Classic Sermon Outlines
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — George Whitefield and voluntarily devote themselves soul and body to the service of God. This is the Christian's reasonable service. It implies no less than the total renunciation of the world; in short, it turns the Christian's entire life into one continued sacrifice of love to God; so that, whether he eats or drinks, he does all to God's glory.
2. Its signification. 1 would not insinuate that obedience to the words of the text requires us to become hermits. Christians are said to be the salt of the earth and the lights of the world and are commanded to "let their light shine before men." How can this be done if we shut ourselves up? True renunciation of the world is to be in the world but yet not of it; to have our hands employed on earth and our hearts at the same time fixed on things above.
II. DEVOTION TO GOD.
A. In Relation to the Jewish Temple.
The Jewish temple was a house of prayer. For this end was it built and adorned with such furniture. Solomon, in that admirable prayer which he offered to God at the dedication of the temple, said, "Hearken therefore unto the supplication of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel which they shall make toward this place." What was said of the first, our Lord applies to the second temple, "My house shall be called a house of prayer." So weave caledte be B. In Relation to Christians.
1. Its expression. When believers are wholly dedicated to God their hearts become the seats of prayer from whence, as so many living altars, a _ perpetual sacrifice of prayer and praise is continually ascending up to the Father of mercies, the God of all consolations. Such, and such only, who thus worship God in the temple of their hearts, can truly be said to be made priests unto God or be styled a royal priesthood; such only can be styled "the temple of the living God." Devotion is expressed through prayer and _ praise.
2. Its nature. Let no one say that such a devotion is impracticable or practicable only to a few and those few being such as have nothing to do with the common affairs of life; for this is the common duty and privilege _of all true Christians. To "pray without ceasing" and to "rejoice in the Lord
always" are precepts equally obligatory on all who name the name of Christ.