From My Bible

Sermon Notes
& Outlines

How To...
by
Terry D. Sellars
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Ludowici, Georgia
From My Bible-Sermon Notes & Outlines

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 From My Bible-Sermon Notes & Outlines

Introduction
These messages are compiled from study notes and outlines
of my own and many others. I hope they are a help to you.

I’m sure that all of us have at times “borrowed” or “used” a

sermon we heard or read somewhere along the way. A
thought, a word, or an idea jumped out to us from another
preacher and we took that thing and ran with it. You have
probably used an outline from a preacher brother but ended
up preaching something that was uniquely different. Same
idea, it just came out differently when you preached. Using
your own thoughts, experiences, and illustrations……...the
message became your own.

I heard an old-time preacher once say, "Any message worth

preaching ought to be worth preaching again!" Well, I
have certainly preached some sermons again and again. I
have borrowed from others to preach theirs again too.
Please use these messages as the Lord leads and preach His
Word over and over again!

I make no claim of complete originality for this material.

Also, please remember that these messages are not
expected to substitute for your own personal study of the
Word of God! The thoughts and ideas are given as a
catalyst to help begin your ideas on a given passage of
Scripture or trigger a seed thought to get you going. It is
my prayer that the "stuff" contained here will further kindle
the fire of God's message that is already in your heart. Your
own thinking, praying, and studying will be necessary to
guide you into the delivery of His Word to your own
people.

May these sermons become messages from the Lord that

He uses in your own life as He has used them in mine.
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Table of Contents

Introduction ............................................................................3

How To Series ........................................................................5

How To Be Holy ....................................................................7

How to Follow Jesus ..............................................................9

How To Pray Like Jesus ......................................................10

How To Under Things .........................................................11

How to Be a Godly Dad .......................................................13

How to Help Your Preacher .................................................15

How To Be Close To The Lord ...........................................17

How To Be Thankful ...........................................................20

How To Spot The Devil .......................................................22

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How To Series
Introduction: Our day is one of information, data, facts and
figures. Everywhere you turn someone has a new idea or a
new formula to do the work of the ministry. "How to" plans
and schemes are a dime a dozen it seems. This series
explores a few ideas but we must always remember that the
best of our plans are hollow without the help and aid of the
Holy Spirit of God.

How To Behave As A Christian

I Tim. 3:15 Behave - act / conduct ourselves / function
1-Behave Responsibly
Purpose / Principle / Productivity
2-Behave Responsively
Attentive / Active

How To Back The Church

1-The Importance of the Church - Died for when Jesus
died / He is returning for His Church
2-The Institution of the Church – Instituted & established
by the Lord Himself
3-The Influence of the Church – It should influence our
lives personally, our communities socially, and our nation
prayerfully
4-The Individuals in the Church – Combination of lost &
saved, even though all should be saved and all should be
working toward the same goal of honoring the Lord with all
we have and with all we do.

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The Church The Flock of God

 Thought (of)
 Sought (out)
 Bought (from)
 Caught (up)

Back Your Church Far too many are busy doing things
that “kill the church”
 Attendance - everyone is not talented, but everyone
can be faithful
 Appropriation - give Tithes & Offerings
 Assimilation - take in the Word and grow in grace
 Anticipation - Looking for a blessing every time you
come
 Acceptance - Duties / jobs / etc.

How To Battle The Conflict

 Enemies of the believer World / Flesh / Devil
 Battles Outside
 Battles Inside
 Battles Alongside

How To Build Character

 Willingness Heart / Mind / Body
 Work “How to rear a Bum”
 Walking Before / With / After....God
 Waiting Isa. 40:31
 Washing I John 1:7 / Eph. 5:25, 26

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How To Be Holy
Text - I Peter 1: 15, 16
Introduction: I Peter 1: 15, 16 - “But as he which hath
called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am
holy.”

God wants to reveal Himself TO us. He does so through

Creation / Scripture / Christ / etc.

