Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Corinthians 10:11 “/Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.”/

Numbers 32:5 – seems a reasonable request, even logical.

It was also a sin.

I.       The Sin of Satisfaction.

(6-15)

A.      Satisfied with what they had now.

1.

They were comfortable with the current surroundings.

2.       It fit their need (cattle~/ grazing land)

3.       They were satisfied without ever experiencing what God had in store for them.

B.      Leads to discouragement.

4.       Compared to previous generation at Kadesh-Barnea.

5.       The leadership /discouraged/ the people.

6.

The Lord closed the door for that generation – not just the leadership.

C.      Stand ready to repeat history – different situation, same sin.

7.

These are not conservative Christians – brood of sinful men.

8.

They don’t just disappoint the Lord  – they arouse His anger to whole nation.

9.       God is prepared to again leave this new generation in the wilderness.

II.

Consequences of Inaction.

(23)

A.

Not doing is as much sin as doing wrong.

10.    “Be sure your sin will find you out!”

11.    God has no appetite for quitters!

B.      It would be better to try and fail than fail to try!

12.    Read Matthew 25:14-30 (p 725)

13.

A parable about RESPONSIBILITY, about maximizing the opportunities.

14.

This wealthy master goes on a long journey.

May have been gone for years.

III.

Difference in Perspective.

15.    2 are determined to make a profit – the 3rd determined NOT to take a loss.

16.    2 recognize the partnership the master offered them – 3rd rejects partnership.

IV.

Which of the servants played it safe?

17.

The 5-talent guy and 2-talent guy risked their money and it turned out well – but they did not know how it would turn out, might have seemed they would lose all.

18.

The 1-talent guy told the master he “played it safe”.

19.

He accomplished exactly what he set out to achieve: /nothing/.

20.    “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”

V.     Description of the Master.

21.

Each servant knew this about the master, the 3rd tried to use it as an excuse.

22.

The reason the master reaped where he had not sown – servants’ job.

23.

The 3rd servant wanted to play it safe.

Did he?

VI.  Principle of the Parable.

The ones who risked it all were rewarded, saved from wrath.

The one who played it safe was punished, losing even what he thought he had.

I now realize this: on the day I stand before Christ, if I say, “Lord I wasn’t 100% sure I was doing the right thing, but I took what you gave me and I used it for Your glory” will be far less troubling than having to say, “Lord I wasn’t 100% sure being a pastor was the right thing to do, so I took the gifts you gave me and buried them so I would be sure not to use them wrongly.”

Playing it safe is dangerous.

When you realize that, risk investing what God has given you for His glory.

“The Christian who is concerned only with not doing anything wrong as a hope of being vindicated before God, ignores the will of God.”

James 2:14-17 /What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead./

“A ship is safe when anchored in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.”

Don’t be a ship that never leaves the shore – lift anchor and push out into the deep.