Expecting Greater Things for Others (Outsiders) – Pastor Martin Childs Jr., D. Min.

Text Luke 9:37-50

INTRODUCTION:

A. "The next day..." (The day before)
1. Jesus is transfigured (Peter, James, and John were present)
2. They are there with Moses and Elijah (Law and the Prophets)
3. Peter desired to build three tabernacles (Insiders)

B. Today...
1. We have awesome, spiritual encounters with God
2. We desire to build lasting memories and memorials there with those who shared them with us (Insiders)

C. Challenge: The blessings and benefits of the awesome, spiritual encounters we experience must be balanced with the expectation that God will use us to accomplish greater things for the others

D. In other words, "Come down from the mountain and get to work..."

THE DISCIPLES WERE UNSUCCESSFUL (v. 40)

A. A child is demon possessed
B. The father brings the child to the Disciples to cast the demon out
C. The Disciples could not cast the demon out

THE OUTSIDER WAS SUCCESSFUL (v. 49)

A. The outsider was casting out demons
B. He was successfully casting them out in the name of Jesus

WHAT PREVENTS US FROM EXPECTING GREATER THINGS FOR OTHERS (OUTSIDERS) (vv. 46-48)

A. The Disciples forbade the outsider from casting out demons
B. We, sometimes, forbid "outsiders" from ministering
C. What makes an outsider an outsider?
D. What did Jesus say? "Whoever is not against us is on our side"
E. Arrogance and pride (Arguments over which of us is the greatest. Our focus and attention is turned inward)
F. Jealousy and envy (Outsiders are sometimes able to do some things that we cannot do)
G. Rigidity and complacency (Just because we have been involved in it for a long time does not mean...
H. Control and insecurity (I must allow what I am involved in to grow beyond me)

CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: THAT I WILL EXPECT GREATER THINGS FOR OTHERS (OUTSIDERS)

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