Sermon on Preparation – Preparing for Christ
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon OutlinesSermon on Preparation
INTRODUCTION: Read Mark 1:1-8
1. Concerning the text.
1) When we think of John we think of preparation. His duty was to prepare the nation of Israel to receive the Christ.
2) This he did by preaching, by conversion, and by example of a godly life.
3) It will be much to our advantage to study what this text says about his job of preparation. We have a preparatory work of our own to do.
4) Jesus is coming again!
2. This hour my task is to show the elements of John’s work of preparation and to apply it to Christians today with Christ’s second coming in mind. We all have the task of preparing the world for His second and final coming and we need to be prepared. With this in mind I have titled this message “Preparing for Christ.”
DISCUSSION:
I. JOHN PREPARED THE PEOPLE BY PREACHING. 1-3
1. John’s message was to: “prepare yourself the King is coming.”
2. His preaching involved the identification of sin. Matthew 14:4 (Imperfect tense, continuous action in past time.)
3. He called the people away from the influence of the religious leaders of that day.
II. JOHN PREPARED THE PEOPLE BY CONVERSION. 4,5
1. John’s preaching was to result in the remission of sins.
2. He preached the baptism identified with repentance.
3. The people confessed or admitted their sins.
4. When they responded positively (by faith) to John’s preaching they left prepared to receive the coming Messiah.
III. JOHN PREPARED THE PEOPLE BY EXAMPLE. 6-8
1. He was an example of consecration. Separated from the world.
2. He was an example of humility. John 3:26-30
3. He was an example of zeal. Luke 1:17
4. He was an example of greatness. Matthew 11:7-11.
IV. JESUS IS COMING AGAIN.
1. He cometh with the clouds. Rev. 1:7
2. We shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2
3. He shall descend from heaven with a shout. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.
4. We must be ready. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.
V. THE CHURCH MUST PREPARE THE WORLD BY PREACHING.
1. The Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46,47
2. God chose preaching. 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21
3. Paul ready to preach the Gospel, power of God. Romans 1:15,16
4. Preach the Word. 2 Timothy 4:1-4
VI. THE CHURCH MUST PREPARE THE WORLD BY CONVERSION.
1. The only way to meet the righteous judge favorably is by being prepared.
2. Being still in our sins is being unprepared.
1) We have all sinned. Romans 3:23
2) Our sins separate us from God. Isaiah 59:2
3) Wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23
3. The only remedy of sin is the blood of Christ. Matthew 26:28 (for the remission of sins)
4. Peter announces the way to contact that blood is by repentance and baptism. Acts 2:38 (by the remission of sins)
5. The one having contacted the blood is converted. From darkness to light, from life to death, from a child of Satan to a child of God.
6. Only the converted are prepared when Jesus comes.
VII. THE CHURCH MUST PREPARE THE WORLD BY EXAMPLE.
1. We have an obligation to be salt and light. Matthew 5:13,14.
2. Timothy was taught to be an example. 1 Tim. 4:12.
3. We are to be examples of humility as John was. Luke 17:10
4. We are to reject worldliness as John did. 1 John 2:15
5. We are to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. James 1:27
CONCLUSION:
1. John was a magnificent example of a man of God. It is no wonder that the Lord commended him so highly.
2. John had (in essence) the same job that we do, namely, preparation.
3. He used preaching, and so are we to.
4. He caused conversion, and this is our goal.
5. He left a great example; we are to shine as examples in this world.