Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

"HE BROUGHT ME FORTH INTO A LARGE PLACE"

1. This was literally true in the experience of King David:
   1. The Lord found him caring for the few sheep of his father - 1 Sam. 17:15, 28
   2. The Lord trained him to be king over Israel by letting him care for the sheep of his father to keep them safe from the lions and the bears - 1 Sam. 17:37
2. The study of the Bible shows that God has moved individuals from obscurity to great responsibilities:
   1. He took Elisha from behind the plow and made him a prophet in Israel - 1 Ki. 19:19
   2. He took Amos, a herdsman, and made him a prophet in Israel - Amos 1:1
   3. He took Abraham Lincoln from poverty and obscurity and made him President of the United States of America.
   4. He took a little girl out of the sick room and made her one of His last days' messengers to guide the remnant people of God in safe paths toward the kingdom of God.

1. The words of the Psalmist are an acknowledgement:
   1. That the Captain of our salvation is the author of our placement in the cause of God.
   2. This is the experience and encouragement of all dedicated workers for God.
   3. He knows our lives and also our whereabouts; it matters not how humble the station or how unimpressed men may be with us.
2. Our text indicates further that:
   1. Christianity broadens the usefulness of all who accept Christ as their personal Saviour.
   2. This fact disproves the charge that Christianity deprives a person from expansion. The opposite is true.

1. Negatively:
   1. Not wealth or fame.
   2. Not the making of a name.
2. Positively:
   1. To become witnesses to Christ and His mission to a sinful world.
   2. Winners of souls have obtained the highest place possible.
   3. No other station in life can compare with being a co-worker with God in the saving of souls from sin and damnation - 2 Cor. 6:1
3. But one must not forget some of the qualifications needed for larger places:
   1. Talents are basic to larger responsibilities - Matt. 25:15
   2. Character is a must - think of the reason why God rejected the oldest son of Jesse - 1 Sam. 16:6
   3. And the reason why He accepted David to be king in Israel - Acts 13:22
   4. Consecration is another must. That is why the Lord rejected Esau and accepted Jacob - Gen. 25:28-34; Heb. 12:16
   5. Humility is still another condition to larger responsibilities. The humbler the man, the more blessed will be his influence in life - Num. 12:3
   6. Sterling honesty is also a must for larger responsibilities. Think of Daniel and his office in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian kingdoms - Dan. 6:4
   7. That was true of Joseph in Egypt - Gen. 39:8
   8. All these truths add up to the opportunities Christianity offers to people when they dedicate their lives to Christ and His cause. That is especially true of our youths.