Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

"HOW MUCH MORE?"

1. The context of which our text is a part dwells on the importance of prayer:
   1. Much of our Lord's teaching emphasized the importance of prayer
   2. He Himself was a man of prayer
2. To help His hearers to understand the deep significance of the prayer life:
   1. The Lord used the attitude of parents to the children - when they asked them for some good thing
   2. If you parents will give gifts to your own children, how much more will your heavenly Father hear the prayers of those who ask him a good thing

1. Human and divine Fatherhoods:
   1. God can only be comprehended by man through some relation that is familiar to man; Examples: The sower, the soil, and the seed, help man to better understand God's plan and method to build the kingdom of heaven - Matt. 13:1-9; the leaven which a woman hid in three measures of meal - Matt. 13:33; again the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a treasure - Matt. 13:44-46
   2. This one great reason why the Son of God taught the people - using parables or incidents out of life well known to His hearers - Matt. 13:34; Mark 4:34
2. The human Father is a prayer hearer:
   1. This is by virtue of his relationship
   2. A father has children - they are dependent on him; dependence is the essence of prayer
   3. Says the Psalmist, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help" - Ps. 121:1-8
   4. This he is upon impulse of affection. His love inspires his willingness to give
   5. This is by the persuasion of parental duty; writes Paul, "But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" - I Tim. 5:8
   6. All relations involve responsibility and a father is under obligation to meet the wants of his children, whether he knows them or not. He knows them upon fatherly observation or they make themselves known to him by crying or prayer

1. Will the Divine Father hear and answer the prayers of His children:
   1. He wants man to call on Him - "Call upon me, and I will answer thee" - Jer. 33:3; 29:12; Deut. 4:7,29; Ps. 50:15; 91:15
   2. It is sin not to pray - Jer. 10:25
2. His relation to man is infinitely higher and much closer than a human father:
   1. He is our Creator
   2. He is our Redeemer
   3. And He is our preserver - Job 7:20
3. He has given to us the word of His honor:
   1. That when we call on Him in sincerity and truth, He will hear us from heaven
   2. That pledge was renewed and repeated by the only begotten Son of God on many occasions as illustrated in our text and in other passages of the Bible - Examples: The friend that is in need of three loaves of bread - Luke 18:13; the parable of the unjust judge - Luke 18:1-7; the prayer of the publican - Luke 18:13
   3. He also has declared His personal love for man and love must heed the needs of all who are the objects of love - John 3:16
   4. This great truth is illustrated by the Lord in the sermon on the mount - "For he maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" - Matt. 5:45
4. This glorious truth:
   1. Makes the neglect of prayer inexcusable - James 4:2; 1:5; Is. 7:12
   2. Gives full assurance to all who call upon God for help that they will receive the needed help - Is. 50:15; Jer. 33:3; Rom. 10:13
   3. It shows conclusively that if sinful men know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will our heavenly Father give good things to those that ask him