Central Grace Church
3596 Franklin Street . Rocky Mount, Virginia
October 15th , 2017
9:30 am ----------------------That Ye Should Not Be Offended – John 16:1-6
10:00 am ---- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----H ome To Stay – Philemon
Wednesday: 7:30 pm ---------- Read This Epistle in The Church – Colossians 4:16
THE BELIEVER’S 3-FOLD RELATIONSHIP -- John 15:1-25
INTRO: These words were spoken by the Lord at the last Passover.
- To warn the disciples of trials and suffering ahead.
- To remind them of their duties and responsibility.
- To tell them of their privileges.
All of this arises from a 3-fold relationship.
ILLUS: I am a son, a husband, a father.
Each presents its problems and privileges.
- OUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST – vs. 1-5
- A. ONENESS OF LIFE – vs. 5: The life that is in the vine is the same that is in the branches.
“He that hath the Son, hath life”.
Illus: Acts 27:30-31: “Except ye abide in me.” (Read Scrivener. “Either in the vine or in the fire.”)
- ONENESS OF SUPPORT – vs. 5-6: “As my Father sends me, so send I you.” John 5:19,30
- As I can do all things thru Him, Phil. 4:13
- I can do nothing without Him.
- Depend on Him for wisdom, strength, ability, righteousness.
- ONENESS OF PURPOSE – vs. 8, 16
- We are called to more than profession and decision.
- We are called to holiness. Tit. 2:11-15.
- OUR RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER – vs. 12, 17
- WE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST – one body. I Cor. 1:11-13, I Cor. 12:12-14, 18
- WE ARE ALL ONE IN WORK AND GOAL – to glorify the Father and do His will. Not our glory and goal.
- C. WE ARE ALL ONE IN LOVE
III. – OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD – vs. 18-19
- Darkness does not love light –opposite. vs. 19
- Do not expect to be different from Master, vs. 19
- The real reason is not you, but Him, vs. 21
- Your testimonyand words condemn them, vs. 25
-- Sermon outline by Henry Mahan, 1959
Remedies For Division Among God’s People (part 3) – By Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)
Focus on your points of agreement. (Another) remedy against this device of Satan (division) is to dwell more upon these choice and sweet things wherein you agree than upon those things wherein you differ. Ah, did you but [do] thus, how would sinful heats be abated, your love raised, and your spirits sweetened one to another. You agree in most; you differ but in a few. You agree in the greatest and weightiest concerning God, Christ, the Spirit, the Scripture; you differ only in those points that have been long disputable amongst men of greatest piety and parts. You agree to own the Scripture, to hold to Christ the Head, and to walk according to the law of the new creature. Shall Herod and Pilate agree (Luke 23:12)? Shall Turks and pagans agree? Shall bears and lions, tigers and wolves—yea, shall a legion of devils agree in one body? And shall not saints agree, who differ only in such things as have least of the heart of God in them and that shall never hinder your meeting in heaven?