Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

CRIMINAL NEGLECT

1. This is an awe-inspiring complaint by the Psalmist:
   1. About the indifference of man to man "no man careth for my soul."
   2. It was uttered to God in prayer "I cried unto thee, O Lord"
2. This complaint may have reference to:
   1. The experience of our Lord at His trial and on the shameful cross.
   2. Or it may have reference to David's flight before Saul.
3. Experience shows, however, that loneliness or abandonment by man is quite common in human relationship:
   1. Who has not felt, at times, utterly forsaken even by professed friends.
   2. That is true, particularly, when things go hard.

1. This experience of bitter disappointment reveals:
   1. Men's interdependence.
   2. We are, by reason of creation, interdependent, one is dependent upon the other -
      1. A child is completely dependent upon the care it receives by parents for a normal development and life itself.
      2. A sick person is dependent upon a physician or a nurse - Rom. 14:7
2. This is true, also, socially, morally, mentally, and spiritually:
   1. "Ye are the salt of the earth."
   2. "Ye are the light of the world" - Matt. 5:13-16
3. The complaint reveals:
   1. That some people follow Cain's attitude - Gen. 4:9
   2. Others take after the ten older brothers of Joseph - Gen. 37:18-34
4. The complaint of our opening text seems to apply mainly to God's professed children:
   1. "No man careth for my soul" -
      1. Man's soul represents all he is or can be and sums up life itself.
      2. Heaven places great value upon the soul - Luke 12:20; Matt. 16:26
   2. That makes one's indifference to others a crime - Gen. 4:9
5. A solemn responsibility rests upon all, who accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour:
   1. Christ's relationship to all men makes all men His primary concern; He died for all - 2 Cor. 5:15
   2. His death ties all men to us, His children; there is no exception - Rom. 14:7

1. The complaint in our opening text emphasizes:
   1. The responsibility God places upon the church and its members -
      1. "Ye are the salt of the earth."
      2. "Ye are the light of the world" - Matt. 5:13- 16
2. It points out to me my personal responsibility to share my faith with my neighbor; with my own relatives, and with spreading the gospel in all the world: Matt. 28: 18-20; Acts 1:8-10
   1. It shows how serious life is, and how alert one must be to the needs of others - Gal. 6:1-3
   2. This truth is illustrated very forcefully in our Lord's story about the good Samaritan - Luke 10:30-37
   3. How much of my personal life is in service for others?
   4. Is there any needy person waiting for my assistance?
   5. Our blessed Lord speaks of my duty to others in Matt. 25:34-46
   6. Let us imitate the Master; of Him it is written, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Acts 10:38