God also wants to reveal Himself THROUGH us. He does

this through holiness. To be holy is to be separated and
consecrated. It involves being “godly” in our attitudes and
actions.

Present Yourself To God

Rom. 12: 1, 2 - “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the

mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God.

Protect Yourself For God

 DO'S and DON’TS

Most problems take place when considering questionable

practices. Some Bible principles may be useful here.

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 The World Test

Will it make me worldly to do it? I John 2: 15 - 17

 The Quality Test

Is it good for me physically, emotionally, and
spiritually?

 The Temple Test

Will this misuse the Lord’s Temple?

 The Glory Test

Can I do this to God’s glory?

 The Blessing Test

Can I honestly ask God’s blessing on this?

 The Reputation Test

Will this damage my reputation and testimony?

 The Consideration Test

Am I being considerate of others if I do this?

 The Appearance Test

Will this have the appearance of evil?

 The Weight Test

Will this hinder my walk for Christ?

 The Coming Test

Would I want to be doing this at Christ's coming?

 The Companion Test

Would I take Jesus as my companion to do this?

 The Peace Test

Do I have peace about this after praying about it?

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How to Follow Jesus

Text: Matt. 9:9

I. Follow Immediately - (Matt. 9:9) (without delay).

Obedience should not be delayed. Have an instant response
to the Lord.

II. Follow Closely - (I Pet. 2:21).

Peter followed too far behind the Lord.

III. Follow Fully - (I Tim. 4:6).

No half-hearted following will do.

IV. Follow in Company - (Mk. 14:51).

We are to have spiritual companions in our labor for God.

V. Follow Intently - (Lk.9:23).

Follow the Lord with your whole spirit (Lk.23:55).

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How To Pray Like Jesus

Matt. 26:36
I. Pray By Yourself "And again he went away, and prayed
. . ." (Mark 14:39, Luke 22:41; Matt. 26:39).

Jesus prayed alone when He was facing the most critical

time of His life. It is good to pray with others, but there are
times when we should be alone with God in the prayer
closet (Matt. 6:6).

II. Pray With Humility "He . . . kneeled down, and

prayed" (Luke 22:41; Mark 14:35, Matt. 26:39).

Jesus was humble, His life, His birth, and death on the
cross exemplify this. We must humble ourselves before
God as we pray (I Peter 5:5-6).

III. Pray Earnestly "And being in agony he prayed more

earnestly" (Luke 22:44).

Jesus was experiencing the greatest struggle of His life. In

times of trouble and trial, every Christian must pray more
earnestly.

IV. Pray Persistently "And again he went away, and

prayed . . ." (Mark 14:39).

Jesus kept praying until He was assured of victory. We

must take our burdens to Him until certain He has heard.

V. Pray With Surrender "0 my Father .. . thy will be

done" (Matt. 26:42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42).

Jesus resigned Himself to the Father's will.

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 From My Bible-Sermon Notes & Outlines

How To Under Things

Introduction: We hear all the time about getting "over" a
thing, but what about "undering" something. We preachers
are always making up our own words anyway, wy not this
one as well.

The Bible uses a few words with "under" attached....

1-UNDERSTAND
(Gen 11:7) Go to, let us go down, and there confound their
language, that they may not understand one another's
speech.

The Institute for Creation Research had this to say on vs.7:

*confound their language. In some inexplicable manner,
God altered the brain/nerve/speech apparati of the
Babylonian rebels to give each family unit (possibly the
seventy families of Genesis 10) its own distinctive
vocabulary/phonology complex. With all this, however,
they all remained truly human, unchanged in basic thought
processes or moral character. Further, their distinctive
languages were still sufficiently alike that they could, with
time and much effort, learn to speak each other’s
languages. For some time to come, however, they could no
longer communicate and, therefore, they could no longer
cooperate. They were thus forced to obey God’s earlier
command to scatter abroad and to fill the earth with
different nations and governmental units..

(Micah 4:12 ) But they know not the thoughts of the

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LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall

gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

(Mat 13:13) Therefore speak I to them in parables: because

they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do
they understand.

