Things That Don't Change

TEXT:  Psa. 46:1-5;  Jer. 13:23

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE EARTH CHANGES - HISTORY, POLITICS, TECHNOLOGY.

B.      PEOPLE DON'T CHANGE( Matt. 9:36 ).

C.      THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE.

I.      THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTHORITY.

A.      JESUS IS LORD( Col. 3:17;  1 Pet. 3:15 ).

B.      TOO MANY LIKE THOSE IN MALACHI( Mal. 1:13 ).

C.      GOD SPEAKS THROUGH JESUS( Heb. 1:1-2;  Luke 10:16 ).

D.      IMPLICATIONS OF IGNORING AUTHORITY( 2 John 9;  Lev. 10:1-2 ).

II.     OF SOUND DOCTRINE.

A.      1 Tim. 1:10;  6:3;  2 Tim 1:13;  4:3;  Titus 1:9, 13;  Titus 2:1, 2.

B.      FALSE DOCTRINE CONDEMNS( 1 Tim. 1:3-4; Eph. 4:14; Rom. 16:17 ).

C.      IS DOCTRINE IMPORTANT?  DARE WE SEEK TO CHANGE IT?

III.    OF MORALITY.

A.      WE ARE CONFUSED.

          1.       Cannot distinguish between right and wrong( Isa. 5:20;  Heb. 5:14 ).

          2.       The condemnation of the priests in moral matters ( Jer. 5:30-31;  Mal 2:8 ).

B.      OUR WARNING( 2 Pet. 2:1-4,  17-20 ).

C.      IT IS OCCURRING.  Divorce , gambling , drinking, dancing( Gal. 5:19-21 ).

IV.   OF UNITY.

A.      PAUL'S ESSAY ON UNITY( Eph. 4:1-16 ).

          1.       Personal( vs. 1-3 )  Love is vital.

          2.       Doctrinal( vs. 4-6 )  Agreement is necessary.

          3.       Practical( vs. 7-16 )  Cooperation is demanded.

B.      DO WE VALUE UNITY AS MUCH AS JESUS?( John 17:20-21;  1 Cor. 1:10 ).

V.    OF FELLOWSHIP.

A.      WHAT IS FELLOWSHIP,  koinonia,  "fellowship, association, community,

          communion, joint participation"( Thayer ).

B.      UPON WHAT IS FELLOWSHIP BASED?( 1 John 1:3, 6-7 ).

          1.       What do we have with those walking in the light?  in the dark?

          2.       What are the implications concerning the righteous( Rom. 12:9-10 ).

          3.       Concerning the unrighteous?( Eph. 5:11; 1 Cor. 5:9-11; 2 Thess. 3:14-15 ).

VI.   OF LOVE.

A.      GOD'S PROMISE OF ETERNAL LOVE OF HIS PEOPLE( Jer. 31:1-6 ).

B.      THE LOVE OF HIS SACRIFICE( John 3:16;  15:13;  1 John 3:1 ).

C.      HIS EXPECTATION OF US( John 13:34-35;  1 John 3:16-18 ).

D.      THE EFFECT OF LOVE ON OUR LIVES( 1 Cor. 13:1-8 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      OUR VIEWPOINTS AND IDEAS OF RIGHT AND WRONG CHANGE WITH

          THE WIND.

B.      OUR NEEDS AND OUR BASIC NATURES ARE UNCHANGEABLE.

C.      GOD DOESN'T CHANGE EITHER( Mal. 3:6 ).