Son of His love;
I. ABRAHAM'S TEMPTATION (Verses 1-2).
A. The Time of the Temptation.
The sacred penman begins the narrative thus: "And it came to pass, after these things, God did tempt Abraham." After these things, that is, after he had undergone many severe trials, after he was old and full of days, and might flatter himself that the troubles and toils of life were now finished. Christians, you know not what trials you may meet before you die. Our last trials, in all probability, will be the greatest. We can never say our trials are finished until we leave this earthly scene.
The Testing of Abraham
B. The Meaning of Temptation.
C. The Nature of the Temptation.
It must not only be a son, but "thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest" (verse 2). It must be his only son, the heir of all, the son of his old age in whom his soul delighted, in whose life his own was wrapped up. This son, this only son, this Isaac, the son of his love, must be taken now and be offered up by his own father for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which God would tell him.
II. ABRAHAM'S RESPONSE TO THE TEMPTATION (Verses 3-10).
A. It Was a Response without Consultation with Man.
saddled fe own Beast ef Biden: To ee his Rant aren © took two of his young men and his son Isaac with him, iat BOE
B. It Was a Response of Obedience.
"They came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him upon the altar upon the wood" (verse 9). Here let us pause for awhile and by faith take a view of the place where the father has laid his son. And now the fatal blow is to be given, "And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son" (verse 10).
dacs thins Spftie think fe iovatto a fails: saw 'the ied
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — George Whitefield
Jesus afar off and here spoke prophetically of the Lamb of God already slain in decree and hereafter to be actually offered up for sinners. This was a Lamb of God's providing, indeed, to satisfy His own justice and to render lim just in justifying the ungodly.
II. ABRAHAM'S OBEDIENCE REWARDED (Verses 11-14).
A. The Call of the Angel of the Lord.
Sing, O heavens and rejoice, O earth! Just as the knife in all probability was near Isaac's throat, "the angel of the Lord (or rather the Lord of angels, Jesus Christ, the Angel of the everlasting covenant) called unto him
(probably in an audible manner) from heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham." The name is spoken twice to engage his attention; and perhaps the suddenness of the call made him draw back his hand just as he was going to strike his son. "And Abraham answered, 'Here am I'" (verse 11).
B. The Message of the Angel of the Lord.
"And He said, 'Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me" (verse 12). Here it was that Abraham received his son Isaac from the dead in a figure. He was in effect yi DO] i oe d d It ATOCd LOO J UDO d UO S Ud Cj Y U U ) Him. Now it was that Abraham's faith, being tried, was found more prea : hould be ve -19). With eine conor may we suppose aa <p ane went down from the mount and returned to the young men! With what joy may we imagine he went home and related to Sarah all the things which had taken place.
CONCLUSION
The Testing of Abraham
AIVGE Whitkeficld
SERMON FOUR
THE BELOVED OF GOD
And of Benjamin, he said, "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him; and the Lord shall cover him all day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders."
—DEUTERONOMY 33:12
IF YOU read this chapter you will find how various, yet special, are the blessings which, in a prophetic strain, Moses foretells should attend particular persons or tribes. I have been reading them over, and although I admire them all, I was at a loss from which to speak, until the blessing of Benjamin fixed my attention, not only as sweet, but also instructing.
I. THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE BELOVED OF GOD.
A. An Erroneous Notion.
Some say that the beloved of the Lord signifies all the men that were ever born into the world. That is a broad bridge to take them in, but broad bridges are not always the strongest bridges in the world. Some assert that Judas was as much beloved as Peter or any other of the apostles.
B. The Biblical View.
The beloved of the Lord are the men that the Scriptures always speak of whose constant uniform character is they love God. It is spoken of all the
JTUC. ATUU S
+ The Beloved of God
Il. THE EVIDENCES OF BEING BELOVED OF GOD.
iaidibiheenioeuiseimasstay Vou love Ace rani nti not EE pac' as was your Lord! I do not say that all are hated alike. In proportion to our successes will we be hated.
member a Pee friend once sent me old me Ray fe was morning and night, up ea and late. i ee he said, ° pa will ee bgt this: account I
Sian ree area sieht many eave ais ain oe sin St fear of punish-
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — George Whitefield ment; but hear what Joseph said, "How can I do this great wickedness and _ sin against God" (Genesis 39:9), the God who loves me.
F. Willing Service for the Lord.
'Lord. I knew a lady who wanted to be further employed in the service of
God. Said she, If Christ would but help me to do such and such a thing I have in view, I would dedicate myself more and more to His honor. A true
Christian loves thus to be employed.
G. Desire to See Jesus. iewel i God i is f eee
When shall I see "Him whom my soul loves"? "I am in a strait betwixt two," says Paul; the word signifies a strong intense desire "to be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:23).
III. A TEMPTATION OF THE BELOVED OF GOD.
A. The Nature of the Temptation.
Can I think God loves me when I am poor or afflicted? If 1 am beloved of the Lord, how is it that my friends are against me; that my children instead of being a blessing are breaking my heart? If 1 am beloved of the Lord why have I so many domestic trials; why am I harassed with blasphemous thoughts?
B. The Reminder Concerning the Temptation.
What is to be done to those that are beloved of the Lord? Here it is, "they shall dwell in safety." Why? "They shall dwell between His shoul-
' The Beloved of God
CONCLUSION
If any of you who have not the marks of being beloved of the Lord are awakened and convinced, the Lord grant you nee not tay until you are God's beloved. ee se id se ord, pardor
ASVGE Whitkefield
SERMON FIVE
FAMILY RELIGION
As for me and my home, we will serve the Lord.