(2 Pet 2:12) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be

taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they
understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own
corruption;

2-UNDERNEATH
(Deut. 33:27 ) The eternal God is thy refuge, and
underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust
out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy
them.

3-UNDERGIRD
(Acts 27:17) Which when they had taken up, they used
helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should
fall into the quicksands, struck sail, and so were driven.

4-UNDERTAKE
Isa 38:14 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did
mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O
LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

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How to Be a Godly Dad

Text - Philippians 2: 20-30
Introduction: Some 20 years ago I ran across a poem from
Dr. Curtis Hutson that reads as follows:

Dad, Dad, Dad, the dear old worthless geezer:

The fusses I have had with that old patient teaser;
He has the spirit of a mouse; most anyone can down him;
We let him hang around the house,
It’s cheaper than to drown him.

I guess that’s the way some view Dad.

Another view is seen in the conversation between three

boys arguing over whose Dad was the greatest:

 The first boy said, “My Dad is the greatest, he knows

the Mayor.”
 The second boy responded, “No, my Dad is the
greatest, he knows the Governor.”
 The last boy spoke up and said, “Well, all I have to say
is that I think my Dad is the greatest because he knows
God!”

Let's look at how to be a godly dad. One that is

remembered for more than just being available with a roll
of duct tape when something needs fixed. Let's look in
Philippians 2 where Paul tells us about Timothy and
Epaphroditus, two unique men who followed God’s
commands for being a godly man that will help us in our
pursuit to be good fathers. So let’s notice five
characteristics of God’s ideal man.

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1. COMPASSION:
Men Who Put Relationships Before Results
Philippians 2:20-21

2. CONSISTENCY:
Men Who Put Character Before Conformity
Philippians 2:22; Proverbs 10:9

3. COOPERATION:
Men Who Put Cooperation Before Competition
Philippians 2:25

4. COMMITMENT:
Men Who Put Christ Before Comfort
Philippians 2:25-27

5. COURAGE:
Men Who Put Service Before Security
Philippians 2:29-30; Mark 8:35

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 From My Bible-Sermon Notes & Outlines

How to Help Your Preacher

Text - Romans 10:14-15

Introduction: Are you in the routine of griping about your

preacher? Here’s some suggestions on how to get rid of that
criticism.

Pray For Him As He Prepares His Messages

Ask God to guide him in the selection of his messages, in
the development of his themes, and in the application of his
topics. Pray that he may be given fresh insights into the
meaning of God’s Word. Pray, too, that he may be able to
discipline his mind in the study of the Bible and of other
helpful books. Pray for your pastor both at home and in
church prayer meetings.

Show A Greater Concern In What He Preaches

Take notes of his messages, turn the pages and follow him
in your Bible as he refers to various passages of God’s
Word. Also, express appreciation for any help you received
from his messages. Go back over the notes, deliberately
recalling the main emphases of his message.

Suggest Some Topics You Are Interested In

Suggest, don't tell. No preacher worth his salt wants to or
will allow someone to TELL him what to preach. The only
committee he needs to hear from in this area is the three-
member board of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

These suggestions can consist of subjects or books of the

Bible. Most preachers welcome suggestions of that nature.
Ultimately the preacher must decide what he should preach,
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but ideas from his congregation will be of definite help in

guiding his selection.

Allow Him Adequate Time For Prayer And Study

While he should not be shut up in his study all week,
neither should he be “on the go” all the time either. No
man, unless he is a genius, can enter the pulpit on Sunday
morning and feed God’s sheep after a week away from his
study. Use your influence to see that he gets more help,
thus enabling him to prepare your Sunday “meals.”

Make Sure He Has Adequate Tools For Study

Provide not only time for study but tools as well. In our day
a good computer with Bible software would help. Allow
him some funds designated for buying good books
especially when he goes away for a conference. Thiss is
one way to give him the opportunity to read good books on
those subjects basic to his preaching ministry.

Stay Aware Of Other Ways To Encouraging Him

You do not need to idolize or worship him, but you should
encourage him by your help and support.

