Seeking the Old Paths
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Textual Sermon OutlinesPROPOSITION: To set forth the commandment of God to “seek the old paths.”
INTRODUCTION: Read Jeremiah 6:16-21
1. Jeremiah was God’s prophet to the nation of Judah during her last years before the exile in Babylon.
2. His was a lone voice in a sea of godlessness.
3. They had gone far astray from God’s law.
4. The prophet gave God’s remedy for avoiding calamity. “Ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein.”
5. The people said, “We will not walk therein.”
6. V. 22 judgment is coming.
7. If Jeremiah were here would he have to say, “Ask for the old paths?”
1) The old paths are the good way. (As it is written.)
2) Walking therein brings rest for your soul.
3) Failing to walk therein brings judgment. Matthew 7:21)
DISCUSSION:
I. THE OLD PATHS ARE THE GOOD WAY.
1. Cyrus gave a decree for the Jews to return and build the temple, Ezra 1:1-4.
2. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua many returned.
3. After 70 years of captivity how were they going to conduct themselves?
4. Fear was upon them, Ezra 3:1-4. Why? De. 28:1-7
5. There are those among us who say that the Bible was written for a different time.
6. The reconstruction of Zerubbabel took place 1000 years after the giving of the law of Moses. NOT A WORD ABOUT HOW THE LAW WAS FOR A DIFFERENT TIME!
7. The OLD PATHS were where the blessings lay.
8. Walking in the paths of inst. Music are not the old paths. 1 Corinthians 4:6
9. Walking in the paths of complacency are not the OLD PATHS. Acts 2:42; Acts 8:4
10.Walking in the paths of the sins of the flesh are not the OLD PATHS. Gal 5:19-21.
11.Walking in the OLD PATHS is walking by faith
1) 2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith not by sight)
2) Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing…
3) Josh 6:1-5; Hebrews 11:30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, AFTER they had been compassed seven days.
12.Walking in the OLD PATHS is walking in obedience. Hebrews 5:8, 9.
II. WALKING THEREIN BRINGS REST FOR YOUR SOUL. Jeremiah 6:16
1. Matthew 11:28 “I will give you rest.”
2. Numbers 13:30. Caleb
3. Joshua 14:6-14
4. 2 Timothy 4:1-8
5. Rev. 2:10
III. FAILING TO WALK THEREIN BRINGS JUDGMENT.
1. 2 Chr. 36:11-20
2. For the non-Christian. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.
3. For the Christian. Hebrews 10:26-31
IV. WALK IN THE OLD PATHS!
1. They are the paths marked by the Lord.
2. If it’s not marked by him, DON’T WALK ON IT! It leads to destruction.
3. Does your path lead you from regular worship?
4. Lead you from telling the good news to your neighbor?
5. Lead you to accept the fleshly standards of a condemned world?
6. Lead you to wanting fellowship with the denominations at any cost?
7. Those paths will lead to destruction.
CONCLUSION:
1. The old paths are the good way.
2. Walking therein brings rest for your soul.
3. Failing to walk therein brings destruction.
4. Walk in the old paths.