Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

LIFE'S BEST TEACHER

1. This acknowledgment by Laban is a wonderful tribute to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob:
   1. Laban's concept of God must have undergone a great change when he observed the blessings of God upon him because of Jacob who served the God of his fathers
   2. It showed that Laban recognized his temporal gain was due to Jacob's presence, and God's favor upon Jacob
2. The testimony of Laban, a heathen at heart, shows further:
   1. That observation is the best teacher
   2. What Jacob attempted to tell Laban about his faith in God did not register with Laban as much as did his actual observations

1. Learning from experience simply means:
   1. That our daily observations lead us to our conclusions; Examples: Laban noted a difference in his material gains since Jacob cared for his stock, and he attributed the gain to Jacob's God; Potiphar's material blessings were the result of Joseph's caring for his household - Gen. 39:3
   2. What people see in our lives speaks much louder that what we try to tell them with words - Examples: When his fellow sailors saw Paul take food and eat it; they are too - Acts 27:35-36
2. Learning from experience creates confidence:
   1. That what God has done for us before, He can and will do for us in the future; Examples: David had courage to fight with Goliath because of the victory God gave him when he fought with the lion and the bear - I Sam. 17:35-36; Gideon based his hopes for victory on his observation with the fleece - Judges 6:37-39
   2. That was the basis of Israel's reformation in the days of Elijah's conflict with the priests of Baal - I Kings 18:38-39

1. That was the teaching of the greatest teacher:
   1. "Let your light so shine that men may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven" - Matt. 5:16
   2. "That they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation" - I Peter 2:12 (fruits)
   3. "By their works shall ye know them" - Matt. 7:20
2. Deeds and not words will determine our destiny:
   1. Let us ponder the words of the Son of God as recorded in Matthew 25:35-46
   2. "Be ye doers of the word" - James 1:22
   3. "Blessed are they that do His commandments" - Rev. 22:14
   4. "Here are they that keep His commandments" - Rev. 14:12
3. Experience is the best teacher:
   1. That was true in the life of Nebuchadnezzar God had to demonstrate His power to him over and over and that heathen King learned to respect the King of Kings - Dan. 3:24-29
   2. What we experience in our lives makes the deepest impression upon us and also upon those who observe our experience; Examples: The disciples of the Lord observed how John taught his disciples and most of all, they saw the Lord in prayer, and that created a desire in them to learn the art of prayer - Luke 11:1
4. Our sermon teaches us conclusively, that what we learn in the school of experience makes the deepest impression upon our personal life:
   1. That was true in the experience of Laban
   2. It was true in the experience of ancient Israel
   3. It is true in the experience of modern Israel
   4. And it will be true in our own lives as we walk with God and let Him influence our lives