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How To Be Close To The Lord

Text - James 4:5-10

Introduction: In our text, James mentions how essential it

is to be close to the Lord. After talking of a person being an
enemy of God, he now talks of being close to God. After
talking of being a friend of the world, he talks of being a
friend of God.

Wouldn't we all like to be in close contact with the Lord?

Do you want to be close to Him? When we think about
being close to God, verses 5-10 can really help.

1. THE CONTROL GOD DESIRES - vs. 5-6

We read in verse 5, “Do ye think that the scripture saith in

vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?” This
reminds us of the desire within us to want to do things our
own way. It is the desire we have for the things of the flesh
and the world. Opposite that desire is the desire of God.
The word “lusteth” in verse 5 speaks of a great longing that
the Holy Spirit places within us.

This is describing the fact that God has an intense desire for
us to be close to Him. This means being controlled by Him.
This control is designed and desired by God. There are no
easy solutions to being close to God but it all begins with
His being in charge of our life.

2. THE COMMITMENT GOD DESERVES - vs. 7

Because God so fervently longs for the control of our life,

then He deserves it. His desire should be honored with our
commitment. We read in vs. 7, “Submit yourselves
therefore to God.” James is saying that since God desires
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to control our life, we should therefore submit, voluntarily

and freely, to God.

The word “submit” means to “take rank under.” This is a

military term reminding us that God is the general and we
are the privates. We are to submit to His orders and
commands. Our submission and our efforts to be close to
God only reveal our commitment.

3. THE CLEANSING GOD DEMANDS - vs.8-9

If we are to be close to God, sin must never be taken

carelessly. We can never be tolerate it in our life. In verses
8-9, James tells us how we must take care of our sin.

We read in verse 8, “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and

purify your hearts, ye double-minded.” There is to be a
cleansing of our hands and a purifying of our hearts. In his
English Annotations on the Holy Bible, Matthew Poole
(1685) wrote:

Cleanse your hands; reform your actions, amend your lives.

Hands, the principal instruments of bodily actions, being
put for the actions themselves; cleanness of hands signifies
the innocency of the outward conversation, Job 22:30; Ps
24:4; 26:6; Isa 33:15-16.

The word was used to describe the ceremonial cleansing of

the priests in the Old Testament. Before they offered
sacrifices they washed their hands. The washing of the
hands was a symbolic act of being cleansed of any sinful.

But there is also the matter of a divided heart. James tells

us to purify your hearts, ye double-minded. The word
“double-minded” is found only two places in the Bible and
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both are in James (1:8, 4:8). The word means a person with
divided affections. It is like a person trying to hold on to
the world with one hand and the things of God with the
other.

The word “purify” is essentially the same as, “to sanctify.”

Instead of having a divided heart, we are to separate our
heart from the world and separate it totally to God.

Notice verse 9, “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let

your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to
heaviness.” In these words we see a description of someone
deeply stirred and motivated about sin in their own life.

When we sin we should come to God with a broken and

sorrowful heart that we have sinned. It seems today that sin
no longer bothers us. That is more an indication of how far
we have gotten from the Lord. I have found that the closer
you get to God, the more sin will bother you. We must deal
with sin thoroughly and thoughtfully. James wraps it all up
in verse 10, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and he shall lift you up.”

We can live a low life or a lofty life. It all depends on

whether we are close to the Lord. How about it? How and
where are you living?

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How To Be Thankful
Text - Psalms 100:4-5

Introduction: In our text, Ps. 100:4-5 says, “Enter into his

gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be
thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is
good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all
generations.” We live in such a thankless age. How
significant it is that we return to an attitude of thankfulness,
especially to the Lord for all the benefits He has given.

Thanksgiving and praise go together. We praise the Lord

for the good things He has given unto us through His
saving grace, then we thank Him. The Psalmist in verse 5
gives us three basic reasons why we should be thankful
during this time and any other time of the year.

