How Does God Speak To Us Today – 4 Wonderful Ways
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon Outlines Tags: Sermons on GodHow Does God Speak To Us Today — Tom Moore answers the charge that God has failed to speak to us in this modern age. He, most definitely, has spoken to us.
INTRODUCTION:
A. Sometimes people may wonder, if there is God…
1. Why hasn’t He made Himself more clearly known?
2. Why has He spoken only through what many view as an antiquated book (the Bible)?
B. I would contend that God has made Himself known…
1. He has spoken in various ways (in addition to a book that is far from antiquated)
2. He has spoken quite loudly (for those willing to listen)
DISCUSSION: How Does God Speak To Us Today?
A. GOD SPEAKS LOUDLY THROUGH HIS CREATION
1. His Voice in His Creation…
a. Reveals His glory and His handiwork … Psalm 19:1-4
b. Reveals His eternal power and divine nature … Romans 1:19-20
c. Through the intelligent design of the universe God says, “I exist!”
2. How Well Do We Listen?
a. Do we take the time to consider the wonders of the creation?
b. The Psalmist took time to contemplate them …
1) Psalm 8:3
2) Psalm 104:24-25
3) Psalm 139:14
c. It prompted Einstein to believe in “an Intelligence that produced the integrative complexity of creation.”
d. The intelligent design of the universe prompted even a prominent atheist to become a deist (Anthony Flew)
e. If we open our eyes to the world around us, we will say “I believe!”
3. Through His Creation We Can Know That God Exists.
a. But what does this Supreme Being desire of us?
b. What does He want us to know or do?
c. For that…
B. GOD SPEAKS LOUDLY THROUGH HIS WORD
1. The Lord’s Voice Is In His Word…
a. Is designed to produce faith (trust, conviction) … Romans 10:17
b. Fulfilled prophecy is designed to produce faith in God
1) Isaiah 42:8-9
2) Isaiah 44:6-8
3) Isaiah 45:18-21
4) Isaiah 46:9-11
c. Eyewitness testimony offers evidence to believe in Jesus
1) Acts 10:39-42
2) 1 John 1:1-4
3) 2 Peter 1:15-16
d. Through His Providence, God’s Word has spread to every nation and translated into virtually every language – cf. Romans 10:17-18
e. The manuscript evidence which attests to its authenticity as a historical document far surpasses any other ancient document (such as those by Socrates, Plato, Homer, etc.)
f. Through His Word God says of Jesus, “This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!”
2. How Well Do We Listen?
a. Do we take the time to read the Word of God?
b. David did, and praised it highly
1) Psalm 19:7-11
2) Psalm 119:97-105
c. We have so much more of God’s Word than did David, shall we not read it?
d. It was written to produce faith in Jesus … John 20:30-31
e. If we open our ears to the Lord’s Word, we will say “I believe in Jesus!”
3. Note that the Father not only revealed His Word, but sent Jesus to this world.
4. In this way…
C. GOD SPEAKS LOUDLY THROUGH HIS SON
1. His Voice In His Son…
a. He now speaks through His Son Jesus … Hebrews 1:1-2
b. Through Jesus He has manifested Himself most fully
1) Hebrews 1:3
2) John 1:14-18
c. The life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus have changed history
d. Countless lives and entire nations have been affected by the sending of His Son
e. Through His Son, God says “This is who I Am, this is what I desire of you”
2. How Well Do We Listen?
a. Do we listen to what Jesus reveals about God? … John 14:6-9
b. Do we heed His warnings regarding eternal life? … Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23
c. As Jesus said so often, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” … Mark 4:9
d. If we will but listen to Jesus, we will say “You have the words of eternal life!”
3. The Lord not only sent Jesus into the world, but has sent His disciples throughout the world…
D. GOD SPEAKS LOUDLY THROUGH HIS PEOPLE
1. His Voice In His People…
a. The disciples of Jesus were given a great commission
1) Matthew 28:19
2) Mark 16:15-16
b. Their duty as the people of God is to proclaim His praises … 1 Peter 2:9-10
c. They are to proclaim His message in word and deed, proving what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God… Romans 12:1-2
d. Their love and unity are to speak powerful messages to the world
1) Through love for one another, that they are Christ’s disciples … John 13:34-35
2) Through unity, that God loves us and sent His Son into the world … John 17:20-23
e. Through His people, God says “I love you, and sent My Son to save you!”
2. How Well Do We Listen?
a. Their message has gone out into the world, today everyone has the opportunity to hear God through the lives and words of His people
1) Romans 10:18
2) Colossians 1:23
b. Do we notice the transformation in the lives of true disciples? … 1 Peter 2:12
c. Are we willing to listen to the good news they are willing to share? … Acts 17:11
d. If we will but give them our attention, we will say “What shall we do?”
CONCLUSION: How Does God Speak To Us Today?
A. My contention is that God has spoken loudly…
1. Through His Creation
2. Through His Word
3. Through His Son
4. Through His People
5. Through such “voices” God has spoken loud and clear
B. Who are they that fail to hear “The Clarion Voices Of God”? Only those…
1. Who have shut their eyes
2. Who have closed their ears
3. Who have hardened their hearts
4. Sadly, many have refused to hear the His voice (Mt 13:15)
C. As the Psalmist wrote, fools say there is no God (Psa. 14:1), and it is the wicked who do not seek Him (Psa. 10:4).
D. Yet the prophet Isaiah calls upon all mankind to: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isa 55:6-7)
E. Are you willing to seek Him, and to heed “The Clarion Voices Of God?”