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Sermon on Influence – The Power of Influence

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Sermon on Influence. Sermon outline by Tom Moore on the influence we ought to have.power of influence. You are an epistle of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).

YOU ARE AN EPISTLE OF CHRIST
(2 Corinthians 3:2-3)

INTRODUCTION:

A. The power of influence is staggering.

1. Astronomers, watching the peculiar behavior of the planet Uranus, deducted that it must be under the influence of another planet.

2. Thus convinced, they pointed their great telescope in the correct direction and discovered the planet Neptune.

B. What is influence?

1. Influence is that moral or spiritual force, power or capacity by which we have an EFFECT upon a person, condition, or development.

2. Jesus presents this moral force – influence, under several metaphors:

a. Salt – Matthew 5:13

b. Light – Matthew 5:14-16

c. Leaven – Matthew 13:33

C. In today’s lesson we are going to study a metaphor used by Paul with reference to influence

1. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

2. With reference to influence – “We are epistles of Christ”

DISCUSSION: [ discussion of this sermon on influence – the power of influence ]

A. EPISTLES ARE ALWAYS WRITTEN ON MATERIALS WHICH HAVE UNDERGONE A CHANGE

1. If the epistle is written on paper, the wood pulp or rags, out of which the paper was made, underwent a change.

a. In like manner, we cannot exert a wholesome influencefor Christ until we have undergone a change.

b. This spiritual change is conversion.

2. This change – conversion – is vitally important

a. Matthew 18:3

b. Acts 3:19

3. This change is produced by the word of God

a. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Psa. 19:7)

b. Romans 1:16

4. This change is threefold in nature:

a. There is a change of heart which is produced by faith (Acts 15:9)

b. There is a change of life – produced by repentance (Mt. 12:41)

c. There is a change of state – produced by baptism (Rom. 6:3)

5. This change results in a new life

a. 2 Corinthians 5:17

b. Galatians 6:15

c. Galatians 3:27

B. EPISTLES ARE READ, WITH THE READER BEING INFLUENCED THEREBY

1. Just as people will read letters, so will they read us.

2. For example, notice 1 Peter 3:1

3. One of the greatest ways that we can win souls to Christ is by our lives – people read us like an open book

C. EPISTLES ARE WRITTEN FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS

1. The motto of all great men has been, “God first, others second, and self last.”

2. Christ lived for the good of others

a. 2 Corinthians 8:9

b. Matthew 20:28

3. Do not the Scriptures say:

a. “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Cor. 10:24)

b. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Rom. 15:1).

D. EPISTLES CONVEY THE EXPRESSION OF THEIR AUTHOR

1. As epistles of Christ, we are to give an expression ofChrist to the world

a. We are to have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5)

b. We are to have Christ living in us (Gal. 2:20)

c. We are to magnify Christ in our lives (Phil. 1:20)

d. Our lives are to be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

2. To have seen Christ was to have seen the Father (Jn. 14:9)

a. Correspondingly, to see a true Christian is to see Christ.

b. Question: Can others see Christ in me; in my speech, in my dress, in what I do, in my attitude, and in where I go?

c. What impression of Christ do others get by reading our epistle of life?

E. EPISTLES BEAR THE SIGNATURE OF THEIR AUTHOR

1. As epistles of Christ we wear His name

a. “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26)

b. In the New Testament, our Lord’s disciples were called by Christ’s name – Christian

c. You cannot even say the word Christian without saying Christ.

d. Acts 4:11-12

e. James said, “Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called” (Jam. 2:7).

2. As epistles bearing the name of Christ, let us so live as to never bring shame and reproach on this name

3. We must so live so as to reflect the true meaning of the name Christian.

F. EPISTLES SHOULD BE WRITTEN SO AS TO BE EASILY READ

1. As our Lord’s epistles, people should be able to easily tell that we are His disciples

a. Acts 4:13

b. Christians are to be different, for Paul said _ Romans 12:2

2. Let us so live that no one would ever say, “Why, if you hadn’t told me I would have never known you were a member of the church!”

G. SOME EPISTLES DO NOT CONTAIN MUCH

1. A new college freshman wrote home a short note:

a. “Dear Dad: No money. No fun. Your son.”

b. Receiving this short note, the Dad replied. “Dear Son: No money. No Fun. Too bad. Your Dad.

c. Yes, it is true that some letters do not contain much, but what does our epistle of Christ contain?

2. As an epistle of Christ we are to lead a full and abundant life, seeking to exert as great an influence for the glory of Christ as possible.

a. Christ certainly lived an abundant life … He went about doing good (Acts 10:38) b. Notice the emphasis placed upon “fullness” in the following texts:

1) Acts 9:36

2) Romans 15:14

3. Finally, in this sermon on influence – the power of influence…

H. EPISTLES MAY BECOME BLOTTED

1. The blot will be the first thing seen.

a. And, the Christian must be extremely careful lest his life become stained and spotted; for, so often, people will more readily see a blot than a virtue.

b. The Christian has been washed white in the blood of Jesus (Rev. 1:5).

c. But, sin and the world will spot, blot and blemish (Jam. 1:27).

d. And, when Christians let their lives become blemished – their influence for good has been greatly hurt.

2. Thus, IT IS A MUST, that every Christian resolve that he is going to maintain his spiritual purity at all costs.

3. To be unconcerned about maintaining our spiritual purity is to show a fundamental lack of appreciation for what Christ and His blood has done for us.

CONCLUSION [ conclusion of this sermon on influence – the power of influence ]

Poem: The Gospel According to You
There’s a Gospel according to Matthew; To Mark;
To Luke; and John too.
There’s another gospel that many are reading…
The Gospel according to You.
All teachings we find in the Bible
Are facts we know to be true;
You must live them to make them the Gospel…
The Gospel according to You
Many read not the words of the Bible;
I will tell you what some of them do…
They are reading the book you are writing…
The Gospel according to you.
There’s Great Power In Gospel Preaching
The Bible teaches that this is true.
But the sermon most likely to influence others
Is The Gospel according to You.
God help us to be faithful to Jesus…
To live all His teachings so true,
So that all may see His Spirit
In the Gospel according to You
You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day;
By things that you do; By things you say.
Others read that gospel, whether faithless or true!
Say! What is the Gospel According To You?

Leroy Brownlow