I. Be Thankful - The Lord is Good (v.5a)

Goodness is one of the attributes of God. It has reference to

His kindness; favor shown; acts of benevolence, and
compassion. How good God was when He made it possible
for Israel to be redeemed out of Egyptian bondage. On the
other hand, God was good to save our unworthy souls.

The Pulpit Commentary offers the following:

1. The goodness of God ought to be one of the strongest barriers
that can be raised up against sin.
2. The goodness of God should 'lead us to repentance.'
3. The goodness of God should lead us to do good to others.
4. The goodness of God to us in this world should inspire us with
confidence in his goodness to us in the world to come.

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II. Be Thankful - His Mercy Is Everlasting (v.5)

The basic meaning of mercy is God holding back what we

really deserve. We all deserve Hell, but if we are believers,
we don’t have to go because God has saved, secured and
sealed us. First, His mercy is as everlasting as He is (Gen.
21:33). God will not decrease, diminish or decay. So His
mercy toward believers will never fail. His mercy is as
unfailing as He is (Isa. 49:7).

III. Be Thankful - His Truth Endures (5)

God’s Word, His truth, is both final and authoritative. It

endures in its accuracy. I believe God has preserved His
Word in our King James Bible (1611). It is translated from
the most accurate of the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts -
the Antioch family of manuscripts. It is accurate
historically, scientifically, and survives today with error or
contradiction.

It endures in its effectiveness. No wonder Paul the Apostle

told us to “preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2). The Word of
God can effectually work in the lives of people.

It endures in its trustworthiness for God cannot lie (Titus

1:2). Albert Barnes notes include this insight: And his truth
endureth to all generations - Margin, as in Hebrew, "to
generation and generation." That is, forever. It is the same
in every generation of the world.

Conclusion: What is the level of thankfulness in your life

today? Again, we live in a thankless age. How important it
is that we return to an attitude of genuine thankfulness,
especially to the Lord for all the benefits He has given
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How To Spot The Devil

Text - John 8:44

Introduction: So many people today have mistakenly

identified our arch-enemy Satan. Some have pictured him
as having a pitch fork, a pointed tail, and a very evil look.
In all reality he was one of the most powerful of God’s
angelic creatures (Isa.14; Ezek. 28). The Bible helps us to
clearly recognize him by what he is called in its pages.

I. He Is A Liar (John 8:44).

He lies about anything and everything. He lies to men

about God and also lies about God to men. Then he lies to
men about God’s love, goodness, and grace. Jesus clearly
called Satan a liar- Christ is never wrong!

II. He Is A Murderer (John 8:44).

The word "murderer" is a man-slayer or a killer. Satan is

out to kill you by deceiving you, so that you will have to
face the second death (Rev. 20:14). He also seeks to kill
your good name (Prov. 22:1). Satan knows not of mercy, It
is God who shows mercy to the sinner, and saves (Ps.
31:9).

III. He Is An Accuser (Rev. 12:10).

An "accuser" is one who blames another or charges another

with a crime. He accuses the saints of God of hypocrisy,
insincerity, and of wrong motives. You can read Job 1:9-
11; Job 2:4-5; Zech. 3:1-2; and 1 Chron. 2:11). When one is
accused of insincerity in regard to God’s people, God’s
men, or God’s church, you can be sure the Devil is
involved somehow.
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IV. He Is A Serpent (Rev. 12:9).

In Rev. 12:9 he is called–"that old serpent." In Gen. 3, the

devil came in the form of a "serpent." With the forked
tongue, there is something evil looking about a snake. All
Satan plans and does is evil, because there is nothing holy
about him.

V. He Is The Evil One (Matt. 13:19).

According to Matt. 13:19, Satan is seen doing the worst of

all evils—that being, seeking to steal the Word of God
from one’s heart. I can think of nothing more dangerous
and deadly than stealing the Word of God from a heart!

VI. He Is An Enemy (Matt. 13:39).

Jesus clearly says Satan is our enemy. An enemy is one

who hates, is hostile, or wants to do you harm. Satan wants
everyone to go to hell with him; he cares about no one.

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