Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

1. The context shows Peter's concern for the future of John:
2. Our Lord assured Peter that He would take care of John:
3. He admonished Peter to follow Him:

1. The Lord Jesus Christ has a personal and essential pre- eminence:
   1. He and His cause ought to be our first and greatest concern -
      1. "Follow thou me"
      2. Make all else secondary to Me and my cause - Matt. 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; Luke 9:59
   2. First things come first; and Christ is first - Matt. 6:33
2. This truth is revealed in the two great commandments:
   1. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." This is the first commandment.
   2. And the second is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matt. 22:37, 38; Deut. 6:4, 5
3. Our obligations to Jesus Christ are personal, independent of others:
   1. Anything they may or may not do cannot affect our individual obligation to God - EXAMPLES -
      1. Aaron was forbidden to mourn over the death of his wicked sons - Lev. 10:3-7
      2. Samuel was a man of God, but his sons were wicked; that did not change his loyalty to his God - 1 Sam. 8:1-3
   2. Our responsibility to God and His Word remain the same, regardless of what others may or may not do. "What is that to thee, follow thou me."
   3. Those who make their relationship to Christ contingent upon others are not wholeheartedly for Christ - 1 Ki. 18:21

1. There can be but one perfect pattern for us to follow: CHRIST! Heb. 12:1, 2
   1. To pattern after others may or may not be approved by God.
   2. Such guidance is extremely human and limited - Isa. 29:13
   3. The Psalmist warns against this error - Ps. 62:8, 9; 146:1-3
   4. The prophet Jeremiah warns us against leaning upon flesh - Jer. 17:5-7
2. It follows, therefore, that our duties to God are up and above:
   1. Those to our concept or attitude of our fellow men.
   2. It matters not what they may or may not do or think, our duty to God is personal just the same - EXAMPLES -
      1. Adam knew that Eve did wrong when she ate the forbidden fruit; yet he ate of that same fruit, telling God that it was the woman that God gave him that was mainly responsible for his transgression - Gen. 3:8-19
      2. The man of God knew what God wanted him to do, yet he went back with the false prophet and ate - 1 Ki. 13:1-22
   3. The principle of action is plainly stated by Peter upon two separate occasions - Acts 4:19; 5:29
   4. We will not be weakened in our loyalty to God, regardless of what the price of such loyalty may be - EXAMPLES -
      1. Joseph in Egypt - Gen. 39:1-16
      2. The three young Hebrews in Babylon - Dan. 3:17
   5. We know that God's remnant people will be called upon to pay a price for their loyalty to God - Rev. 12:17
   6. But it is worth it at all points. Let us in closing consider the loyalty of the Lord of glory - Phil. 2:6-11.