Classic Sermon Outlines
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — Matthew Henry
(Romans 8:28), and shall not be able to separate them from God's love (Romans 8:39).
III. THERE MUST BE A BALANCED HOPE AND FEAR CONCERNING THE CHURCH IN RELATION TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
A. We Have Reason for a Holy Fear in Regard to Public Affairs.
1. Because we are a provoking people. God's name is dishonored, His day profaned, His good creatures abused by luxury and excess. Liberty to sin has been pleaded for a Christian liberty.
2. Because we are a divided people. It is not so much the difference of sentiment and practice; but that which does the mischief is the mismanagement of our differences and uncharitable censures one of another.
3. Because of the presence of evil. Let the people of God never expect, until they come to heaven, to be out of reach of evil, and therefore never expect to be perfectly quiet from the fear of it.
B. We Have Reason to Keep Up Good Hope in Regard to Public Affairs.
1. The Word of God. This is the foundation on which our hopes must be built and then they are fixed. See Revelation 11:15; Psalms 2:8; 98:3; Micah 4:3; Isaiah 11:1-9.
2. The work of God. The interest that lies so much upon our hearts, the progress of Christianity, is the work of His own hands which He will never forsake.
3. The wonders of God. When we are discouraged let us remember the works of the Lord; not only those of which our fathers have told us, but which we have seen in our days.
CONCLUSION
Be of good courage and hope in God; stay yourselves upon Him, strengthen yourselves in Him, look upwards with cheerfulness, and then look forward with satisfaction.