Great Things For God

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Great Things For God

Introduction:

A. Love and affection is the motivator that causes people to do many of the things they do in their lives. You love someone and so you want to do something that causes others to notice and speak well of that person. The same is true of God. Appreciation and affection for God and Christ produce a natural desire to do something great for God.

B. To realize our indebtedness to the Lord is good because it produces proper attitudes and feelings for Him. Also, knowing our blessings are undeserved protects us against arrogance, pride, and stubbornness. The desire to do something great can result in a life of true service.

C. But the desire to do something great can also be dangerous. We can feel that anything we do is insignificant, unimportant, and worthless to God. We can feel incapable of doing anything genuinely meaningful. We can become defeatists that possess terrible spiritual self-images.

I. What Is A Great Thing?

A. What makes an act or deed a great thing?

B. How are great things distinguished from insignificant things?

1. Do you suppose it's a matter of results?

2. Perhaps it's the magnitude of the deed!

3. Or is it the impact the deed has on society?

4. How about it's continuing influence?

5. Would the number of people affected determine it?

6. Is it a matter of the change that results from the deed?

C. Who in the New Testament did great things for Christ?

1. While the apostles might be on our list virtually nothing is known about the lives and deeds of most of them.

2. John wrote one gospel, 3 letters and The Revelation, but we know very little about him as a person.

3. Apollos was an eloquent preacher, but not one of his sermons is recorded.

4. Luke wrote Luke and Acts and was a traveling companion of Paul, but little is known about what he did and where he served.

D. So many names associated with greatness are of Christians of which little is known.

II. Examples of Greatness - People Jesus called great

A. A Roman Centurion - Matt. 8:5-13

B. A Canaanitish woman - Matt. 15:21-28

C. A poor widow - Mk. 12:41-44

D. Many did small things that God called great.

1. Dorcas - Acts 9:36-43

2. Onesimus - Philemon

3. By most people's standards these two did nothing significant, earthshaking, or of lasting importance.

4. By God s standards, their deeds were of such significance that their names will never die.

E. Consider the memorable characters of Jesus parables.

1. Kings or people of noble birth, wealth and power?

a. A Shepherd who searched for one lost sheep - Lk. 15:4-7

b. A prodigal son who returned home - Lk. 15:11-32

c. A Samaritan who helped an injured Jew - Lk. 10:25-37

d. A widow who pled with an unrighteous judge - Lk. 18:1-5

III. God's Definition

A. Living a consistent, godly life is a great thing.

B. Controlling the mind, the tongue, and the body and using each for righteousness - 2 Cor. 10:5; Jas. 3:2

C. Being a person of compassion - 1 Pet. 3:8

D. Trusting God with one's life and future - Matt. 6:25-34

E. Refusing grudges, bitterness, and hostility a place in the heart.

1. To possess a love which hurt cannot overshadow.

2. To use forgiveness to build a future with those who have been offensive - #9; Eph. 4:31-32

F. Mercy, kindness, unselfish service, and steadfastness with all their kindred feelings, attitudes, and acts.

G. Great servants of God are built through years of doing small things of true greatness - Lk. 16:10.

Conclusion

A. Do something great for God. Be a devout, committed Christian. Live for the Lord daily, Fulfill each day's opportunities without considering how big or little the deeds are.

B. Years of such living will result in true greatness by God's definition.

Original outline by Max Shearer - Adapted by Jack Critchfield