12 KiB
Question 1
Given below is an outline of a proposed sermon based on Colossians 1:15-19 and having as its theme: "JESUS--LORD OF ALL." Read Colossians 1:15-19 and examine this outline in the light of what you have learned in this lesson.
1. Who is Jesus? (1:15)
I. He is the Firstborn One
II. He is the Incarnate one
2. Jesus Create the Universe (1:16-17)
I. He created the material universe of things both visible and invisible (1:16)
II. He created the moral universe of spiritual intelligences ("thrones, dominions, principalities, powers") (1:16)
III. He created the whole universe (1:17)
3. The Head of the Body (1:18)
I. Jesus is the Head of the Church
II. Jesus is the Hero of the Church
III. Jesus is the Hope of the Church
Now write "True" or "False" after the following statements.
| Statement | True/False |
|---|---|
| a. This is a good outline | |
| b. In this outline the use of Roman and Arabic numerals follow the usage suggested in the lesson | |
| c. This outline employs the rhetorical method in a consisten and uniform manner | |
| d. Subheads I and II under main head "1. Who is Jesus?" are in the proper order | |
| e. Subheads I, II and III under main head "2. Jesus Created the Universe" are cumulative (assuming that they correctly reflect the statements in verses 16, 17) | |
| f. There are not nearly enough subheads under main head "2" for the number of statements in verses 16, 17 | |
| g. Subheads II and III under main head "3. The Head of the Body" properly expound the subject matter of verse 18 |
Questions 2
Given below are the ingredients for a workable outline of Colossians 1:15-19. These are in no special order. Rearrange these various items in their proper order and then write them out below so as to produce the outline as it should be organized.
When you have finished you will have three main heads. Under the first main head you will have two sub heads; under the second main head you will have three sub heads and under the third main head you will have five sub heads.
At the beginning of each main head and each sub head put the proper Roman or Arabic numeral.
At the end of each main head and each sub head give the verse or verses from Colossians 1:15-19 it covers.
The PERSONALITY of God is revealed through Jesus Jesus created all things Jesus is the Author of creation Jesus is the Firstborn of every creature Jesus is the Image of the invisible God The POWER of God is revealed through Jesus Jesus controls all things Jesus is the Sum Total of all Jesus is the Lord of the universe Jesus claims all things The PURPOSES of God are revealed through Jesus Jesus is the Head of the church Jesus is the Conqueror of death
To help you in rearranging these steps to your outline, the text of Colossians 1:15-19 is reproduced here with the divisions marked off for you.
"Who is the image of the invisible God/ the firstborn of every creature;/
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers/ all things were created by him, and for him/ and he is before all things and by him all things consist (i.e. cohere; hold together),/
"And he is the head of the boy, the church/ who is the beginning (i.e. the First Cause)/ the firstborn from the dead/ that in all things he might have the preeminence/ for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell."
Numeral Heading Scripture
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Question 3
Examine the following six alternative introductions to a sermon on JONAH and be prepared to evaluate them.
Sermon Introduction 1
"I am delighted to stand before such a distinguished audience. I consider it a rare privilege to speak to such an outstanding group. My message tonight concerns the prophet Jonah. Now some people do not believe the story of Jonah. They say that a whale is incapable of swallowing a man. So far as I'm concerned, since it is in the Bible I'd believe it even if we read that Jonah swallowed the whale..."
Sermon Introduction 2
"Our chairman seems to have been intoxicated by the exuberance of his own verbosity. I see, how-ever, that I do have about twenty minutes left. Let us turn to the book of Jonah. Notice how the book begins: "Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah.' That is a very interesting statement. It tells us that God spoke to Jonah..."
Sermon Introduction 3
"I appreciate being here to speak to you tonight. I must say I feel very inadequate when I see Dr. Logan in the audience. You will also have to forgive me for not having the ready flow of eloquence for which your regular speaker is so well known. Now let us turn to the book of Jonah. I make no apology for reading the whole book. The chapters are short and, after all, it is God's Word and what God says will be much more significant than anything I can say...."
Sermon Introduction 4
"Jonah's name means 'dove' but he seems to have been more of a hawk than a dove. He passionately craved the overthrow of Nineveh. He cared nothing for the fact that the destruction of that great city would mean the death of thousands of little children..."
Sermon Introduction 5
"Jonah is the only prophet to whom the Lord Jesus directly likened Himself. He came from Gath-hepher, a town on the boundary line of Zebulun, just three miles north-east of Nazareth where our Lord was brought up: When Nicodemus spoke up for the Lord before the Sanhedrin, his colleagues contemptuously said: 'Art thou also a Galilean? Search and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.' They had forgotten Jonah. ..."
Sermon Introduction 6
"A whale is the largest animal that has ever lived on the earth, vet its throat is so small that it will choke on a herring. Therefore Jonah was not swallowed by the whale as the Bible says. So argues the agnostic. But just a moment! The sperm whale could certainly swallow a man. When mortally wounded the sperm whale has been known to disgorge chunks of cuttlefish six feet long by four feet wide, and an eighteen foot skeleton of a shark was found in the stomach of one on another occasion. Then there is the famous case of James Bartley who was actually swallowed by a whale and who lived to tell the story..."
Now answer the following questions about these simple Introductions.
| Question | Number(s) |
|---|---|
| a. Which of the Introductions would overcome antipathy, apathy and indifference? | |
| b. Which of the Introductions avoid the use of the first person? | |
| c. Which of the Introductions being with an arresting sentence? | |
| d. Which of the Introductions being with a reference to Bible times, or customs or to a Bible incident? | |
| e. Which of the Introductions use a good illustration? | |
| f. Which of the Introductions appeal to secular history, science or a news item? |
Question 4
Which of the six Introductions given above would you use for a sermon on Jonah?
State your reason for choosing this particular Introduction.
Question 5
Here is a CONCLUSION to a sermon based on John 10:35, "The scripture cannot be broken." One of the key points made in the sermon is this:
When the Lord said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets," He sued a word for "destroy" which literally means "to loosen up" or, in reference to the Law, "to find a loophole." In other words, we must not try to excuse ourselves for failing to obey God's Word.
The rest of the sermon was in the same vein. Now examine this conclusion:
It would be better if you insist on being rebellious to tell the Lord at this point, "Lord, I hate you. I am going to do what I want, don't interfere," than to give Him a lame excuse that doesn't exist. Oh, may I say to you, God knows what you really mean. He is not being fooled, and the proof of it is, you are not having His blessing. His Word will not be broken, it will break you.
"But on the other hand, if we study His word sufficiently to the point where we come and say:
Were the whole realm of nature mine That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all'
then we are in for great blessing. The only reason as far as we are concerned, that God refuses to have His law broken is simply to force us from the place of the curse to the place of blessing. For God does not want to judge us, He wants to fellowship with us in the love of Christ.
"So I say to you in the words of Paul: 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.'
Write True or False after each of the following statements about this Conclusion.
| Statement | True/False |
|---|---|
| a. This conclusion is too emotional | |
| b. This conclusion rambles and fails to come to the point | |
| c. This conclusion is personal and pointed | |
| d. This conclusion is courteous | |
| e. This conclusion aptly concludes the sermon |