Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Reading of Scripture

If you receive this as God’s Word, will you say “Amen”?

Amen!

[Title Slide]

1 Corinthians 7:25-40

“This World Is Passing Away”

II.

Introduction

A. Introduction to Theme

“This world is passing away.”

When someone dies, we say they “pass away.”

In the immediate grief, we experience a loss and a sadness.

But after a time, as the flow of tears subsides, we begin to see more clearly.

What does it mean for that person to “pass away?”

If that person knew Jesus and was born again, the Scriptures say -

“to be away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord.”

(2 Cor 5:8).

And that is a wonderful thought!

Such a person has really not “passed away.”

We say instead they’ve “passed on.”

They have “gone home.”

And what does that mean for them?

While we have not passed that way before, we can make some good, informed guesses.

They are free from anxieties.

They are not stressed about anything.

They are not anxious about their life, what to eat or drink, nor about their body, what to clothes to put on.

They are not pressed for time.

They are not checking their watches, late for appointments.

Wondering what they are to do with the next minute, as if it could be their last.

Death is no more!

Time is not an eternal thing.

Time passes away, too.

Their attention is not divided in their devotion to the Lord.

God is all in all (1 Cor 15:28)!

They have no reason to mourn, or cry, or have pain, for these are things that pass away too (Rev 21:4).

Now they may worship with unending, undivided devotion to God!

When we think about these things, although we still experience feelings of sadness and loss, we can’t help but realize that such a person is better off than we are!

In every way, except for one.

We have one opportunity that they no longer have.

An opportunity to “make the best use of the time” (Eph 5:15).

An opportunity to make the most of our lives in the time that we have left.

And none of us knows how much time that is.

An opportunity, as Mark Cahill calls it, to do the “one thing you can’t do in Heaven,” - the “one thing you can’t do in Heaven” - which is to be a witness for Jesus and so be used of God to win the souls of the lost for Christ!

To be used of God to see a person pass from death into life through faith in Jesus Christ.

We are to be God’s witnesses to what God will cause to pass away when by faith we follow Christ!

This world is passing away.

The time is short!

We are to be God’s witnesses who do God’s will.

And where is God’s will to be found, that we might do it?

The answer is what is revealed in God’s word.

God’s word reveals God’s will for us to obey and so be God’s witnesses in the time we have left.

But have you noticed, that God’s word does not offer a rule for every detail and circumstance and question we may encounter in life?

Listen to what John’s Gospel says concerning the works of Jesus —

That’s just about what Jesus DID! Think about the library space needed to contain what Jesus could have said about every circumstance and question we may encounter in life, across all of these years and places?

God’s Word doesn’t address everything!

God’s Word does not give me instructions on how to tie my shoes.

God’s Word does not tell me in what spot I am to park my car.

God’s Word does not tell me what I am to eat for lunch today.

These are simple examples to prove a point.

But what about the not-so-simple examples?

What about the times when a decision needs to be made, and we need an answer to the way forward, and God’s Word doesn’t give an answer in the detail we want?

God’s Word doesn’t mention COVID-19 in the year 2019 and 2020 and 2021 and how the Church should adapt to that virus, if at all.

God’s Word doesn’t mention the live-streaming of church services.

Should we, should we not?

God’s Word doesn’t mention mask mandates, or vaccines.

What do we do!?

How do we move forward?

What is our next move?

I’ll make it a little more personal to us.

God’s Word absolutely does have commands for churches.

The Church belongs to God, the Church was bought with Christ’s blood, Christ is the Head of His Church.

You better believe God has some very detailed instructions for who His Church should be and what His Church should do and how His Church should be protected, and fed, and equipped, and led!

But I’ve read through God’s Word - and not once have I found the name Southside Baptist Church in Decatur, AL.

What do we do, when circumstances arise in this church body.

Not the churches in Decatur, but in this church body?

Circumstances that God’s Word does not specifically address?

What do we do with this building?

Who mows our field?

How will the plants be arranged on the platform?

What will the size of our budget be and where will each dollar be invested for the Kingdom?

There are circumstances, and issues that arise among us that God’s Word does not spell out.

What do we do?

God’s Word tells us that “This world is passing away.”

This means at times, we are going to have to make a judgment call.

Good judgments.

Godly judgments.

We are going to have to act on an opinion.

On good counsel.

Practically, “This World is Passing Away.”

God’s Word tells us that we don’t have time to get hung up because of indecision.

The time short!

The time is now to move!

Make a judgement!

Go!

We may be patient, but don’t be paralyzed.

God equips and empowers His Church to make good judgments.

God gives wise counsel and godly counsel for such times as these.

B. Introduction to Text

I want to show you today, from God’s Word, how to make good judgments on matters that the Scripture does not specifically give a command for.

We are going to see at work the mind of the apostle as he reasons, and wrestles with counsel that he gives, and he does so in a principled and godly way.