Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE PASSION FOR GOD

1. The book of Psalms is a little Bible by itself:
   1. It is the fruit of both the vision of God and a personal experience
   2. It reveals deep affections for God so wonderfully stated in our text
   3. It is an expression of deep convictions about God and His tender mercies
2. The heartfelt devotion of the Psalmist to God:
   1. Tempts me to title my sermon outline - the passion for God
   2. King David had so many earthly attractions to attach his heart to, yet, according to our text, God and God alone was the object of his devotion and adoration

1. The passion for God which finds immortal expression in our text is:
   1. The inmost heart of saving faith
   2. The text, therefore, to which every claim of faith in God ought to be submitted is this; does it tend to produce, to quicken, to nourish, to strengthen, to purify and direct aright this passion for God
   3. Are those deep desires and emotions - reverence, awe, gratitude, repentance, trust, submission, the longing for truth and beauty and goodness - which find their crowning and complete expression in the devotion of the whole being and life to God
2. But we can hardly read the Psalms thoughtfully without asking ourselves:
   1. Have we lost something out of our faith in God? - in its individual and collective form?
   2. This is, indeed, a real challenge to everyone that professes faith in God
3. This writer feels very deeply about our modern concept of God or the Godhead:
   1. That modern Christendom has pushed God the Father - the Eternal One, into the background
   2. In many churches and religious assemblies, the whole worship seems to center in Jesus Christ, to the exclusion of God the Father
   3. This is an error of the highest magnitude, contrary to the plain teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles
4. Note what Jesus taught about his relationship to God the Father:
   1. He guides us in what is known as the Lord's prayer, to say, "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will by done in earth as it is in heaven" - Matt. 6:9-10
   2. Said He to the Samaritan woman, "The hour cometh and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him" - John 4:22-23

1. Does not come to a person as an occasional flight of deep emotion:
   1. It is the fruit of a daily relationship with God that brings such undying attachment of the heart to God
   2. The Psalmist learned to love the Lord more and more in his everyday observation how gracious the Lord is to all who trust in Him
   3. This is the great secret of one walking with God as Enoch walked in days of old
2. The passion for God is, therefore, based upon:
   1. Man's intimate relationship with God - be thick with the Almighty; Examples: Think of Paul's attachment to Jesus Christ and his deep longing to become more like him - Phil 3:7-12; or consider Job and his passion for God - Job 13:15; and we cannot overlook Enoch the seventh from Adam - Gen. 5:22-24; nor do we dare overlook Abraham, the friend of God - Gen. 22:12
   2. On man's wide knowledge of God - this is very important - because the more we know the Lord the greater will be our passion for Him
   3. The study of the word of God and earnest and consistent communion with God will deepen our love and passion for God
   4. Finally, nearness to God is vital, if we would be pure; free intercourse with God is the deep secret of heart purity
   5. Does my passion center in God?