On the Table: An Unexpected Verdict

Joe Stewart

Sunday, October 20, 2024

On the Table

Sunday Morning

An Unexpected Verdict

We are putting the big questions on the table. The big questions you and your friends have asked about God. Questions such as: Why is there suffering? Why are people abandoning their faith? Is Jesus the only way to God? What does God say about the transgender movement? The Scripture does not avoid your questions and God is not frustrated by them. God welcomes us with our questions and meets us with His grace and truth. Join us for our new series, On the Table, as we unpack several pressing questions confronting the Christian faith.

Locations & Times

First Baptist Church Seminole Tx

202 SW Ave B, Seminole, TX 79360, USA

Sunday 5:00 AM

Who Do You Choose?

Read Plan

Welcome to First Baptist. This page is where you will find the sermon notes and more information about what is happening at FBC.

Stay connected:
www.fbcseminole.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FirstSeminole
Twitter: @Seminolefbc
Instagram: @fbcseminolekids
@fbcseminole_youth

We meet Sundays:
9:00 am Worship
10:30 am Worship
Connect Groups throughout the week.

Generosity Through Giving

We want to thank those of you who give faithfully and systematically to our church. We hope you know how important your giving is to what God is doing at FBC Seminole, in our community, and across the planet through the different ministries we are able to partner with through your financial generosity. We've fixed plumbing, remodeled kitchens, replaced shingles, celebrated our teachers, and made a difference in a host of other opportunities. Your generosity matters. We offer Financial Peace University on a consistent basis for those who need financial help. It's a financial management system that allows multitudes to eliminate debt and live in freedom. Text the amount you want to give to 84321.

https://fbcseminole.org/give

Matthew 7:13-27 NIV

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Close enough isn't close enough.

Exodus 24:3 NIV

When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.”

Joshua 24:15-16 NIV

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 NIV

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

Psalms 1:6 NIV

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Proverbs 2:8-13 NIV

for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perversewho have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways

Jeremiah 21:8 NIV

“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.

Jesus uses word pictures to suggest binary choices for followers of Jesus:

2 Roads

2 Kinds of Prophets and Trees

2 Responses

2 Houses

I have one life to live, one life to give, and one way to go.

Two Paths

Motivation for participation in kingdom ethics as disciples.

Narrow is lonelier and more sparsely populated.

The exclusivity of Jesus is radically inclusive.

Grace isn't entitlement. Grace is enablement.

You want a life no one else has live like no one else lives.

John 10:3-4, John 10:9 NIV

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

2. Two Kind of Prophets and Trees

Matthew 7:15-20 NIV

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Acts 20:29-31 NIV

I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 NIV

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this chargePreach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

2 Peter 2:14, 2 Peter 2:18 NIV

With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

There's a disconnect between saying you love Jesus with your lips but not following Him in your life.

3. Two Responses

Those who simply do the Father's will and those who miss the Father's presence.

Following Jesus isn't just a good cause to be a part of; it's a calling to give your life to.

You can't be a partially surrendered follower of Jesus.

4. Two Houses and Two Foundations

Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Discussion Questions

Jesus is radically exclusive and radically inclusive. He is the only means by which we can know God, and anyone can know God who comes to Him.

What does it mean to know Him instead of know about Him?

Does this concept challenge you?

What is one thing that you are particular about (i.e., the coffee you drink, the bedsheets you sleep with, etc.)?

What are your favorite brands or experiences in those areas?

What is it about those brands that leads you to think so highly of them?

What would it take to change your mind about these things?

When we are just a typical consumer of something, we don’t really have a strong conviction or opinion about which brand we use. But once we become a connoisseur or snob about something, there is very little if anything that can change our minds, and we often become ambassadors for those very things. One might say that we can even become narrow-minded or bigoted about those things. A similar sentiment is often expressed toward Christians who believe what Jesus said about Himself: that He is the only way to be right with God and enjoy Him for eternity.

How would you describe your own confidence in navigating conversations around the claims of who Jesus is?

In what ways are statements such as “There are multiple ways to heaven” contrary to the Bible?

What claim from the sermon most challenged you?

What claim most comforted you?

Sunday Worship Service | 9A & 10:30A

On the Table: An Unexpected Verdict

An Unexpected Verdict

Locations & Times

Who Do You Choose?

Generosity Through Giving

Service Times

Location

About

Connect

Media

Contact