Regardless of who we are, and where we're from, all of us are survivors and overcomers in some regards. Some are survivors of heartbreak or shady people. Some are survivors of abuse or neglect. Some are survivors of financial hardships and devastation, but we all made it through.
What's your survivor story? Dare to be bold enough to share one for the building up of the rest of the believers. You never know who may be going through what you've already conquered.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Sermon Outline and Discussion (Aug. 3, 2008)
“By God’s Grace, I’m a Survivor”
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
(New International Version of scripture)
Exegetical Idea (Big Idea): Our sufferings, and our death-like situations, leave room for us to experience God’s resurrection power.
Transition: Paul explains that he has experienced and shall experience this resurrection power in two ways:
He’s experienced this resurrection power and subsequently emerged as a survivor 1st of all of…
I. Outward Trials
A. Pressed (v.8a “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed”;)
(New International Version of scripture)
Exegetical Idea (Big Idea): Our sufferings, and our death-like situations, leave room for us to experience God’s resurrection power.
Transition: Paul explains that he has experienced and shall experience this resurrection power in two ways:
He’s experienced this resurrection power and subsequently emerged as a survivor 1st of all of…
I. Outward Trials
A. Pressed (v.8a “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed”;)
1. Supporting Scriptures
a. 2 Corinthians 7:5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.
b. 2 Corinthians 11:26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.(emphasis mine)
c. Acts 9:23-30 (Paul always managed to escape the crushing, by God’s grace.)
2. Sermon Excerpt
“…But the amazing thing, and it testifies to God’s power, is that even though like Paul we’re hard pressed on every side, the good news can be found behind the “but.”
The text says, “we’re hard pressed on every side, but not in depair.” Thank God for the “but nots” in your life. Every believer whether you want to admit it or not has a “but not” testimony. The “but not” essentially says that God has defied logic in your circumstances. And even though your dead circumstances warranted a certain doom and disaster, you somehow emerged as a survivor.
Some of us have been guilty, but not convicted
Some of us have been jobless, but not broke
Some of us have been penniless, but not homeless
Some of us have been without food in the refrigerator, but not starved
Pregnant, broke, jobless, heartbroken, written off, but not in despair
Somehow you’ve emerged as a survivor!”
“…But the amazing thing, and it testifies to God’s power, is that even though like Paul we’re hard pressed on every side, the good news can be found behind the “but.”
The text says, “we’re hard pressed on every side, but not in depair.” Thank God for the “but nots” in your life. Every believer whether you want to admit it or not has a “but not” testimony. The “but not” essentially says that God has defied logic in your circumstances. And even though your dead circumstances warranted a certain doom and disaster, you somehow emerged as a survivor.
Some of us have been guilty, but not convicted
Some of us have been jobless, but not broke
Some of us have been penniless, but not homeless
Some of us have been without food in the refrigerator, but not starved
Pregnant, broke, jobless, heartbroken, written off, but not in despair
Somehow you’ve emerged as a survivor!”
B. Persecuted (v.9a “…persecuted but not forsaken;”)
1. Supporting Scriptures
a. 2 Cor. 11:24 “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25) Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea…”
b. Deuteronomy 25:3 (rules for flogging)
2. Sermon Excerpt
“In almost every city that Paul went, he was almost sure to face some persecution. All because of the boldness and conviction with which he proclaimed Jesus Christ.
· In Jerusalem he was arrested,
· In Philippi he and Silas were jailed because Paul had driven the demons out of the slave girl, whom the word says brought her master much gain.
On another occasion he was stoned and left for dead”
C. Struck Down v.9b (“…struck down, but not destroyed…”)
1. Supporting Scriptures (none)
2. Sermon Excerpt
“Almost everybody who grew up during my generation had one of those inflatable-clown punching bags. The interesting thing about ‘em was…
· You could punch it, but it would…bounce back
· You could kick it, and it would…bounce back
· You could lay out on it, but as soon as you got up, it would just…bounce back
I never could quite appreciate it when I was a child, but when I got older I discovered that the reason it was able to be kicked down, knocked down, beat down, and still get back up again, was because of something on the inside of it.
But I’ve discovered that not only is this true of the inflatable clown, but it’s also true of the Christian, because some of ya’ll have been knocked down, beat down, stepped on, and treaded on, but somehow or another you keep…bouncing back
They thought you were down for the count when you were heartbroken, but somehow you…bounced back.
Really they thought that the depression had you but you…bounced back
They thought the trials, tribulations, and tears had torn you down, but you…bounced back”
But none of it was because of you, none of it was because of your own power, none of it was because of your own endurance, you bounced back because of what’s on the inside!
The Holy Spirit has enabled you, to take a licking and keep on ticking”
II. Inward Trials v.8b “[we are] perplexed, but not in despair.”
“Almost everybody who grew up during my generation had one of those inflatable-clown punching bags. The interesting thing about ‘em was…
· You could punch it, but it would…bounce back
· You could kick it, and it would…bounce back
· You could lay out on it, but as soon as you got up, it would just…bounce back
I never could quite appreciate it when I was a child, but when I got older I discovered that the reason it was able to be kicked down, knocked down, beat down, and still get back up again, was because of something on the inside of it.
But I’ve discovered that not only is this true of the inflatable clown, but it’s also true of the Christian, because some of ya’ll have been knocked down, beat down, stepped on, and treaded on, but somehow or another you keep…bouncing back
They thought you were down for the count when you were heartbroken, but somehow you…bounced back.
Really they thought that the depression had you but you…bounced back
They thought the trials, tribulations, and tears had torn you down, but you…bounced back”
But none of it was because of you, none of it was because of your own power, none of it was because of your own endurance, you bounced back because of what’s on the inside!
The Holy Spirit has enabled you, to take a licking and keep on ticking”
II. Inward Trials v.8b “[we are] perplexed, but not in despair.”
(more notes to come...)
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