THESE WORDS contain the holy resolution of Joshua, who in a most moving, affectionate discourse recounted to the Israelites the great things God had done for them, and now comes to draw a proper inference from what he had been delivering and acquaint them, in the most pressing terms, that because God had been so gracious to them, they could do no less than dedicate themselves and families to God.
, Family Religion
C. Examples of Meeting the Responsibility.
What precedents men who neglect their duty in this particular can plead for such omission I cannot tell. Doubtless not the example of holy ~ Job Job 1:5). Nor can they plead the practice of good old Joshua who in the text we find as much concerned for his household's welfare as his own. Nor that of Cornelius who feared God not only himself but with all his house
(Acts 10:2). If Christians had the spirit of Job, Joshua, and the Gentile cen_turion, they would act like them.
II. THE NATURE OF FAMILY RELIGION.
every head " a pe em to think it in a peculiar manner spoken to te because he ought to look upon himself as a prophet and therefore bound to instruct those under his charge in the knowledge of the Word of God. This son ie every ead ofa oan Aoaidia join both of these exercises together is plain, because a head of a family cannot perform his priestly office without performing the duty of family prayer.
C. Family Instruction.
Every head of a family should catechize and instruct the entire household and
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — George Whitefield
III. THE MOTIVES FOR FAMILY RELIGION.
A. Gratitude to God.
The first motive I shall mention is the duty of gratitude which you who are heads of families owe to aco fre 'heir way ee expressing ee an dudey for their At ifen2 Then was Delilah fond of Samson when she delivered him into the hands of the Philistines?
let it have a due and full influence on you in this. Ifit has, and you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, how can you avoid believing that promoting family religion will be the best means to promote your own temporal as well as eternal welfare? "Godliness has the promise of the life that now is, as" well as that which is to come" (I Timothy 4:8).
D. Terrors of the Lord.
Let a consideration of the terrors of the Lord persuade you to put into practice the pious resolution of the text. Remember, the time will come,
SCd G 3 S S UsStl SIVE ds J | J ql OU lOW We have conducted ourselves in our respective families in this world. How will you endure to see your children, who ought to be your joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, coming out as so many witnesses against you?
' Family Religion
CONCLUSION
I hope you have been in some measure convinced by what has been said of the importance of family religion and therefore are ready to cry out:
AINGE Whitefield
SERMON SIX
SOUL DEJECTION
an +rembling : unbelusme. FAITHLESS i
We Ud05 CREFOSING his taut. Kg Hrere.a Goliabiy ww Ove hues 2 De we stand leokun
Suppose you understand the words as a question. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul" though thou art in such circumstances? What is the cause of being so dejected? The word implies that he was sinking unoOo VY
» Soul Dejection
II. THE CAUSES FOR SOUL DEJECTION.
'Adiioumiats Si
Some poor soul will say, I am cast down with a sense of sin, the guilt of it, the enmity of it; the very aggravated circumstances that attend it appear and set themselves in battle array before me. Once | thought I had no sin, or that sin was not so exceeding sinful; but I now find it such a burden, I could almost say with Cain, "It is greater than I can bear." Perhaps you could say as one man said when under conviction of sin, "I believe God cannot be just unless He damn my wicked soul."
B. Unfaithfulness to God.
I hear someone say, I am cast down because after I knew God to be my God, after I knew Jesus to be my king, the devil and my unbelieving heart threw me down again. Would not God have me cast down? Would He not have me disquieted? You are gone tar from your Father's house. If nothing else will do, may your Father whip you back home! Tender hearts, when they reflect how it was once, are cast down.
C. Temptation.
You may say, I am cast down because I am wearied with temptation. I am haunted with this and that evil suggestion until I am a terror to myself. Is it unbelief that dogs you wherever you go ? Although it be night, there is some 90n, blessed be Go or some Stars there is a fog that you cannot
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — George Whitefield
D. Trials.
You may say, I have one affliction after another; no sooner is one trial gone, but another follows. I think I shall have a little rest, the tormentor will not come near today, but no sooner has this been said, but another storm comes and the clouds: return after the rain. With such experiences we think
' Soul Dejection
CONCLUSION
ee AISUVGE iteficld
SERMON SEVEN
ere SMa BELIEVER'S HUSBAND
For thy Maker is thy husband.
—ISAIAH 54:5
nd. Although tie wordswreres
CaLY app ADIC LO d
Christ the Believer's Husband
II. THE DUTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS RELATIONSHIP.
A. Reverence.
"Let the wife see that she reverence her husband" (Ephesians 5:33). May I not apply this caution to you who are married to Jesus Christ? See to ne de IU "rence a ; ~SPDeC OU USDAaNC Say, See TO IT O
C. Subjection.
Because wives are to be subject to their own husbands, how much en, TO De SUDICC O pel VeTsS V ' U VWVOIL
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — George Whitefield
II]. THE CONDITION OF THE PERSONS WHO HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS RELATIONSHIP.
A. They Are Married to the Law.
them" (Galatians 3:10).
B. They Are Married to the World.
ole
Christ the Believer's Husband
C. They Are Married to the Flesh.
. hey d FONMDo they not say, Come, and ye come; Go, and ye go; Do this, and ye do it? Is not he or she who lives in pleasure dead while he lives?
D. They Are Married to the Devil.
_Gestge Witefield
SERMON EIGHT
_ LHE POTEER AND THE CLAY
The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words." Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "O house of Israel, cannot
I do with you as this potter?"
in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
—JEREMIAH 18:1-6
SOMETIMES God was pleased to send a prophet on some special errand and while he was thus employed a particular message was given to him which he was ordered to deliver to all the inhabitants of the land. An instructive instance of this kind is recorded in the passage we are now to consider.