Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Colossians 3:12-17

Freedom to Approach God

Colossians 3:12-17

Introduction:

No one is born patriotic; it must be instilled through habitual practice.

Each generation must rekindle its allegiance to our country and reverence for those in our nation’s past.

One has written:

How do we preserve our heritage for future generations?

It would be simple if Mason jars could be filled and labeled BLOOD SHED WHILE THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER WAS BEING WRITTEN, OR TEARS AND SWEAT FROM THOSE WHO FOUGHT NAZISM, OR THE BREATH OF THOSE WHO GAVE ALL IN SOME MIDDLE EASTERN DESERT TO FREE A PEOPLE FROM A TYRANNICAL DICTATOR.

But the accomplishments cannot be bottled for future generations.

Our national heritage must be preserved within the human heart.

Each generation must come to the place of appreciation for the sacrifices made and determine to pass them on to the next generation.

We have been given great freedoms in this nation because of God’s design and the sacrifice of many, let us determine to make the most of these freedoms!!!

We have the freedom to worship according to the direction of the Word of God, let us determine to Worship God today!!

No one is born patriotic it must be instilled, no one is born a Christian they must be taught by another Christian, in other words Christianity must be instilled in every succeeding generation.

The Bible is very clear that there is only one way whereby a person may be saved from their sin and the wrath to come.

Romans 5:8-9

8 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Acts 4:12

12 Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven, given among men, whereby ye must be saved.

Note – After we are saved, we have the joy of approaching God in worship.

We can worship by:

1. Presenting ourselves – Romans 12

2. Prayer

3. Praise

4. Offering (All of these are what Paul calls spiritual offerings.)

Note – The beginning place of all worship is the Word of God—the Bible.

Ill – Spiritual offerings are given in response to the Word.

Spiritual songs are sung in response to the Word.

(Colossians 3:16)

Note – When we approach the Bible, we are approaching God.

John 1:1

1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.

1 Peter 1 – The Word of God lives and abides forever.

1 Peter 1:23-25

23- Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

24- For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.

The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25- But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.

And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Note – This is a God-breathed book.

2 Timothy 3:15-16

15- And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16- All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Peter 1:21

21 For the prophecy came not in the old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

I. Believers Approach God through the Bible

Illustration: many people say they don’t read the Bible because they have a hard time remembering what they have read.

“a young believer was discouraged in his attempts to read and remember the Bible.

He said, it’s no use no matter how much I read I always forget what I just read.

A wise pastor replied, ‘take heart.

When you pour water over a sieve, no matter how much you pour you don’t collect much.

But at least you end up with a clean sieve.”

A. The Scriptures testify of God.

John 5:39

Search the Scripture, for in them ye think that ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.

Note – The Word of God reveals the God of the Word!

1. Omnipotent Job 42:2,Psa.33:9

2. Omnipresent Psa.

39:7 – 9

3. Omniscient I Chron.

28:9

4. Holy I Pet.

1:16

5. Righteous Psa.

116:5

6. Love I Jn.4:8

7. Faithful I Cor.

1:9

8. Gracious Psa.

145:5

9. Longsuffering Micah 7:16

10.

Compassionate I Kings 8:23

11.

Unsearchable Job 11:7, Psa.

145:3

12. Immutable Psa.

102:26,27

13.

Truth Jere.

10:10

14.

Incorruptible Rom.

1:23

15.

A Consuming Fire Heb.

10:29

16.

Great Psa.

86:10

17.

Invisible I Tim.

1:7

18. Upright Psa.

25:8, 92:15

19.

Light I Jn.

1:5

20.

Immortal I Tim.

1;17.6:16

21.

Perfect Matt.

5:48

22. Eternal Psa.

9:2

23.

Glorious Psa.

145:5

24.

Jealous Josh.

24:1

25.

Good Psa.

25:8

B. The Scriptures are the Word of God.

I Thessalonians 2:13

13 …when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God.

Note – Do you want to know God?

II.

Believers Approach God through Biblical Preaching

Ill – Martin Luther – “When I declare the Word of God, I offer sacrifice.”

Note – Preaching is a vital part of worship, because Biblical preaching reveals God.

1 Corinthians 1:18-23

18- For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19- For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20- Where is the wise?

where is the scribe?

where is the disputer of this world?

hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21- For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22- For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: