God's Self Improvement Program

God's Self Improvement Program

June 11, 2006

Introduction

Who, or what can you change? When we raise the question, a whole list of people may come to your mind who you would like to change, but that is not the question. The question is, who can you change? In reality, there is only one person that you really can change, and that’s you.

Jesus wants us to do all we can to change others who need to be changed. He wants us to teach others and encourage others. He even wants us to correct others whom we can correct, but in the final analysis, we have more power to correct ourselves than anyone else.

In our Bible class on Sunday morning, Ken has been doing a great job of working through the Sermon on the Mount. This morning, we want to begin our study by looking at a section of the Sermon on the Mount.

Body

I. The concluding chapter of His sermon on the Mount concludes with judging others and ourselves.

A. Real improvement comes by judging ourselves first and others with love and understanding.

(Mat 7:1-5 NKJV) ""Judge not, that you be not judged. {2} "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. {3} "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? {4} "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? {5} "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."..

B. The Apostle Paul recommended self examination first.

(2 Cor 13:5 NKJV) "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?; unless indeed you are disqualified."

C. Peter recommended to Christian wives that they frist work on themselves before working on their husbands.

(1 Pet 3:1-8 NKJV) "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, {2} when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. {3} Do not let your adornment be merely outward; arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel; {4} rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

D. What do all three of these passages share in common?

1. As a first obligation, examine yourself.

2. Teach or improve others by example.--This is true also of elders.

(1 Pet 5:1-5 NKJV) "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: {2} Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; {3} nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; {4} and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. {5} Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.""

a. Even elders are to lead first by example--sometimes that may not be enough, but it needs to start there.

b. Our example is Jesus who is described as the Chief Shepherd.

(1) Shepherds lead and feed.

(2) They don't scold and ridicule

II. We can only be sure of improving ourselves.

A. We have no assurance that we can change a husband or wife.

1. Dating should be a very important time for young people because it is a time of evaluating the other person

2. It is a time of negotiation--if things don't go well, you can always break off the relationship.

3. Be as sure as possible that changes are genuine, and not just for the moment to make you happy.

B. When things go wrong in marriage, you are the only one you can change for sure.

1. You can look for helpful ways of solving a problem.

2. We can discuss problems we perceive, but attitude is so important.

3. Sometimes when we change, others will help out.

C. Shepherds, and Christians are to lead by example.

I'd rather see a sermon

Than hear one any day;

I'd rather one should walk with me

Than merely show the way;

For the eye's a better pupil

And more willing than the ear;

Good counsel is confusing

But examples always clear.

And best of all the preachers

Are the men who live their creeds;

For to see good put into action

Is what everybody needs.

I can soon learn how to do it

If you let me see it done;

I can watch your hands in action,

But your tongue too fast may run.

And the lectures you deliver

May be very fine and true,

But I'd rather get my lesson

By observing what you do;

For I may misunderstand you

And the high advice you give,

But there's no misunderstanding

How you act and how you live.

-- Edgar Guest

III. In Chapter six, Jesus spoke of the need of forgiveness.

(Mat 6:14-15 NKJV) ""For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. {15} "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.":

A. Where appropriate, we must have a spirit of forgivenss and reconciliation.

1. I don't mean to imply that we should forgive our children as a substitute for correcting them.

2. I don't advocate freeing criminals and calling it forgiveness.

B. Forgiveness needs to be a part of our working with others and pardoning minor things that are not significant.

1. Our next problem to to define major and minor, and that we will leeave for another time.

IV. We began our study with attitudes--let's conclude today with attitudes..

(Mat 5:1-12 NKJV) "And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. {2} Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

{3} "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {4} Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. {5} Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. {6} Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. {7} Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. {8} Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. {9} Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. {10} Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

{11} "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. {12} "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

A. Today we have look at some aspects of being merciful and being peacemakers.

B. We’ve looked at the need of looking first at ourselves.

1. It was a rule that Jesus had.

2. Let him that is without stone, cast the first stone.

3. We are the ones who can change ourselves.

Conclusion

I. Are we looking first at ourselves?

II. If you really can’t see anything, ask you mate or your friends.

III. If you need to make your like right with God, I’d encourage you to do that today.

My Sermon Outlines Bible Study with Harley

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