The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls


The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls

On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia

Text from Matthew 6:25-34

Trinity XV

1. Vs. 25 begins with "therefore." It points back to vs. 24. Why should you not worry about your life? Because you cannot serve God and Mammon. God is the true, Triune, saving God. Mammon is the god of temporal things: food, clothing, etc. You cannot serve two masters at the same time. Unbelievers serve Mammon. Believers serve God and His kingdom, His righteousness.

2. Vss. 32-33 show the contrast between the heathen and God's children. The heathen seek only the Mammon of this world. God's children seek His Kingdom, His righteousness, the Gospel. God promises: "If you seek His Kingdom, His righteousness, He will take care of the rest." See Rom. 8:32. What is the kingdom of God? Rom. 14:17 says "For the Kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Col. 3:1-2 reads: "If therefore you have been raised up with Christ, seek the things above where Christ is at the right hand of God. Think about the things above, not the things on earth." One commentator said: "In the right use of the earthly things given to us, we really mind and seek heavenly things." Food and clothing are temporal gifts of God to be used rightly. But forgiveness of sins and eternal life are the heart of true religion.

3. Vs. 25 says: "Your body and soul will live forever. Food and clothing are only for this life. Body and soul are worth much more than food and clothing. God will take care of body and soul."

4. Vs. 26 says: "Birds should make us ashamed of ourselves. They know that God will provide even though they do not work hard and save up food. Aren't you worth much more than birds which don't have souls?"

5. Vs. 27 says: "You can't add five minutes to your life. Worry can't do that. Why then should you worry about lesser things?"

6. Vss. 28-30 are a unit. The wild grass and flowers are so beautiful. They are even more beautiful than Solomon in all his glory. See I Kings 10 and 11. And II Chron. 9:13 and following. But they last only a day and then are good only for the fire. But you have an immortal soul and will last forever. Flowers don't worry. Why do you worry?

7. Worry is sin. Worry reveals a lack of faith and trust in Jesus to provide. We pray in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread." But then we doubt our prayer and begin worrying. That is sin.

8. The questions in vs. 31 are not questions of information but questions of anxiety. Worry is caused by greed and greed is never satisfied. It always wants more, more, more.

9. Read I Tim. 6:6-11. True faith in Jesus gives contentment with only necessary food, clothing and shelter. It always says: "I came into the world with nothing. I leave it with nothing." Then Paul shows that the desire for riches leads to grief and sorrow. The love of money and things leads to destruction. Then Paul says that we should pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance and meekness.

10. In the OT we have the example of Elijah, a man of simple food, dress. But the Lord took care of him. In the NT we have John the Baptist, a man of simple food, dress and life. But the Lord took care of him. We also have Paul who gave up everything when he found the righteousness of Christ. But our greatest example is Jesus Himself. Foxes have holes. The birds of the air have nests. But the Son of man had nowhere to lay His head. His heavenly Father took care of Him.

11. Seek not as do the heathen. Vs. 32. But always seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He'll take care of everything else.

12. Usually our worries are not about today but rather about tomorrow. Christians should live just one day at a time. Live like little children. They know and believe that mama and papa will provide.


The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls

On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia

Text from Matthew 6:25-34

Trinity XV

THEME: JESUS TEACHES THOSE WHOSE FAITH IS SMALL

INTRODUCTION

Faith in Jesus and His Gospel drives worry out of our hearts. Jesus looks at this problem from different angles. And then He tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Is. 26:3 says: If you will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." See also Jn. 14:27.

I. HE USES ILLUSTRATIONS FROM NATURE TO HELP THEM

II. HE USES AN ILLUSTRATION FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THE TRUE GOD

III. JESUS HELPS THE WEAK IN FAITH WITH A COMMAND AND A PROMISE

CONCLUSION

When we listen to this text we understand what Jesus means by the last sentence: "Do not worry about tomorrow. Because tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient for today are the evils of today." Worry only makes double trouble. Trust in Jesus gives contentment.


This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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